Nutritional Evaluation of Fishmeal Free Diets in European Seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, Feeds Reared in Fresh Water

Abstract

Five experimental FMFD were formulated to contain meat meal (MM), poultry by-product meal (PBM), mixed of MM+PBM instead of fishmeal (control) and plant protein ingredients. Methionine and lysine were supplied )when it is needed( to adjust amino acid profile in FMFDs. All the tested diets were offered to fish in triplicate tanks, two times daily, satiated for 90 days feeding period. Growth and survival rate values of fish fed FMFD containing mixture of plant protein were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those fed the control diet. However, nutritional parameters improved in case of diets had MM or PBP. Although, no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed among fish group fed diet of MM+PPM and those fed the basal diet in specific growth rate, feed conversion, protein efficiency ratio, productive protein value and energy retention. The best-feed conversion ratio was achieved with the fish group fed MM+PBP diet and it was not significantly (P>0.05) among the basal diet. In the economic analysis, the best Profitability Index was achieved with group feeding mixed of meat meal and poultry by product meal diet, meat meal diet, poultry by product diet and fishmeal diet respectively. Therefore, the findings of this study will encourage feed manufacturers to utilize alternative proteins more efficiently in generating low-cost and sustainable aqua feeds.Fish fed diet MM+PBP gave not significant differences with the basal diet showing the possibility to unused of FM in diets sea bass juveniles reared in fresh water.