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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314148

Title: Minimizing use of fish meal in sunshine bass diets using standard and new varieties of non-genetically modified soybeans

Author
item RAMENA, YATHISH - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item LOCHMANN, REBECCA - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item Rawles, Steven - Steve

Submitted to: Annual Rural Life Conference, U of A at Pine Bluff, AR
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2015
Publication Date: 2/27/2015
Citation: Ramena, Y., Lochmann, R., Rawles, S.D. 2015. Minimizing use of fish meal in sunshine bass diets using standard and new varieties of non-genetically modified soybeans. Annual Rural Life Conference, U of A at Pine Bluff, AR. p. 21 - 22.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Improved plant ingredients are needed to support sustainable culture of carnivorous fish, such as hybrid striped bass (HSB). We are evaluating meals made from new strains of non-genetically-modified soybeans (non-GMO) with high protein and reduced anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) on HSB nutrient digestibility, growth rates, nutrient retention, gut histology, non-specific immune responses and resistance to Columnaris bacterial challenge. The study is being accomplished in two stages: 1) a digestibility trial, and 2) a feeding trial. Diets for the digestibility trial contained a 70:30 ratio of reference diet to one of the following test ingredients: fish meal, soy protein concentrate, and three new varieties of soybean meal (SBM) modified to enhance their nutritional value. Yttrium oxide was used as an inert marker in all diets. Hybrid striped bass (initial weight: 200 to 220g) were stocked in three replicate 400-L tanks per diet. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation for three weeks, and feces were collected by manual stripping 5 hours post-feeding. Stripping occurred once each week until sufficient dry feces were obtained for each diet. The test ingredients, diets and feces samples were analyzed for proximate, energy, Y2O3, and amino acid composition. The apparent digestibility coefficients of nutrients in the test diets and ingredients were calculated, and diets for growth trials will be formulated using the digestibility coefficients. The growth trial will include several control diets with 100% protein from either fish meal, soy protein concentrate, or traditional soybean meal. The three experimental diets will contain 100% protein from one of the new soy varieties. Fish will be fed to satiation for 12 weeks. At harvest, health assays, nutrient retention, gut histology, and a bacterial challenge will be performed on fish to assess diets. The new non-GMO soybeans with fewer ANFs are expected to improve HSB performance compared to standard soybean meal.