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A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the quantitative methionine requirements in the diets of Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). Eight practical diets using soybean meal, poultry meal, and red lentil meal as the primary protein sources were formulated using graded levels of methionine supplement (0 to 0.70 g/100 g diet). Groups of 15 juvenile Florida pompano (4.04 ± 0.05 g) were size-sorted and placed into one of 40 glass aquaria (132 L) with five replicates per diet. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were observed in overall biomass, mean weight, weight gain, thermal growth coefficient (TGC), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). To estimate the dietary methionine requirement, a series of statistical models, including the one-slope broken line model (BLM1), two-slope broken line model (BLM2), broken quadratic model (BQM), and four-parameter saturation kinetic model (SKM-4) were used to assess mean weight, weight gain, TGC, apparent net protein retention (ANPR), and methionine retention (MR). The model selection showed that BLM1 fit the data best for MW and TGC, SKM-4 for PWG and ANPR, and BQM for MR. Based on these results, a minimum dietary methionine requirement of 0.68% of the diet or 1.70 g/100 g protein is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California yellowtail (CYT), Seriola dorsalis, is a promising candidate for aquaculture due to its rapid growth and high-quality flesh, particularly in markets like Japan, Australia, China, and the United States. Soy protein has shown success as a replacement for marine protein sources in CYT diets, reducing fishmeal levels, though concerns about potential intestinal inflammation persist with the inclusion of solvent-extracted soybean meal. To address this, processing strategies like fractionation, enzymatic treatment, heat treatment, and microbial fermentation have been employed to mitigate the negative impacts of soybean meal on fish nutrition and immune systems. This study focuses on optimizing soybean meal inclusion levels by incorporating advanced soy variants into CYT diets. The eight-week feeding trial, conducted in a recirculation system, featured six diets with sequential inclusion levels (0, 50, 100%) of high protein low oligosaccharide soybean meal (Bright Day, Benson Hill, St Louis, MO) and enzyme-treated soybean meal (HP 300, Hamlet Protein Inc., Findlay, OH), replacing solvent-extracted soybean. The study compares these formulations against a soy-free animal protein-based diet. At the end of the trial, fish were sampled for growth performance, body proximate composition, intestinal morphology, and immune response from gut samples. Results showed consistent FCR (P = 0.775), weight gain (P = 0.242), and high survival rate (99.4 ± 0.5%) among dietary treatments (P>0.05). Histological evaluations revealed no gut inflammation and gene expression analysis demonstrated no significant variations in immune, physiological, and digestive markers apn (P = 0.687), mga (P = 0.397), gpx1 (P = 0.279), atpase (P = 0.590), il1β (P = 0.659). The study concludes that incorporating advanced soybean meal products, replacing up to 20% of fishmeal does not negatively affect CYT's growth and intestinal health. This suggests that all three soy sources, contributing 35% of total protein (15.4 g 100 g-1 diet), can be included in practical diets without compromising CYT's intestinal integrity or growth. These findings have positive implications for the commercial production of CYT and future research on the incorporation of plant-based proteins in aquaculture diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the variability in recommendations for essential amino acid (EAA) and the use of amino acids supplements in shrimp diets, this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of crystalline amino acids (CAA) in practical shrimp feeds. The basal diet was designed to contain 30% protein and 6% lipid. The primary protein source of the basal diet included: 5% fishmeal, 37% soybean, and 5% gelatin. The intact protein was incrementally reduced to produce diets with 28%, 26%, 24%, and 22% protein. In a second series of diets, CAA were supplemented to the reduced protein diets to return the diets to 30% crude protein. Thus, producing a series of diets containing 30% protein with 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% crystalline amino acids. The trial was conducted twice to confirm results. Data within treatments for both trials were variable, resulting in limited statistical differences. From a biological standpoint, percentage weight gain (PWG) and mean final weight (MFW) appeared to decrease with intact protein level of the diet (R2 value [PWG], trial 1: 0.30, trial 2: 0.34, R2 value, [MFW] trial 1: 0.44, trial 2: 0.38). None of the diets with supplemented CAA appeared to have reached the same MFW or PWG as the basal diet. Another trial was run using a fishmeal-based diet (30% CP), which in theory should be replete in all essential amino acids, and a soybean meal-based diet at two different protein levels (30% and 35% CP). The soybean meal-based diets were supplemented with essential CAA in one set and only methionine in another to reach the same level as a percent protein, compared to the fishmeal-based diet. No significant differences were observed between the diets in terms of PWG. However, the fishmeal-based diet seemed to outperform most of the other diets in terms of protein retention efficiency. Based on the results of these trials, it is questionable whether CAA are sufficiently utilized by shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to investigate the inclusion effect of hydrolyzed salmon meal (HSM) in combination with enzyme-treated soybean meal (ESBM) with or without pH adjustment to completely replace dietary FM on the growth, body composition, and the distal intestine condition of the fish. For that purpose, four experimental diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic and to contain 400 g kg−1 crude protein and 80 g kg−1 lipid. A reference diet contained 150 g kg−1 FM, 450 g kg−1 soybean meal (SBM), and 39.5 g kg−1 ESBM, and the second diet was formulated replacing FM with 190.6 g kg−1 ESBM. The third diet was produced by supplementing 40 g kg−1 hydrolyzed salmon meal (4% HSM) into the diet formulation at the expense of ESBM, and the fourth diet was produced similar with the third diet, but the pH of the diet was adjusted to match the value in the reference diet (4% HSMA). All test diets were supplemented with taurine at the level of 5 g kg−1. Diets were fed to apparent satiation to triplicate groups of Florida pompano juveniles (mean weight 11.88 ± 0.18 g). After 8 weeks of growth, there were no significant differences in the final weight, percentage weight gain, thermal growth coefficient, feed intake, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio in fish offered the various diets. Nor were significant differences observed in the dry matter composition of the fish in all treatments and only minor changes in the histomorphological of distal intestine as the FM was replaced by plant ingredients. Overall, the adjustment of pH level of the diet containing 4% HSMA did not have any significant effect on the growth and physiological function of fish compared to the group of fish fed with diet without pH adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean meal (SBM) from China, Argentina, Brazil, the USA and India was collected to evaluate their performances in the diet of Pacific white shrimp. SBM samples were analysed for proximate composition, amino acid profiles, sugars, fibres, macro and micro minerals. A growth trial was conducted using SBM‐based test diets (350 g kg−1 protein and 80 g kg−1 lipid), and a digestibility trial was carried out from digestibility diets formulated by mixing the basal diet and test ingredients (70:30) on a dry matter basis. Significantly higher growth (as standardized Thermal growth coefficient) was observed in shrimp fed SBM from China over Brazilian SBM. However, growth performances of shrimp fed SBM sourced from USA, Argentina and India were not different to that of Chinese and Brazilian SBM. No significant differences were observed for apparent dry matter, energy and protein digestibility coefficients (<0.05) of SBM among the countries. The differences observed in the ingredient chemical profile of SBM between countries were not reflected in the growth and digestibility data of shrimp. These results highlight the importance of multiple variables influencing the biological value of soybean meals and that simplified generalizations such as country of origin, poorly define the quality of an ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florida pompano perform well on soy‐based, low‐animal protein diets. These diets may be improved through the use of enzymes as a feed supplement or as pretreatment of the soy product prior to inclusion. Novel soy products produced through enzyme treatment or fermentation often have higher protein content and lower levels of indigestible carbohydrates. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the potential of enzyme supplements. The first trial evaluated the effects of carbohydrase supplementation to diets based on two different soybean meals (commodity or selectively bred meal). Pompano fed the selected soybean had significantly improved growth rates and feed efficiency, while enzymatic supplementation had no significant effect on fish performance. However, enzyme supplementation increased phosphorus and energy retention when added to diets based on commodity soybean meal. Carbohydrase supplementation improved dry matter digestibility in commodity soy‐based diets but had no significant effect on selected soybean‐based diets. The second growth trial consisted of an increasing inclusion of an enzymatically treated soybean meal product (NutriVance). Results indicate that NutriVance can replace the totality of commodity soybean without impacting fish performance. Digestibility of the commodity soy, NutriVance, and a fermented soybean meal (Pepsoygen) was also evaluated, with no detectable difference in digestibility values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feed costs are primarily driven by the cost of protein sources in the feed. Substitution of expensive protein sources with lower cost ingredients would potentially reduce feed cost. Lipid-extracted distillers dried grains with solubles (LE-DDGS) is a relatively new product of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) which could be used as an alternative protein source in tilapia feed formulations. Two growth trials were conducted to evaluate the substitution of soybean meal with LE-DDGS in practical diets for hybrid tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus × Oreochromis aureus ). The first trial evaluated five levels of LE-DDGS (0, 200, 300, 400 and 500 g kg − 1 ) in a practical diet containing 360 g kg − 1 protein and 60 g kg − 1 lipid. The result indicated that increasing levels of LE-DDGS generally resulted in a reduced growth of hybrid tilapia with a significant (P < 0.05) depression in performance when incorporated in the diet at 400 and 500 g kg − 1 . The second study evaluated four levels of inclusion (0, 200, 400 and 500 g kg − 1 ) with lysine supplements and a fifth diet with an additional 20 g kg − 1 lipid (27 g kg − 1 lysine and 80 g kg − 1 lipid). The result demonstrated that all diets promoted good performance of hybrid tilapia. In conclusion, LE-DDGS could be a promising protein source as a substitute for soybean meal at levels up to 300 g kg − 1 of the diet. With lysine and possible lipid supplement, LE-DDGS as much as 500 g kg − 1 produced good performance in hybrid tilapia diet. As the ethanol industry continues to refine their process and shift the composition of co-products that are sold on the market, it is recommended that the new product should re-evaluated for their efficiency. Statement of relevance The present study can show that DDGS can be used as a substitution of soybean meal in tilapia fish. Given the rise in soybean meal prices, DDGS can be used in aquacultural feeds along with supplementation of lysine as a replacement of the more expensive plant derived protein source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two growth trials were designed to evaluate varying levels of taurine in diets for white seabass (WSB), Atractoscion nobilis. All diets were formulated to contain 40% protein and 10% lipid with a fixed level of fish meal (FM) and soybean meal (SBM). Trial A tested a series of six practical diets with 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5% taurine supplementation at the expense of glutamic acid, and a seventh diet with 0.5% cystine supplementation instead of taurine. Trial B was designed to test higher inclusion levels (0.2–1.6%) of taurine over six diets, while a seventh diet contained 1.6% taurine but no methionine supplement. In Trial A, the increased inclusion of taurine resulted in significantly improved final weight ranging from 14.6 to 26.6g, TGC ranging from 0.074 to 0.120, and feed efficiency from 68.2 to 111.9%. The supplementation of cystine to the diet did not result in an improvement in growth, indicating the synthesis of taurine from cysteine decarboxylation is inadequate in WSB. Similarly, in Trial B significant improvements in performance were observed with increasing taurine supplements, albeit variation in the data was higher. Final weight ranged from 23.6 to 29.7g, TGC ranging from 0.111 to 0.130 and feed efficiency from 75.6 to 81.4%. The diet with taurine supplement but without methionine showed a decrease in growth, suggesting that methionine was then limiting. Datasets from both trials were combined, and a saturation kinetics model was used to determine a dietary requirement of 0.99% of the diet (R2 =0.8770). Based on these results, white seabass have a dietary requirement for taurine presumably due to a limited ability to synthesize it. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Three sources of soybean meal ( SBM) were biochemically characterized and evaluated in diets for juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. Three biological techniques were utilized to evaluate the nutritional quality of the meals including an outdoor growth trial as well as determination of in vivo apparent digestibility and in vitro digestibility including pepsin digestibility (0.0002%), pH Stat degree of hydrolysis, and immobilized digestive enzyme assay ( IDEA). The growth trial was conducted over a 10-wk period using soybean meal as the primary protein source with each meal being included at 54-58% of the diet based on an equal protein inclusion. At the conclusion of the growth trial there were no significant differences between the test diets indicating equivalent biological availability under practical conditions. The in vivo digestibility trial utilized chromic oxide as the inert marker and 70:30 replacement techniques resulted in typical results. Apparent protein digestibility ( APD) and apparent energy digestibility ( AED) of the diets ranged from 66.8 to 80.2% and 65.4 to 74.7%, respectively. Ingredient digestibility values for protein and energy ranged from 78.8 to 93.5% and 60.5 to 85.0%, respectively. One of the three SBM evaluated had numerically lower protein digestibility and significantly lower energy digestibility than the other two meals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of four diets formulated to contain high levels of soybean meal in combination with either poultry by-product, fish meal, distiller''s dried grains with solubles, or pea meal in production diets for L. vannamei. Outdoor ponds and tanks were utilized to evaluate the response of the shrimp over the culture period. The pond production trial was conducted in 0.1-ha ponds stocked with juvenile shrimps (mean weight±S.D., 0.038±0.004g) at 35shrimpm−2 and cultured under standardized pond production conditions for 18weeks. The same dietary treatments plus a commercial reference diet were offered to shrimp (initial weight of 2.1g) maintained in outdoor tanks (800L) over a 12-week period. The results for the pond study demonstrated that final production ranged between 5054 and 5265kgha−1, mean final weight varied from 15.98 to 16.28g, survival ranging from 86.6 to 93.7%, and FCR was between 1.32 and 1.37. There were no differences (P≥0.05) or notable trends in shrimp production variables among different test diets. Shrimp reared in the outdoor tanks confirmed these findings. Average final weights ranged between 18.53 and 19.00g, survival varied from 97.3 to 98.7%, and FCR was between 1.30 and 1.33. The results from the outdoor tank study also showed no differences (P≥0.05) in final weight, survival, or FCR among test diets. Diet containing partial fishmeal showed no benefit on growth performance of L. vannamei comparing with diets containing high levels of soybean meal in combinations with poultry by-product, distiller''s dried grains with solubles or pea meal. Therefore, these studies demonstrated that practical shrimp feeds containing no fish meal had no negative impact on growth performances of L. vannamei. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two feeding experiments were conducted to evaluate if methionine is limiting in practical grow-out diets for tilapia, Oreochromis spp. Four diets containing 32% protein and 5% lipid were designed to compare the use of diets high in dehulled solvent-extracted soybean meal (DSESM) and expeller pressed soybean meal (EPSM) compared with a diet containing 6% fish meal (FM). Tilapia (4.78 ± 0.07 g, mean ± SD) were randomly stocked into twelve 600-L flow-through tanks at 20 fish per tank. After 6 wk, there were no notable trends or statistically significant differences ( P > 0.05) in final mean weight, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among the treatments. Because results of this study indicated that DSESM could totally replace FM in practical diets for juvenile tilapia, a second batch of diets were formulated using other protein sources. Typical levels of cottonseed meal (CSM), DSESM, and meat and bone meal (MBM) were used to evaluate whether methionine could be limiting. Two basal diet formulations were tested either without or with methionine supplement (0.06/100 g diet). The first diet contained 15% CSM, 27% DSESM, and 10% MBM and the second diet contained 15% CSM and 37% DSESM. These diets contained 28% protein and 5% lipid. Tilapia (3.90 ± 0.05 g) were randomly stocked into twelve 60-L glass aquaria of a recirculation system at 18 fish per aquarium for 5 wk and then moved to the 600-L flow-through tanks for five more weeks. After 10 wk, there were no statistically significant differences ( P > 0.05) in final mean weight, survival rate, and FCR among the four treatments. Results of the present study indicated that DSESM and EPSM could totally replace FM’s inclusion rate in commercial diets for juvenile tilapia. Furthermore, methionine did not appear to be limiting in practical diets using typical levels of CSM, DSESM, and MBM as primary protein sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Future use of animal protein sources in shrimp feeds is expected to be considerably reduced as a consequence of increasing economical, environmental and safety issues. Of main concern has been the use of expensive marine protein sources, such as fish meal. Hence, shrimp research has recently focused on the development of practical feeds with minimal levels of fish meal and alternative, lower cost protein sources. To determine shrimp capacity to use practical feeds with plant proteins as replacement ingredients to animal protein sources, an 81-day growth trial was conducted in an outdoor tanks system, using juvenile (0.74 g) Litopenaeus vannamei. Experimental treatments included four diets with varying levels of fish meal in the diet (9, 6, 3 and 0%) in combination with 16% poultry by-product meal, a plant based feed containing 1% squid meal, and a commercial reference feed. Feeds were commercially extruded and offered as sinking pellets designed to contain 35% crude protein and 8% lipids. Mean final weight, percent weight gain, final net yield, feed conversion ratio and survival were evaluated. Final values for these parameters ranged from 17.4 to 19.5 g, 2249–2465%, 564.4–639.0 g m−3, 1.07–1.20 and 83.3–89.2%, respectively. Evaluation of production parameters at the end of the study demonstrated no significant differences (P ≥0.05) among any of the experimental treatments. These results indicate that fish meal can be replaced with plant protein sources in diets including 16% poultry by-product meal without affecting shrimp growth and production. In addition, results demonstrate that good performance can obtained by shrimp fed a plant protein based feed (solvent extracted soybean meal, corn gluten meal and corn fermented solubles) in combination with 1% squid meal. Although results with the primarily plant based diet are encouraging, further evaluations are recommended to allow the removal of the remaining marine ingredients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Increasing economical and ecological concerns regarding the use of fish meal in diets for marine shrimp have led to the development of replacement strategies where soybean meal has received ample attention. Most studies evaluating these strategies have been carried out under laboratory conditions which greatly differ from production conditions in ponds. This study evaluated a fish meal replacement strategy using vegetable protein sources in practical feeds for marine shrimp reared in ponds. Juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) (0.03 g) were stocked into 16 0.1-ha low-water exchange ponds and reared over an 18-week period. Four commercially extruded diets formulated to contain 35% crude protein and 8% lipids were evaluated. These diets included varying levels of fish meal (9, 6, 3, and 0%) which was replaced by a combination of increasing levels of soybean meal (32.5, 34.9, 37.2 and 39.6% respectively) and corn gluten meal (0.0, 1.7, 3.2, and 4.8% respectively) to replace the protein originating from fish meal. At the conclusion of the experimental period, there were no significant differences (P ≥0.05) in shrimp production among the test diets. Mean final yield, final weight, feed conversion ratio and survival values ranged from 5363–6548 kg ha−1, 18.4–20.7 g, 1.38–1.12 and 84.0–94.0%, respectively. Although not significant, as higher levels of plant protein sources were included in the diets, the economic analysis showed a general increase in the partial gross returns of shrimp production. Results from this study demonstrate that fish meal can be completely replaced using alternative vegetable protein sources in practical shrimp feeds without compromising production and economic performance of L. vannamei reared in ponds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The replacement of fish meal with soybean meal in fish diets has met with varying degrees of success. Quite often, poor responses to high soybean meal diets are due to a reduced palatability of the diet when fish meal is removed. Recent work has demonstrated that poultry by- product meal can be used as a substitute for fish meal in practical diets for juvenile red drum, (Sciaenops ocellatus), indicating it may have favorable palatability characteristics for this species. The present research was designed to evaluate the replacement of menhaden fish meal with solvent-extracted soybean meal in practical diets containing 20% poultry by-product meal and formulated to contain 44% protein and 10% lipid. Test diets were adjusted for phosphorus and methionine content to ensure that minimal dietary requirements were maintained. The response of red drum (mean initial weight 179 g) to diets containing fish meal ranging from 40 to 5% of the diet, as well as the response to a low fish meal diet supplemented with krill hydrolysate were evaluated over a 14-week growth period. Final weights (percent gain) ranged from 588 g (237.8%) to 651 g (258.5%) with feed conversion efficiencies ranging from 62.1% to 69.9% and protein conversion efficiencies ranging from 27.8% to 30%. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed for diet intake, feed conversion efficiency, protein conversion efficiency, intraperitoneal fat ratio, or weight gain. Significant differences in protein intake and the hepatosomatic index were observed. The present findings suggest that fish meal can be reduced to 5% of the diet by replacing it with solvent-extracted soybean meal as well as methionine and phosphorus supplements. Although diets without poultry by-product meal were not tested, it is presumed that the poultry meal enhanced the palatability of the diets, allowing the replacement of fish meal with soybean meal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of stocking density on the growth performance and economic feasibility for the culture of Litopenaeus vannamei fed plant based diets and cultured in production ponds and an outdoor tank system. Juvenile shrimps (0.015g initial weight) were stocked in sixteen 0.1ha ponds with stocking densities of 17, 26, 35, and 45shrimpm−2 and cultured under standardized pond production conditions for 16weeks. Daily feed rates were predetermined using expected growth per week of 1.3g, a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.2, and an estimated survival rate of 78%. Additionally, juvenile L. vannamei (2.8g initial weight) were stocked into 24,800-L tanks at the densities of 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, and 65shrimpm−2 with 4 replicates per treatment and cultured for 10weeks. Daily feed inputs were calculated based upon an expected weekly weight gain of 1.3g and an expected FCR of 1.2. At the conclusion of the trials, final production, final mean weight, FCR, size distribution and survival were determined. The results for the pond study demonstrated that there was a trend of negative correlation between stocking density and growth. Mean final weight (±SD) of shrimp across treatments ranged from 20.70 to 25.25g. Survival ranged from 58.0 to 65.1%, and FCR was between 1.17 and 1.54. These differences were not significant (P≥0.10) among treatments, however, higher stocking density resulted in significantly greater yield. Final production was between 2660 and 6149kgha−1. There were no significant differences in partial returns among different densities for the pond study. The results for the outdoor tanks showed that shrimp growth were inversely related to stocking density, with mean final weight ranged from 13.42 to 16.13g. Final biomass ranged between 286.15 and 637.20gtank−1. There was a negative correlation between stocking density and FCR with FCR ranging from 1.15 to 1.54. Survival ranged from 93.4±5.6 to 100.0±0.0%, however, there was no significant effect of stocking density on survival rate. Additionally, there were no significant differences in production value and partial income data among treatments under pond production study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chicken feather meal is often viewed as an undesirable product, as most people think of ground up feathers, which have many processing and nutritional issues. However, modern feather meals are produced through a hydrolysis process which greatly improves protein digestibility. Given the poor understanding of the quality of these meals, we chose to evaluate the efficacy of hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) as a protein source in channel catfish feeds. For this work, we investigated the replacement of either poultry-by-product meal (PBM) or soybean meal (SBM) in a practical feed formulation for juvenile catfish. The basal diet contained 6% PBM and 56.5% SBM. For the first series of diets, we incrementally replaced PBM with 2.5% and 5% hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM). The second series included five experimental diets with SBM replaced by HFM at a rate of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 15%. Diets were formulated to be iso‑nitrogenous and essential amino acids were supplemented to maintain minimal levels that met the nutritional requirements. Catfish were stocked at 15 fish per aquaria using four replicates per treatment and grown for 78 days. The survival of the catfish was above 85% across all treatments with no significant differences found due to diet. Apart from one diet, the inclusion of HFM did not influence the growth or FCR of the fish. Diet 3, which contained 5% HFM as a complete replacement for PBM had significantly lower growth and FCR than the other treatments. These results indicate that up to 20% HFM can be used in catfish feeds a as long as there is a low level of another animal protein. However, the complete replacement of PM with HFM was not successful. • HFM can successfully SBM at rates up to 15% without compromising fish growth performance. • Apart from one diet, the inclusion of HFM did not influence the growth or FCR of the fish. • Up to 20% HFM can be used in catfish feeds a as long as there is a low level of another animal protein. • Complete replacement of PM with HFM was not successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve ingredients obtained from new, non-genetically modified soybean cultivars as well as commercially available sources of soybean meal (SBM) were evaluated in practical feed formulations for the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei , using both digestibility and growth trials. Apparent digestibility coefficients for energy (ADE) and protein (ADP) were determined using chromic oxide as inert marker and the 70:30 replacement technique. Digestibility coefficients for ADE and ADP ranged from 76.6 to 91.3% and 93.6 to 99.8%, respectively. In general, two distinct groups of high and moderate digestibility values were observed. A separate 8-week growth trial was conducted to evaluate selected SBMs using six replicate tanks per dietary treatment (10 shrimp per tank, initial weight 0.52 ± 0.04 g). An SBM-based reference diet was formulated using commercial SBM (45.3), which was then completely replaced on iso-nitrogenous basis with other experimental SBMs. Significant differences ( P ≤ 0.05) were observed in growth performance but not survival. In general, trends in digestibility values were similar to those of the growth trial. Ingredients (I)-16, I-17, I-18, and I-19 demonstrate relatively higher values in terms of digestibility as well as supporting good growth. Results indicate that genetic selection of soybean for nutritional characteristics of the meal has the potential to increase the nutritional values of SBM for shrimp feeds. Statement of relevance This study provides useful and important information of 12 varieties soybean meal in shrimp to support the aquaculture feed industry development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present study aims to identify the limiting amino acids in low fish meal, soy-based diets in juvenile white seabass. Two 8-week trials were conducted. The first trial evaluated three diets containing 36, 18 and 9% fish meal in the diet (FM36, FM18, FM9, respectively), with the last two diets being supplemented with methionine and taurine. In the second trial, seven diets were formulated, including a high (36%) fish meal diet (HFM, similar to FM36) and five diets with medium (18%) fishmeal levels. These included an unsupplemented diet (MFM) and four with increasing levels of methionine (+M, +2M) and taurine (+2MT and +2M2T) supplementation. An additional diet was formulated with soy protein and poultry by-product meal to completely replace fish meal (PM). In trial 1, fish fed the FM18 diet grew significantly faster than fish fed the FM36 and FM9 diets. In trial 2, fish fed the +2M2T diet grew better than fish fed any other diets, and feed efficiency was highest in fish fed the +2M2T and PM diets. Fish fed the unsupplemented MFM diet had the lowest growth and feed efficiency. Methionine supplementation (+M and +2M) had a limited but significant effect on growth performance compared to MFM-fed fish. Fish fed the PM diet showed similar growth as those fed the +2MT and commercial diets, but was lower than +2M2T diet. Across both trials, growth rate was highly correlated with dietary taurine, except in diets containing less than 18% fish meal, i.e., diets PM and FM9. Both of these diets had equivalent or superior dietary taurine levels compared to diets +2M2T and FM18, but resulted in significantly poorer growth. This suggests that taurine is the first-limiting nutrient in feeds containing at least 18% fish meal while methionine was marginally deficient. In diets containing lower levels of fish meal however, methionine and taurine supplementation is ineffective; hence another (undetermined) nutrient became first-limiting. Additional research is necessary to identify this limiting nutrient, as well as determine the specific taurine requirement of WSB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As the ethanol industry matures and adopts new technologies, the co-products produced are also changing with their composition adjusted to meet feed industry needs. High protein distillers dried grain with yeast (HP40Y) is a relatively new product which is a variant of distillers dried grains that could be used as an improved protein source in catfish feed formulations. To evaluate the efficacy of HP40Y, a 10-weeks growth trial was conducted on the growth performance of juvenile catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (mean initial weight 1.80 ± 0.05 g). In the growth trial, graded levels of HP40Y (0.00, 3.10, 6.20 and 9.30%) were used to replace poultry meal (PM: 6.0, 4.0, 2.0 and 0.0%) and other series of diets were used with HP40Y (5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 30.0 and 40.0%) to replace soybean meal (SBM: 51.00, 46.49, 41.90, 37.40, 28.20, 19.20%). Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) indicated a significant interaction between replaced protein (PM and SBM) and the inclusion level of HP40Y (up to 20%) on biomass, mean final weight, weight gain, and FCR (P < 0.05) of catfish. Therefore, the two sets of diets were analyzed separately. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey multiple comparison test was used to detect significant differences between treatment means while regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between HP40Y inclusion level in the diet and weight gain and whole-body protein level of fish. In PM replacement series, complete replacement of PM with HP40Y in diet PDG9 resulted in poor performance, indicating a possible nutritional deficiency when the animal protein was removed. As a replacement for SBM, increasing levels of HP40Y only resulted in reduced growth of catfish when included in the diet at 30 and 40%. Results indicate that HP4Y is a good protein source when used at levels less than 30% of the diet. • HP40Y was replaced with soybean meal (SBM) and poultry meal (PM). • Complete replacement of PM resulted poor performance. • HP40Y is good plant protein source, used up to 20% to replace SBM. • No differences were found in protein, fat content and ash of body composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four growth trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of fishmeal replacement with various levels of soybean meal (SBM) and poultry byproduct meal (PBM) on growth performance in practical diets for juvenile and sub-adult red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus. In addition, the need for taurine and palatability enhancement (krill meal) were evaluated in the high SBM, low fishmeal diet. Across the trials, ten diets were formulated to contain 36% protein and 10% lipids. All diets except for one included a taurine supplement of 1%. A supplement of 5% krill meal was added as an attractant to one of the low fishmeal and high SBM diets to explore potential palatability issues associated with plant-based proteins. No statistically significant differences were found between the performance of the basal diet and the PBM replacement diets, indicating that PBM is a suitable replacement for fishmeal in red snapper diets. On the contrary, a clear negative linear relationship was observed with increasing levels of SBM replacement. The reduced growth performance of high SBM inclusion diets is unlikely to be due to palatability issues, as no significant difference was observed between the performance of the high SBM diet with krill meal and an identical diet without krill meal. The significant reduction in growth observed in snapper fed a diet lacking a taurine supplement indicates that red snapper have a taurine requirement that is limiting at low (0.2%) levels. Gut samples were taken from fish that received the SBM diets to determine if reduced growth performance could be attributed to inflammation. However, no statistically significant difference was observed, indicating that reduced growth was not necessarily the result of a hypersensitivity reaction. Further investigation will be necessary to determine the optimal taurine requirement and required dietary supplements to improve the performance of low fishmeal feed formulations. • Fishmeal was replaced with soybean meal (SBM) and poultry by-product meal (PBM). • 100% fishmeal replacement with PBM showed no difference in growth of red snapper. • Negative linear relationships between growth and increasing levels of SBM in diets • The addition of krill meal as an attractant did not improve growth performance. • Red snapper have a taurine requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 70-day trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary protein matrix (soybean meal or poultry byproduct meal-PBM) on taurine efficacy and retention in juvenile white seabass Atractoscion nobilis. Diets were formulated to contain 40% protein and 12% lipids with taurine supplementation ranging from 0 to 1.37% taurine. Fish were fed 4–8% body weight/day over the course of the trial. Growth performance metrics and taurine retention in fish were measured and compared using a linear regression model with diet type as covariates (growth parameters) or a quadratic model with diet type as covariates (taurine retention and deposition). Fish fed diets with soy proteins had lower percent gain, survival, feed fed/fish, and thermal-unit growth coefficients (TGC) at similar levels of taurine inclusion when compared to diets with primarily PBM as the protein source. Taurine level was positively correlated with mean final weight, weight gain, percent gain, TGC of fish regardless of diet, and negatively correlated with FCR regardless of the diet. A taurine requirement based on whole-body deposition was calculated to be 1.18%, 1.21%, and 1.03% for all diets, PBM diets, and soy diets, respectively. These results demonstrate that the protein source did not influence the taurine requirement and suggest that taurine deficiencies are not the driver of lower TGC or survival in white seabass fed diets with soy, and that other factors warrant investigation. • White sea bass (WSB) were grown with varied taurine levels • The taurine requirement was lower in soy diets than poultry meal diets • There was no evidence of a conditional taurine requirement in WSB fed soy proteins [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]