Replacement of Marine Animal Protein with Peanut Meal in Diets for Juvenile White Shrimp, Penaeus vannamei

ABSTRACT

Six isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets containing 0,11.7, 23.4, 35.1, 46.8, and 58.5% peanut meal as substitutes, on an equal nitrogen basis, for 0,20,40,60,80, and 100% of animal protein mix (53% menhaden fish meal, 34% shrimp waste meal, and 13% squid meal) were fed to juvenile white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, to satiation four times daily for 8 weeks. Shrimp fed the two lowest dietary levels (0 and 11.7%) of peanut meal had similar weight gain (P> 0.05). Weight gains were adversely affected as the dietary peanut meal levels increased to 23.4% or more. Survival rates obtained from various treatments did not significantly differ (P >0.05). Increases in the percentages of protein and fat followed the same trend as weight gains. Dry matter feed intake was similar for diets containing 0 and 11.7% peanut meal but significantly decreased (P <0.05) for diets containing 23.4% peanut meal or higher. Feed conversion, protein efficiency ratio, and apparent protein utilization were similar for diets containing 0, 11.7, 23.4, and 35.1% peanut meal. These values significantly decreased (P< 0.05) for shrimp fed diets containing 46.8 and 58.5% peanut meal, probably due to the lack of lysine and sulfur-containing amino acids. Data on whole body composition of shrimp suggest that there was an inverse relationship between the moisture content and weight gain, whereas the percentages of protein, fat, and ash were directly related to weight gains. Results of this study indicated that about 12% peanut meal can be used as a replacement for 20% of animal protein mix in the diet of juvenile white shrimp. However, if the palatability of the diets can be improved, up to 35% peanut meal could be used to replace 60% of animal protein mix.