Imbalanced lysine to arginine ratios reduced performance in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fed high plant protein diets

Abstract

Cobia (8.4 ± 0.1 g body weight) were fed to satiation with three test diets of high plant protein-based ingredients and different lysine to arginine ratios, and one commercial diet (currently used for cobia rearing in Vietnam as a control for growth) for 6 weeks. The test diets contained 206 g marine ingredients kg−1, including fishmeal, krill meal and fish protein concentrate (in order of high to low inclusion), while the rest of the dietary protein was a blend of soya and pea protein concentrate, wheat protein and sunflower meal. Crystalline lysine and arginine were added in the test diets to produce either a balanced lysine to arginine ratio (BL/A; 1.1) and a high or low lysine to arginine ratio (HL/A; 1.8 and LL/A; 0.8, respectively). There were no significant differences in final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio or protein gain between cobia fed BL/A- and commercial control diet (CCT). Cobia fed BL/A diet performed better than fish fed either HL/A- or LL/A diet. This was partly due to a higher feed intake and protein and lipid gain in cobia fed BL/A diet as compared to HL/A- and LL/A diet.