2022
Implementing integrated approaches to select for feed efficient rainbow trout families to enhance the soy protein utilization in salmonid aquaculture
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Export/Trade
Keywords:
Aquaculture
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Vikas Kumar, University of Idaho
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
44206
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:
Aquaculture provides sustainable production of food fish with high protein/low-saturated fat to satisfy increasing demand. Globally, efficient and environmentally sustainable aquaculture production systems are urgently required. Over two decades of selective breeding, our research resulted in development of a rainbow trout strain that grows as well on an all-plant protein diet as on a fishmeal-based diet, and grows much faster than non-selected trout. Feed accounts for over 60% of the cost of aquaculture production. To date, no commercial breeding programs have selected for improved feed utilization efficiency in fish, mainly because of the difficulty in accurately measuring individual feed...
Unique Keywords:
#aquaculture
Information And Results
Project Summary

Aquaculture provides sustainable production of food fish with high protein/low-saturated fat to satisfy increasing demand. Globally, efficient and environmentally sustainable aquaculture production systems are urgently required. Over two decades of selective breeding, our research resulted in development of a rainbow trout strain that grows as well on an all-plant protein diet as on a fishmeal-based diet, and grows much faster than non-selected trout. Feed accounts for over 60% of the cost of aquaculture production. To date, no commercial breeding programs have selected for improved feed utilization efficiency in fish, mainly because of the difficulty in accurately measuring individual feed intake of fish reared in groups. Therefore, for this project, we will develop an indirect benchmark to use in selecting trout for improved feed utilization efficiency of soy protein protein-based diets, with the long-term goal of reducing the cost of producing commercial trout. We will use a four-part integrative approach to identify feed efficient trout lines by establishing the phenotypic relationship between residual feed intake and body weight variations using compensatory feeding regimes, tracing stable isotopes in feed, assessing metabolic rate, and correlating gut microbiome with feed efficiency. Results of each objective will be compared and validated for feed efficient trout lines. Currently, major commercial trout producers, providing a pipeline for transferring our findings directly to stakeholders, are using our selected trout lines. Overall, successful selection for improve feed efficiency will have a broad application to commercial fish selective breeding programs, leading to increased profitability for US farmers.

Project Objectives

The overall goal of the proposed project is to develop alternative approaches to select the families of rainbow trout to enhance the efficiency of soybean based diets utilization. For this project, we will develop an indirect benchmark for use in selectively improved families of rainbow trout for feed efficiency of soy protein-based diets (SBMD) utilization, with the long-term goal of reducing the cost of trout production in the aquaculture industry. During this three-year period, we will address this goal with the following objectives:
Objective 1: to develop an indirect set of benchmarks to be used in selection of rainbow trout to enhance the efficiency of growth and utilization of plant protein-based diets.
Objective 2: to identify the variation in trout families for improved feed efficiency using stable isotopes in feed.
Objective 3: to determine the correlation of feed efficiency in rainbow trout with metabolic rate (mitochondrial respiration).
Objective 4: to evaluate and determine relative associations between feed efficiency determinants and host intestinal microbiome
Objective 5: to quantify the genetic potential gain of fish via calculating heritability towards the utilization of SBMD in terms of growth performance and feed efficiency.

Project Deliverables

We anticipate the completion of the project genetic selection will improve feed efficiency by 10-15% per generation which means plant protein consumption will increase and greatly decrease the cost of trout production (Objective #1). We envisage selecting the most feed efficient trout families by measuring the metabolic rate (Objective #3). We expect each individual fish microbiome can be linked to detailed individual-level phenotypes of growth, feed efficiency, and nutrient turnover, as measured using stable-isotope profiling. Ultimately it will demonstrate an association between the microbial composition in the distal gut and a key aspect of trout metabolism. This association could be a direct effect of microbes contributing to improved nutrient availability and absorption for the host (Objectives # 2 and 4). Overall, genetic improvement increases farm profit, either via cost reduction per unit product, increased production output, or a combination of both. Improving nutrient efficiency would also have a positive effect on the environmental impact of fish farming. The outcomes will contribute to start the genetic improvement program by producing brood stock of rainbow trout with the traits of best SBMD utilization efficiency, which is good news for the aquaculture industry including the fish farmers, and feed industry especially the soybean producer.

Progress Of Work

Updated September 5, 2022:

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

This project will increase the socio-economic condition of fish farmers and the aqua feed industry, by producing fish at low cost using soybean diet, which can reduce the U.S. trade deficit, and mitigating the strain on natural marine fish for fishmeal. This project will confirm the applicability of indirect criteria to select the fish families to utilize the soybean based diet in major U.S. aquaculture fish species. This is great news for soy producers as demand of soy protein will be increased in aquafeed.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.