Abstract
Increasing demand, uncertain availability, and increasing cost for fishmeal (FM), fish nutritionists have been driven to find alternative sources of protein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of substituting FM with soybean meal (SM) on growth performance of silver barb, Barbonymus gonionotus. Five diets were prepared 0%SM (100%FM), 25%SM (75%FM), 50%SM (50%FM), 75%SM (25%FM) and 100%SM (0%FM) by replacing FM with SM. B. gonionotus having initial length and weight of 8.62±0.9 cm and 8.80±3.11 gm were fed each diet twice a day for 45 days. Fish sampling was done fortnightly. Significantly higher (P<0.01 and P<0.05) weight and length gain were found up to 75%SM compared to 100%SM. The specific growth rate (6.01±0.34%d-1) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in 50%SM compare to 75%SM and 100%SM. Considering the result of present study we recommend to replace 50% SM as a source of protein with 50% FM for better growth of B. gonionotus.
 Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2020, 6(2): 149-154
Highlights
Aquaculture has a crucial contribution to worldwide human food consumption and nutritional security (Tacon and Metian, 2013)
Soybean meal (SM) is widely used as the cost effective alternative for high quality FM in feeds for many aquaculture fish species due to its high protein content, excellent amino acid profile, low cost, availability and steady supply as compared to the other plant protein sources (Kushwaha, 2013)
Proximate composition analysis of the feed ingredients of diets Proximate compositions of different feed ingredients were analyzed following the standard methods given by AOAC, 2019
Summary
Aquaculture has a crucial contribution to worldwide human food consumption and nutritional security (Tacon and Metian, 2013). Fishmeal (FM) has been the well-recognized major source of animal protein in commercial fish feeds in the world. It is necessary to replace FM alternative protein source or sources having cheaper values for boosting up the aquaculture production. To fulfill the feed demand of growing aquaculture, the replacement of FM with plant-based alternatives has become an inevitable choice for the aquafeed industry (Blanchard et al, 2017). Plant feedstuffs with high protein content are preferentially used in formulating diets for most species of fish. SM is widely used as the cost effective alternative for high quality FM in feeds for many aquaculture fish species due to its high protein content, excellent amino acid profile, low cost, availability and steady supply as compared to the other plant protein sources (Kushwaha, 2013).
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