Date of Award

12-2008

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Marine Bio-Resources

Advisor

William R. Congleton

Second Committee Member

Robert Bayer

Third Committee Member

Marty A. Riche

Abstract

The identification of alternative protein sources for partial or whole replacement of fishmeal (FM) is a priority in the development of suitable, low cost feed formulations for the Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). To evaluate alternative feed ingredients for the potential replacement of FM in diets fed to juvenile pompano, a series of four experiments were conducted. The objectives of Experiments 1 and 2 were to determine the apparent digestibility of crude protein (ADCP), energy (ADE), and apparent amino acid availability (AAAA) of three plant based ingredients (soybean meal (SBM), soy protein isolate (SPI), corn gluten meal (CGM)) and three by-product based ingredients (distillers’ dried grains (DDG), meat and bone meal (MBM), poultry by-product meal (PBM)) fed to juvenile pompano held at 3 g/L and 28 g/L salinity. The objectives of Experiments 3 and 4 were to determine the maximum substitution of SBM or SPI in partial or whole replacement for FM protein in diets fed to juvenile Florida pompano held at 3 g/L salinity. For Experiments 1 and 2 a menhaden meal based formulation served as the reference (REF) diet. The experimental diets each consisted of 70% REF diet and 30% substituted ingredient. Apparent digestibility was determined with the use of yttrium oxide (0.5%) as an inert marker. Pompano were fed 5%BW/day and fecal samples were collected twice a week for 4 weeks. The ADCP for SBM and SPI was significantly higher (>90%) than CGM (82%) at 3 g/L salinity. The ADE was highest for SPI (93%), while SBM and CGM were significantly lower (71% - 77%) at 3 g/L salinity. No significant differences were detected among the test ingredients DDG, MBM, or PBM and ADCP values ranged from 54% - 72% in the 3 g/L system. The ADE values for DDG, MBM, and PBM ranged from 64% - 76% at 3 g/L salinity. The diets for Experiments 3 and 4 were all formulated to be isonitrogenous (44% crude protein) and isoenergetic (22 MJ/kg gross energy). Diets with 20% - 100% replacement represented the percentage of FM substituted by SBM or SPI. Diet 1 with 0% replacement served as the REF diet. Juvenile pompano (2.5g) were fed 5 - 7%BW/day and batch weighed biweekly for 8 weeks. At the end of the trial fish were weighed and 10 fish were randomly selected for whole body proximate analysis. With respect to performance, nutrient retention, efficiency, and survival no significant differences were detected among fish fed the REF diet from those fed up to and including 80% FM replacement with SBM. With respect to the aforementioned parameters no significant differences were detected among fish fed the REF diet from those fed up to 40% FM replacement with SPI.

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