Exploring Protein-Based Fishmeal Alternatives for Aquaculture Feeds in Bangladesh

Simple SummaryThere has been a dramatic increase in duck meat consumption. As a result, ducks are an interesting alternative type of livestock. Animal-based proteins such as fishmeal and animal by-products are valuable nutrients with high digestibility, but they are associated with cost fluctuations, pathogen contamination, and environmental impacts. Therefore, plant-based proteins are used, but they have the disadvantages of inappropriate amino acid profiles, anti-nutritional factors, and mycotoxin contamination. Insect meal contains favorable nutrients and low production costs and is environmentally friendly; however, there is a large number of insect species. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to screen insects for their potential use as a protein source in the duck diet. Insect meal with a high proportion of low-digestible components was shown to have low digestibility. In conclusion, yellow mealworm larvae, giant mealworm larvae, lesser wax moth larvae, house fly larvae, mulberry silkworm pupae, and American cockroach nymph have the potential to be alternative protein sources for ducks.There has been a dramatic increase in duck meat consumption. As a result, ducks are an interesting alternative type of livestock. Animal-based proteins such as fishmeal and animal by-products are valuable nutrients with high digestibility, but they are associated with cost fluctuations, pathogen contamination, and environmental impacts. Therefore, plant-based proteins are used, but they have the disadvantages of inappropriate amino acid profiles, anti-nutritional factors, and mycotoxin contamination. Insect meal contains favorable nutrients and low production costs and is environmentally friendly; however, there is a large number of insect species. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to screen insects for their potential use as a protein source in the duck diet. Insect meal with a high proportion of low-digestible components was shown to have low digestibility. Yellow mealworm larvae, giant mealworm larvae, lesser wax moth larvae, house fly larvae, mulberry silkworm pupae, and American cockroach nymph have the potential to be alternative protein sources for ducks. Insect meal has been widely studied and is used in animal nutrition to replace common protein sources that have several disadvantages and to promote sustainability in animal production. Two-step in vitro digestibility using crude enzyme extracts from digestive tracts of meat-type ducks (Cherry Valley) was performed on general protein sources and insect meals to compare the in vitro digestibility of organic matter (OMd) and crude protein (CPd). Variation in chemical components between different types of insect meal was found. A positive correlation was found between OMd and the ether extract composition in insect meal, whereas a negative correlation was shown between crude fiber and acid detergent fiber. Contrasting relationships were found between CPd and crude fiber and acid detergent fiber in insect meal. In conclusion, the yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor), giant mealworm larvae (Zophobas morio), lesser wax moth larvae (Achroia grisella), house fly larvae (Musca domestica), mulberry silkworm pupae (Bombyx mori), and American cockroach nymph (Periplaneta americana) are potential protein sources for ducks based on OMd and CPd digestibility after screening with an in vitro digestibility technique.

An eight-week feeding trial was carried out to examine the effects of diets formulated with different combinations of novel feed ingredients as substitutes for fishmeal (FM). The research focused on evaluating their influence on fatty acid and amino acid profiles, immunological and plasma biochemical analysis, immune related gene expression and histological analysis of Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei. Five diets were developed for Penaeus vannamei , all of which were isonitrogenous (36%) and isolipidic (6%). Diet 1 (control): primary source of protein was fishmeal (FM); diet 2: replaced FM with a 1:1 ratio of poultry by-product meal (PBM) and single-cell protein (SCP); diet 3: replaced FM with a 1:1:1 ratio of insect meal (IM), rapeseed meal (RM), and SCP; diet 4 replaced FM with fish waste (FW), peanut meal (PM), and SCP in a 1:1:1 ratio; diet 5 replaced FM with PBM, SCP, IM, FW, PM, and RM in equal amounts (1:1:1:1:1:1). Nursery reared juvenile shrimps (1.05± 0.03 g) were stocked in triplicates in the experimental tanks at the rate of 35 shrimp per tank. The plasma biochemical responses and amino acid profile did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between the dietary groups. EPA was significantly higher in diets 1 and 5 which was not different from diet 4 and DHA was significantly higher in diet 1 which was not different from diet 5. Prophenoloxidase activity (proPO) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in diets 1 and 5, and respiratory burst activity was significantly (P<0.05) higher in diets 1 and 5 which was not different from diet 3. The immune gene expression (LYZ) was upregulated in diets 1 and 5. More B cells and few R cells were observed in diets 1 and 5 compared to other diets. Thus, the present study concluded that a mixture of PBM, SCP, IM, RM, PM and FW (1:1:1:1:1:1) serves as a good combination diet to totally replace FM in shrimp feed without compromising the fatty acid and amino acid profile and health of Pacific white shrimp (P. vannamei).

Trends and prospects in dairy protein replacement in yogurt and cheese

The present study tested the hypothesis that the liver lipid-lowering effect of insect meal (IM) is caused by its low methionine concentration. A total of fifty, male obese Zucker rats were randomly assigned to five groups of 10 rats each (casein (C), IM, IM + Met, IM + Cys, and IM + EAA). While group C received a diet with casein, the IM-fed groups received a diet with IM as the protein source. In groups IM + Met, IM + Cys and IM + EAA, the diets were additionally supplemented with methionine, cysteine and essential amino acids (EAA), respectively. Hepatic concentrations of triacylglycerols and cholesterol, and hepatic mRNA levels and activities of lipogenic and cholesterogenic enzymes were markedly lower in the IM-fed groups than in group C (p < 0.05). All of these parameters either did not differ across the IM-fed groups or were only slightly higher in groups IM + Met, IM + Cys and IM+EAA than in the group IM. In conclusion, the results indicate that a difference in the amino acid composition between IM and casein, a low concentration of methionine in IM and a reduced cysteine synthesis secondary to a decreased methionine availability resulting from feeding IM are not causative for the lipid-lowering effect of IM.

The production of Single-Cell Protein (SCP) from agricultural by-products and waste has emerged as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for addressing global protein demand in human and animal nutrition. Agricultural residues such as stalks, fruit peels, and seed remnants serve as low-cost substrates for microbial fermentation, facilitating SCP synthesis. Various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and algae, are utilized for their ability to produce high-quality protein with balanced amino acid profiles, potentially replacing traditional plant- and animal-derived proteins. This review explores SCP production processes, microbial sources, and optimal processing techniques, emphasizing their role in sustainable protein supply and environmental impact mitigation. The selection of appropriate microorganisms and fermentation methods significantly influences SCP yield and nutritional composition. SCP production from renewable biomass not only addresses food security challenges but also reduces agricultural waste and greenhouse gas emissions, supporting circular bioeconomy initiatives. Furthermore, SCP application extends beyond nutrition to industrial sectors such as food processing, bio-based materials, and wastewater treatment. Despite its advantages, SCP production faces challenges such as high nucleic acid content, potential microbial toxins, and process scalability. Continued advancements in bioprocess optimization, metabolic engineering, and strain selection are crucial for enhancing SCP efficiency and market viability. This review highlights SCP’s potential as a transformative protein source, offering an environmentally responsible and economically viable alternative to conventional protein production systems.

Muscle Kinetics and Exercise: Any Advantages of Dietary Proteins

The optimum dietary essential amino acid profile for gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata) juveniles

Eight Angus x Gelbvieh heifers (445 +/- 74.5 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square double double-crossover designed experiment to assess the effect of restricted forage intake on site and extent of digestion and flow of essential AA amino acids to the small intestine. Heifers were fed chopped (2.54 cm) bromegrass hay (9.2% CP, 64% NDF on an OM basis) at one of four percentages of maintenance (30, 60, 90, and 120%). Experimental periods were 21 d in length, with 17 d of adaptation followed by 4 d of intensive sample collection, after which maintenance requirements and subsequent level of intake were adjusted for BW change. True ruminal OM, NDF, and N digestion (g/d) decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with decreasing forage intake. When expressed as a percentage of OM intake, true ruminal OM and N digestibility were not affected (P = 0.23 to 0.87), whereas ruminal NDF digestibility tended to increase (P = 0.09) as forage intake decreased. Total and microbial essential amino acid flow to the duodenum decreased linearly (P = 0.001) from 496.1 to 132.1 g/d and 329.1 to 96.0 g/d, as intake decreased from 120 to 30% of maintenance intake, respectively. Although the profile of individual essential amino acids in duodenal digesta (P = 0.001 to 0.07) and isolated ruminal microbes differed (P = 0.001 to 0.09) across treatment, the greatest difference noted for total and microbial essential amino acid profile was only 0.3 percentage units. Because total and microbial flow of essential amino acids to the small intestine decreased as OM intake decreased, but true ruminal degradability of individual essential amino acids (P = 0.17 to 0.99) and digesta essential amino acid profile were comparable across treatments, total essential amino acid supply to the small intestine was predicted using OM intake as the independent variable. The resulting simple linear regression equation was: total essential amino acid flow = (0.055 x OM intake) + 1.546 (r2 = 0.91). The model developed in this experiment accounted for more of the variation in the data set than the current beef cattle NRC model, which under-predicted total flow of essential amino acids to the duodenum. The prediction equation developed herein can be used to estimate the supply of essential amino acids reaching the small intestine when formulating supplements to compensate for potential amino acid deficiencies resulting from restricted forage intake.

Eight Angus × Gelbvieh heifers (445 ± 74.5 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square double double-cross-over designed experiment to assess the effect of restricted forage intake on site and extent of digestion and flow of essential AA amino acids to the small intestine. Heifers were fed chopped (2.54 cm) bromegrass hay (9.2% CP, 64% NDF on an OM basis) at one of four percentages of maintenance (30, 60, 90, and 120%). Experimental periods were 21 d in length, with 17 d of adaptation followed by 4 d of intensive sample collection, after which maintenance requirements and subsequent level of intake were adjusted for BW change. True ruminal OM, NDF, and N digestion (g/d) decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with decreasing forage intake. When expressed as a percentage of OM intake, true ruminal OM and N digestibility were not affected (P = 0.23 to 0.87), whereas ruminal NDF digestibility tended to increase (P = 0.09) as forage intake decreased. Total and microbial essential amino acid flow to the duodenum decreased linearly (P = 0.001) from 496.1 to 132.1 g/d and 329.1 to 96.0 g/d, as intake decreased from 120 to 30% of maintenance intake, respectively. Although the profile of individual essential amino acids in duodenal digesta (P = 0.001 to 0.07) and isolated ruminal microbes differed (P = 0.001 to 0.09) across treatment, the greatest difference noted for total and microbial essential amino acid profile was only 0.3 percentage units. Because total and microbial flow of essential amino acids to the small intestine decreased as OM intake decreased, but true ruminal degradability of individual essential amino acids (P = 0.17 to 0.99) and digesta essential amino acid profile were comparable across treatments, total essential amino acid supply to the small intestine was predicted using OM intake as the independent variable. The resulting simple linear regression equation was: total essential amino acid flow = (0.055 × OM intake) + 1.546 (r2 = 0.91). The model developed in this experiment accounted for more of the variation in the data set than the current beef cattle NRC. model, which under-predicted total flow of essential amino acids to the duodenum. The prediction equation developed herein can be used to estimate the supply of essential amino acids reaching the small intestine when formulating supplements to compensate for potential amino acid deficiencies resulting from restricted forage intake.

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of rumen degradable protein (RDP) level and source on the duodenal essential amino acid (AA) composition of Dohne Merino wethers. The animals had ad libitum access to wheat straw (32 g crude protein (CP)/kg DM; 742 g neutral detergent fibre (NDF)/kg DM) and water. In the first experimental treatments casein provided 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 g supplemental RDP/d. In experiment two, urea-nitrogen replaced 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the true protein in the isonitrogenous treatments. Expressing essential AA concentration as a percentage of duodenal protein indicated that increasing RDP levels tended to decrease arginine, but significantly increased tryptophan concentrations. Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine and total essential AA concentrations were not affected by dietary RDP level. Increasing the urea-N content of RDP supplements significantly decreased isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, valine and total essential amino acid (TEAA) concentrations. Histidine and threonine proportions also tended to decrease with higher non-protein N levels. When the essential AA profile is expressed in relation to lysine, the concentrations of histidine, leucine, phenylalanine and threonine decreased significantly. Arginine and valine showed a decreasing trend and tryptophan increased significantly as RDP levels were raised. The largest differences appeared between 0 and 40 g RDP supplementation, while the AA patterns for the rest of the treatments remained relatively constant. Substituting urea for true RDP induced a variable response in arginine and isoleucine, but did not affect any of the other AA\'s. Increasing RDP intakes significantly increased the duodenal flow of every essential AA, except arginine, and showed a strong tendency to increase TEAA flow as well. Replacing true RDP with urea significantly reduced the flow of methionine and tryptophan and also tended to decrease lysine availability in the duodenum. Individual AA and TEAA flow to the duodenum were also numerically decreased by a minimum of 34% as urea-N was increased. It appears that the qualitative duodenal essential AA profile in sheep fed low quality forages is relatively insensitive to RDP level or source. The daily essential AA flow to the duodenum seems to be compromised by urea substitution for true RDP.. Keywords : Amino acid; microbial protein;rumen degradable protein; urea; casein South African Journal of Animal Sciences Vol. 35 (3) 2005: pp.162-171

Increasing efforts are directed towards the development of sustainable alternative protein sources among which microbial protein (MP) is one of the most promising. Especially when waste streams are used as substrates, the case for MP could become environmentally favorable. The risks of using organic waste streams for MP production–the presence of pathogens or toxicants–can be mitigated by their anaerobic digestion and subsequent aerobic assimilation of the (filter-sterilized) biogas. Even though methane and hydrogen oxidizing bacteria (MOB and HOB) have been intensively studied for MP production, the potential benefits of their co-cultivation remain elusive. Here, we isolated a diverse group of novel HOB (that were capable of autotrophic metabolism), and co-cultured them with a defined set of MOB, which could be grown on a mixture of biogas and H2/O2. The combination of MOB and HOB, apart from the CH4 and CO2 contained in biogas, can also enable the valorization of the CO2 that results from the oxidation of methane by the MOB. Different MOB and HOB combinations were grown in serum vials to identify the best-performing ones. We observed synergistic effects on growth for several combinations, and in all combinations a co-culture consisting out of both HOB and MOB could be maintained during five days of cultivation. Relative to the axenic growth, five out of the ten co-cultures exhibited 1.1–3.8 times higher protein concentration and two combinations presented 2.4–6.1 times higher essential amino acid content. The MP produced in this study generally contained lower amounts of the essential amino acids histidine, lysine and threonine, compared to tofu and fishmeal. The most promising combination in terms of protein concentration and essential amino acid profile was Methyloparacoccus murrelli LMG 27482 with Cupriavidus necator LMG 1201. Microbial protein from M. murrelli and C. necator requires 27–67% less quantity than chicken, whole egg and tofu, while it only requires 15% more quantity than the amino acid-dense soybean to cover the needs of an average adult. In conclusion, while limitations still exist, the co-cultivation of MOB and HOB creates an alternative route for MP production leveraging safe and sustainably-produced gaseous substrates.

The aquaculture industry is primarily burdened by the costs associated with feed. It is fundamentally dependent on fish meal derived from wild-caught sources as the primary source of protein. With the widespread adoption of alternative feed ingredients for sustainable production, this study evaluated the use of poultry feathers as feed ingredients to produce hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) and its economic implications in Bangladesh. Samples were collected from the poultry markets of Dhaka city and hydrolyzed using formic acid for hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) contains a higher percentage of crude protein nutritional analysis. A questionnaire survey was executed to evaluate the market dynamics associated with poultry waste. It was observed that the city generates approximately 1000 metric tons of poultry waste every day. Among them, 95% of the waste is thrown away. It was discerned that 0.5 metric tons of feather meal could be generated using one ton of raw feathers. Annually, 3000 metric tons of feather meal could be produced with a value of 0.9 million US$. The HFM contains a higher percentage of crude protein (86.53±0.02%) with crude fat (5.03±0.03%). It contains most of the important amino acids that are beneficial for the growth of fish. The price of the HFM was estimated at 0.27 to 0.30 US$ per kilogram, notably lower compared to fish meal (1.1 US$), and bone meal (0.7 US$). The physical properties of the HFM were found satisfactory. Thus, domestically sourced hydrolyzed feather meal could be used as a feed ingredients for aquaculture operations to reduce feed costs. HFM has the potential to be utilized as a cost-effective feed ingredient, thus lowering overall feed expenses, and presenting a substantial commercial potential.

While the majority of dry complete and balanced foods for pet animals are extruded, the interaction between ingredient matrix and processing methods and stages are poorly understood. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine how the use of plant-based and poultry-based proteins processed under different extrusion condition may affect amino acid digestibility in extruded canine diets using a rooster model. Eight diet formulas were made using chicken (CK), chicken byproduct meal (CM), yellow pea (YP), green lentil (GL), and garbanzo bean (GB) as the primary protein sources. These diets were extruded through a single-screw and a twin-screw extruder. Food samples were collected at various stages of processing (i.e., raw, and after preconditioner, extruder, drier, and coating). Four cecectomized single-comb White Leghorn roosters were used for each diet sample. The roosters were fasted for 26 h and then fed with the treatment diets. The excreta were collected 48 h after feeding. Freeze dried excreta were used to calculate standardized amino acid digestibility (SAAD). For all essential amino acids, a significant interaction (P &amp;lt; 0.05) between diet and processing method was observed. The SAAD of arginine, tryptophan, and methionine were greater than 80% for all diets collected at the end of the extruder. The CK diet supplemented with synthetic taurine and processed through twin-extrusion had 70% to 80% SAAD of histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, threonine, and valine. Overall, twin-screw extrusion resulted in lower SAAD for all essential amino acids (P &amp;lt; 0.05), except for isoleucine and valine. However, the differences were smaller than 2.5%, and therefore may not negatively impact diet formulation and final product nutrient composition or guaranteed analysis. In addition, the extruded canine diets made with plant-based protein did not have lower amino acid digestibility than those made with animal-based protein.

The age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is caused, at least in part, by a reduced muscle protein synthetic response to protein ingestion. The magnitude and duration of the postprandial muscle protein synthetic response to ingested protein is dependent on the quantity and quality of the protein consumed. This review characterises the anabolic properties of animal-derived and plant-based dietary protein sources in older adults. While approximately 60 % of dietary protein consumed worldwide is derived from plant sources, plant-based proteins generally exhibit lower digestibility, lower leucine content and deficiencies in certain essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine, which compromise the availability of a complete amino acid profile required for muscle protein synthesis. Based on currently available scientific evidence, animal-derived proteins may be considered more anabolic than plant-based protein sources. However, the production and consumption of animal-derived protein sources is associated with higher greenhouse gas emissions, while plant-based protein sources may be considered more environmentally sustainable. Theoretically, the lower anabolic capacity of plant-based proteins can be compensated for by ingesting a greater dose of protein or by combining various plant-based proteins to provide a more favourable amino acid profile. In addition, leucine co-ingestion can further augment the postprandial muscle protein synthetic response. Finally, prior exercise or n-3 fatty acid supplementation have been shown to sensitise skeletal muscle to the anabolic properties of dietary protein. Applying one or more of these strategies may support the maintenance of muscle mass with ageing when diets rich in plant-based protein are consumed.

Plants produce floral nectar as a reward for pollinators, which contains carbohydrates and amino acids (AAs). We designed experiments to test whether pollinators could exert selection pressure on the profiles of AAs in nectar. We used HPLC to measure the free AAs and sugars in the nectar of 102 UK plant species. Six distinct profiles of essential amino acids (EAAs) were defined using the relative proportions of AAs with a clustering algorithm; we then tested bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) preferences for the EAA profiles and proline using a two-choice assay. We found a phylogenetic signal for the proportions of phenylalanine, methionine and proline as well as the total concentrations of essential and nonessential amino acids. However, there was no phylogenetic signal for EAA profile. Bumblebees did not exhibit a preference for any of the six EAA nectar profiles; however, four of the EAA profiles stimulated feeding. By contrast, bumblebees avoided proline in an inverse concentration-dependent manner. Our data indicate that bees are likely to have mechanisms for the postingestive evaluation of free AAs in solution but are unlikely to taste EAAs at nectar-relevant quantities. We predict that EAAs increase nectar value to bumblebees postingestively.