Project Details:

Title:
Evaluation of feed additives for enhancing utilization of soybean meal in the diet of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): effects on production performance, gut micromorpholog...

Parent Project: Enhancing Soybean Meal Utilization in Aquaculture Feeds: An Assesment of Nutritive Value and Optimization of Soybean Meal Based Diets for Large Mouth Bass (Rossi)
Checkoff Organization:Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board
Categories:Soybean utilization, Sustainability, Education
Organization Project Code:
Project Year:2019
Lead Principal Investigator:Waldemar Rossi (Kentucky State University)
Co-Principal Investigators:
Keywords:

Contributing Organizations

Funding Institutions

Information and Results

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Project Summary

Global aquaculture production has increased almost 12 fold since 1980 and currently provides over half of the fish and shellfish directly consumed by humans. Considering that intensive aquaculture feed expenses generally account for 40-60% of total operational costs, reducing feed-related costs continues to be a priority for the economical sustainability of aquaculture operations and a prime subject for investigation. Indeed, the aquaculture feed industry is clamoring for cost-effective and widely-available protein feedstuffs for replacing fishmeal (FM). Plant-protein feedstuffs are promising alternatives for FM, and currently soybean meal (SBM) is the foremost plant-protein ingredient in aquaculture feeds, especially the conventional SBM (CSBM). However, in-depth research is still needed to increase CSBM utilization and optimize FM-free, CSBM-based diets for a range of finfish species.

Therefore, the objectives of this project are:
(1) to assess the effects of supplemental feed additives in CSBM-based diets on the production performance, gut micromorphology and physio-biochemical responses of largemouth bass (LMB);
(2) to investigate the effects of feed additives supplementation in CSBM-based diets on the expressions of growth, lipid metabolism, and immunity related genes of LMB. For this purpose, a complete randomized experimental design will be used to evaluate ten experimental diets (isonitrogenous, 42% and isolipidic, 12%) containing three different feed additives (palatability enhancer, prebiotic, and vitamin E) supplemented alone or in all possible combinations.

The project will be carried out in the Aquaculture Nutrition laboratory located in the Aquaculture Research Center of Kentucky State University (KSU). The feeding trial will be carried out using a recirculating aquaculture system comprised of 36 (110-L) glass aquaria. Homogeneous groups of feed-trained LMB juveniles will be stocked in each experimental aquarium and fed twice daily with one of the randomly assigned experimental diets to apparent satiation for a period ranging from 8 to 12 weeks.

In the end, the project is expected to:
(i) supply relevant information to feed companies, producers, nutritionists and industry stakeholders about the applicability of commercially available CSBM and key feed additives;
(ii) provide feedback to CSBM producing companies on its relative nutritional value for LMB;
(iii) expand the scientific information on the importance of continued research on potential replacers for FM in aqua-feeds; and
(iv) improve the knowledge and empower fish farmers to become strong decision makers in the aquaculture feed industry.

Project Objectives

To achieve the goal, we will pursue the following specific objectives:
- To assess the effects of supplemental feed additives in CSBM-based diets on the production performance, gut micromorphology and physio-biochemical responses of LMB.

- To investigate the effects of feed additives supplementation in CSBM-based diets on the expressions of growth, lipid metabolism, and immunity related genes of LMB.

Project Deliverables

Once concluded and reported, the proposed research will:
- Supply relevant information to feed companies, producers, nutritionists and industry stakeholders about the applicability of commercially available CSBM and key feed additives (palatability enhancer, prebiotic and vitamin E) for the optimization of SBMbased diets for LMB and other fish species.
- Provide feedback to CSBM producing companies on its relative nutritional value for LMB.
- Expand the scientific information on the importance of continued research on potential replacers for fishmeal (FM) in aquaculture feeds.
- Improve the knowledge and empower fish farmers to become strong decision makers in the aquaculture feed industry.

Progress of Work

Final Project Results

Updated November 8, 2022:
See attached file for full report

View uploaded report PDF file

Benefit to Soybean Farmers

By addressing the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board research priorities I) Increasing new uses for soybeans; and II) Establishing research education programs to keep producers up-to-date on the latest research technology; the overall goals of the proposed project are: 1) to evaluate feed additives supplementation in conventional SBM (CSBM)-based diets for largemouth bass (LMB); and 2) to summarize key research findings into informative and concrete technical reports made widely available to the public.

Performance Metrics

Project Years