Determination of the Effects of Fislh vs Plant and Feather Meal-based Diets on the Growth and Health of Rainbow Trout

Abstract

Rahnema, S. and Borton, R. 2007. Determination of the effects offish vs plant and feather meal-based diets on the growth and health of rainbow trout. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 32: 113–117.

Two hundred and forty fingerling rainbow trout were used in an experiment to compare performance of rainbow trout receiving diets containing various levels offish meal (FM) and/or plant and feather meal protein (PFMP) based diets. Fish were fed once per day all the feed that they would eat within 15 minutes. Feed consumption and fish weights (by cage) were measured seven times over a 90-day period. At the end of the feeding trial, two fish from each cage were harvested, frozen in water and stored at −25C. After thawing one trout from each cage was wrapped in aluminum foil and baked in an oven at 163C for 30 min for organoleptic evaluation. The ash content as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sodium content of the diets declined as the amount of PFM was increased. Fish consuming a diet containing 67% PFMP consumed less feed (P<.02) than fish on FM or 33% PFMP diets with similar ADG. Also, fish on 100% PFMP consumed less feed (P<.02) than fish on either FM or 33% PFMP diets and gained less (P<.001) than the other three treatments. Feed-to-gain ratios showed a similar effect as the ADG. Taste panel analysis showed no significant differences (P>.413) for the various parameters tested. This study showed that PFMP can be substituted for 67% of fish meal with no adverse effect on the performance of rainbow trout.

Keywords:

• Trout
• plant protein
• feather meal
• fish meal