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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #230554
Title: Replacement of Soybean Meal in Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Diets with Cottonseed Meal and Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles

Author
item ROBINSON, E - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY
item LI, M - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2008
Publication Date: 8/15/2008
Citation: Robinson, E.H., Li, M.H. 2008. Replacement of Soybean Meal in Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Diets with Cottonseed Meal and Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 39:521-527.

Interpretive Summary: Since soybean meal (SBM) is a relatively expensive protein source, it would be beneficial to replace all or part of SBM with more economical protein sources. Two products that we are interested in are cottonseed meal (CSM) and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Cottonseed meal is a locally available product that is generally priced competitively with SBM. Distillers dried grains with soluble are becoming more abundant at an attractive price as ethanol plants come on line as a result of new energy policies in USA. Results from this study show that about 50% of SBM can be replaced with CSM + supplemental lysine in catfish diets without negatively affecting fish performance. Further, DDGS appears to be a suitable ingredient for use in catfish diets at least at levels up to 30% or so when the diet is supplemented with lysine. Based on current ingredient prices, the use of CSM and DDGS to replace SBM would reduce feed cost by 10 to 20%.

Technical Abstract: Two pond experiments were conducted to evaluate cottonseed meal (CSM), distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and supplemental lysine as replacements for soybean meal (SBM) in channel catfish diets. In Experiment 1, fish fed diets in which SBM was totally replaced with CSM gained similar weight as fish fed control diet, but fish fed CSM diet in Experiment 2 had 9.5% lower weight gain than fish fed control diet. In both experiments, feed conversion increased significantly for fish fed CSM diet. There were no consistent trends in body composition of fish fed CSM diet versus control diet. Fish fed the DDGS + SMB diet had higher (Experiment 1) or similar (Experiment 2) weight gain than fish fed control diet. Feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in both experiments for fish fed SBM + DDGS diet than that of fish fed control diet. Body fat tended to be higher in fish fed SBM + DDGS diet compared to fish fed control diet. It appears that about 50% of SBM can be replaced with CSM + lysine in catfish diets without negatively affecting fish performance. Further, DDGS can be used up to at least 30% when the diet is supplemented with lysine.