ARS | Publication request: Apparent digestibility of possible fish meal replacements in Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar and Arctic Charr, Salvelinus alpinus

Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 9, 2011
Publication Date: March 3, 2011
Citation: Burr, G.S., Barrows, F., Gaylord, G., Wolters, W.R. 2011. Apparent digestibility of possible fish meal replacements in Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar and Arctic Charr, Salvelinus alpinus [abstract]. Aquaculture America Conference. p. 65.

Technical Abstract: To increase the sustainability of salmonid production, alternative protein sources to fish meal need to be identified. Many studies have examined terrestrial plant meals/protein concentrates as alternatives. Recently the focus has turned to aquatic protists and plants as well as by-products from other industries, such as breweries. Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, were fed diets containing canola meal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, soy protein concentrate, barley protein concentrate, and solar dried algae (spirulina) included at 30% of the test diet. Barley protein concentrate had the highest apparent protein digestibility values for both species (96.3% for Atlantic salmon and 85.1% for arctic charr), followed by corn gluten meal. Algae had the highest organic matter digestibility value for arctic charr (80.1%) while corn gluten meal had the highest organic matter digestibility value for Atlantic salmon (88.4%). Algae had a high energy apparent digestibility coefficient (82.4 salmon, 82.7 charr) along with corn gluten meal (78.5 salmon, 82.7 charr) for both species. In general, Atlantic salmon had higher apparent digestibility coefficients compared to Arctic charr for most of the tested ingredients. Both corn gluten and barley protein concentrate appear good candidates as alternative protein sources with both species.