Pea protein concentrate in diets for sharpsnout sea bream (Diplodus puntazzo): effects on growth and health status

ABSTRACT

Four diets for sharpsnout sea bream juveniles (14 g body weight) with four levels of air-processed pea protein concentrate (PPC) (0, 160, 320 and 487 g/kg diet) were tested in triplicate. The experimental diets were isonitrogenous (43% crude protein) and isolipidic (19% ether extract) and the fish were fed to satiation twice a day. After 125 d, fish growth was diminished by the inclusion of PPC. Feed conversion did not show significant differences in any treatment. Neither the body analyses nor the protein and individual essential amino acid retention efficiencies were affected by the inclusion of PPC in the diet. However, histological gut examinations revealed noticeable differences. Fish fed the diet with the highest inclusion level of PPC presented the longest villous length and the most goblet cells, and the width of the lamina propria increased in the anterior intestine. Although no negative changes in nutritive parameters were detected, these alterations might affect nutrient transport, with negative consequences for fish growth. It was concluded that the PPC in the amounts tested here is an inappropriate substitute for fishmeal in diets for sharpsnout sea bream juveniles.

KEYWORDS:

• Diplodus puntazzo
• feed formulation
• fish meal
• peas
• performance
• protein concentrates
• replacement

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the Generalitat Valenciana and by the Fisheries Unit of the Valencian Regional Government and JACUMAR (Spain).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Generalitat Valenciana; Fisheries Unit of the Valencian Regional Government and Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (JACUMAR, Spain).