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Title: Influence of mineral supplementation on growth in yellow perch Perca flavescens fed a soy-based diet

Author
item Shepherd, Brian
item Sepulveda Villet, Osvaldo
item Barrows, Frederic
item SEALEY, WENDY - Us Fish And Wildlife Service
item GAYLORD, T. GIBSON - Us Fish And Wildlife Service
item Palmquist, Debra
item HILL, HEIDI - Cargill Feed Applications
item BINKOWSKI, FRED - Water Institute

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2013
Publication Date: 2/9/2014
Citation: Shepherd, B.S., Sepulveda Villet, O.J., Barrows, F., Sealey, W.M., Gaylord, T., Palmquist, D.E., Hill, H., Binkowski, F.P. 2014. Influence of mineral supplementation on growth in yellow perch Perca flavescens fed a soy-based diet. Book of Abstracts World Aquaculture Society. Paper No. 224.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Little is known of the nutritional requirements for the growth of yellow perch in intensive aquaculture. Consequently, commercial feed formulations are based on nutritional requirements for rainbow trout, containing large quantities of fish meal and oil which are not optimal for other species. Plant proteins and oils are less expensive and more sustainable than marine sources, but inclusion at high rates can reduce palatability and nutrient availability, which can lead to disease and reduced growth performance. We conducted a nutritional study to determine the micronutrient (mineral) requirements for efficient growth in yellow perch, using soy-derived protein sources. Three isocaloric fishmeal-free diets were formulated with similar macronutrient content (40% crude protein/10% fat), but differing in how much mineral mix was added to the diets (un-supplemented, PM 1; adequate, PM 2; excess, PM 3). Growth performance and feed acceptance were evaluated over an 18-week period. We compared results from fish that were fed the experimental diets to fish that were fed a commercial fishmeal-based diet with a similar macronutrient profile. Overall, fish fed the PM 1-3 diets exhibited significantly lower feed intake and lower growth when compared to those that were fed the fishmeal-based diet. Within the PM diets tested, fish that were fed the PM 2 showed the highest feed intake and growth, suggesting that this mineral supplementation level is adequate for use with plant-based proteins. However, the overall low feed intake observed in fish fed the PM 1-3 diets suggests that these diets were less palatable than the commercial fishmeal-based reference diet. For all diets tested, animals showed a high visceral fat content, highlighting the need for additional work to define the macronutrient and dietary energy requirements for this species.