Abstract
The present study was conducted to determine whether corn gluten meal (CGM) can partially replace fishmeal and to identify its optimal CGM inclusion rate in puffer (Takifugu fasciatus) under laboratory conditions. Five isonitrogenous (45.38 to 45.64% crude protein) and isoenergetic (22.03 to 22.21 kJ/g gross energy) experimental diets were formulated. Diet 1 contained no CGM and served as control diet. Diets 2 to 5 contained 5, 10, 15, and 20% of CGM, which replaced 7.4, 14.8, 22.2, and 29.6% of fishmeal protein of the control diet, respectively. After 2 weeks of acclimation period, 11 fish (initial body weight = 41.26 ± 1.09 g; initial fish length = 12.94 ± 0.22 cm) were randomly selected and stocked into each of 15 aquaria. Experimental diets were randomly assigned to triplicate groups of fish. The results showed that there was no significant difference in weight gain, weight gain ratio (WGR), length growth ratio (LGR), food conversion (FC), and relative fatness among fish fed control diet, 5% CGM diet, and 10% CGM diet. Fish fed 15% CGM diet and 20% CGM diet had significantly lower weight gain, WGR, LGR, and relative fatness, but had significantly higher FC than fish fed the control diet. Increasing CGM percentage from 0 to 10% had no influence on apparent digestibility coefficient of protein and total essential amino acids. However, the further increase in CGM percentage from 10 to 20% significantly decreased apparent digestibility coefficient of protein and total essential amino acids. It is concluded that the upper limit of CGM for optimal growth performance and digestibility in puffer feed was 10%. Up to 14.8% of fishmeal protein of the control diet could be replaced by CGM protein without adverse effect on growth performance and digestibility of puffer.
Published Version
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