Effects of replacing fishmeal with different cottonseed meals on growth, feed utilization, haematological indexes, intestinal and liver morphology of juvenile turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus L.).

A ten-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing fishmeal with two differently processed cottonseed meals (CSM), namely XC and SC, separately in turbot (5.28 ± 0.02 g). Nine isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated without fishmeal replacement (FM), 150 g/kg (XC15, SC15), 250 g/kg (XC25, SC25), 350 g/kg (XC35, SC35) and 450 g/kg (XC45, SC45) of fishmeal replaced by CSM. Fishmeal was successfully replaced by XC in turbot diets without growth reduction at 350 g/kg, but not by SC even at 150 g/kg. The apparent digestibility coefficients of SC-included diets were significantly lower than XC-included diets at same replacement level. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase and superoxide dismutase were significantly affected in XC45 and SC45 group. The XC45 and SC-included diets caused shortened distal intestine villi height and structural damage of liver compared with FM diet. This study indicated that different processing methods could affect the nutritional value of CSM and effect as a protein source for turbot. CSM with high quality could be an important alternative dietary protein source for juvenile turbot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]