Replacement of Fishmeal by Poultry By-Product Meal in Formulated Diets for Growing Hatchery–Reared Juvenile Spotted Babylon (Babylonia areolata)

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of five levels of partial to total replacement of fishmeal by poultry by–product meal on growth performance and body composition of hatchery–reared juvenile spotted babylon (Babylonia areolata) under aflow-through culture system over 150 days. Five experimental diets were formulated to contain 0%, 25% 50%, 75% and 100% of gradient poultry by-product meal (diet PBM0, PBM25, PBM50, PBM75 and PBM100, respectively). Significant differences (P 0.05) while snails fed diets of PBM0 and PBM100 showed poorer specific growth rates of 2.03-2.12% day-1, respectively. Final survival rates of the snails ranged from 92.73% -93.94% and did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between feeding treatments. Significant differences (P<0.05) were detected in proximate composition (protein, ash, fat, moisture, and carbohydrate, cholesterol content, amino acid composition and fatty acid composition of the whole flesh of experimental snails among all feeding treatment groups. Snails fed diets of PBM-50 resulted in the highest protein and fat contents compared with snails fed the PBM0, PBM25, PBM75 and PBM100 replacement diets. Cholesterol was significantly lower (P<0.05) in snails fed diets of PBM75 and PBM100 than in snails fed diets PBM0, PBM25, and PBM50. The whole body composition of snails fed diet of PBM75 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in total non-essential amino acids and total essential amino acids than those of snails fed PBM0, PBM25, PBM100, and PBM75. The whole body composition of snails fed PMB-50 was significantly higher (P<0.05) regarding EPA, DHA, ARA, n-6 PUFA, and n-3 PUFA contents than those of snails fed PBM0, PBM25, PBM100, and PBM75. The results of this study indicated that poultry by-product meal can replace fishmeal protein by 50-75% with no negative effects in snail growth performance. Moreover, the inclusion of up to 75% poultry by-product meal in the diet improved feed efficiency and body composition.