Abstract
BackgroundAn 8-week feeding trial was designed to evaluate the potential of yellow mealworm (MW; Tenebrio molitor) as a locally available nutrient-rich feedstuff for rainbow trout fry (Oncorhynchus mykiss).MethodsTriplicate groups of fish (mean ± SE; 1.11 ± 0.01 g) were assigned to each of the five isonitrogenous and isocaloric practical diets containing graded level of a full fat MW (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28%) at the expense of fish meal (designated as MW0, MW7, MW14, MW21, and MW28, respectively).ResultsFish growth performance in terms of weight gain and specific growth rate significantly increased with increasing dietary MW level up to 14% and then declined when dietary MW levels further increased to 28%. Significantly higher protein efficiency ratio and lower feed conversion ratio were found in fish fed with diets containing MW compared to fish fed the control MW0. Myeloperoxidase activity was significantly higher in fish fed MW7 diet compared to fish fed the MW0 diet. Fish fed the MW14 and MW28 diets had significantly higher lysozyme activities than those fed the MW0 diet.ConclusionsOverall, the efficacy of MW as promising alternative to fish meal in practical diets for rainbow trout fry has been proved not only in relation to growth rates and feed utilization, but also from the viewpoint of immunopotentiation effects.
Highlights
An 8-week feeding trial was designed to evaluate the potential of yellow mealworm (MW; Tenebrio molitor) as a locally available nutrient-rich feedstuff for rainbow trout fry (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
It has been demonstrated that meals derived from MW could successfully substitute part of dietary fish meal (FM) in feed for several commercially important marine and freshwater farmed finfish species including African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (Ng et al 2001), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (Belforti et al 2015), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (Sánchez-Muros et al 2016), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) (Gasco et al 2016), gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) (Piccolo et al 2017), and blackspot sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo) (Iaconisi et al 2017)
Since the concept of optimal inclusion rates of alternative protein sources, as substitutes to FM, in fish diets is associated with optimal growth and carcass composition traits and with optimal health, we explored the possibility of partial replacement of FM by MW in diets for rainbow trout fry in terms of selected plasma biochemical parameters and immune parameters
Summary
An 8-week feeding trial was designed to evaluate the potential of yellow mealworm (MW; Tenebrio molitor) as a locally available nutrient-rich feedstuff for rainbow trout fry (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Larvae of darkling beetle (Tenebrio molitor L.), known as yellow mealworm (MW), is one of the most promising candidate as alternative source of protein for use in aquafeed, primarily due to its high nutritional value and the economic feasibility of its large-scale production (see Sánchez-Muros et al 2014; Jeong et al Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (2020) 23:12. It has been demonstrated that meals derived from MW could successfully substitute part of dietary FM in feed for several commercially important marine and freshwater farmed finfish species including African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (Ng et al 2001), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (Belforti et al 2015), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (Sánchez-Muros et al 2016), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) (Gasco et al 2016), gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) (Piccolo et al 2017), and blackspot sea bream (Pagellus bogaraveo) (Iaconisi et al 2017). Inadequate fatty acid composition absence of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs), and high proportions of non-starch polysaccharides, like chitin, are among the factors limiting the use of MW as a sustainable source of protein in aquafeed
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