This project is designed to promote market pull for the continued inclusion of various soybean meals (traditional and new varieties) by providing science based practical information for both the farmer and feed mill manufacturers. Data developed in this project is expected to demonstrate the efficacy of traditional soybean meal, new high protein low oligosaccharide variety, and a fermented/enzyme treated soy products thus improving the reputation of these meals. Additionally, we will evaluate the use of corn protein with yeast as a new product that could enhance the performance of soy-based feed through a better balance of amino acids and the inclusion of yeast by products. Overall, the goal is to continue to improve soy-based feeds for channel catfish which is the largest user of soybean meal in the US aquaculture industry.

2. Objective
a. Determine if new bioactive compounds such as corn protein with yeast can improve the performance of channel catfish feed.
b. Evaluate the efficacy and health benefits of two advanced soy products as a replacement for traditional solvent extracted soybean meal.

Update:
Project contract signed by SAA on 4/17/2023 AU did not sign until 8/14/2023. Despite the slow work of Auburn University, we moved ahead to formulate 4 channel catfish feeds and contract to have the feeds made. We also arranged to stock 12 in-pond raceways with channel catfish. It is best to stock catfish in the late fall or early spring as they handle better. However, due to contracting requirement the fish were stocked “late” (5/2/2023) and the test diets were manufactured and shipped soon thereafter. Catfish were offered the same commercial feed until they were on feed at which time fish were switched to dietary treatments. Because of the late stocking fish did not come up for feed for almost two months further restricting the time available for growth.

Update:
Progress Report: The channel catfish in the raceway are all on feed and are doing well. Minor incidents of diseases were found but no major mortalities occurred. One raceway is odd, in terms of fish activity, and size of fish. We top harvested and found a number of large fish that were missed on the previous harvest and clean out of the raceways. Hence, the large fish were removed. Due to the disturbance and presence of the larger fish, results from this raceway will likely be dropped. Plans were made to run the production diets in an aquarium trial to confirm the results under controlled conditions. The trial is scheduled to be initiated September 7th.

Update:
Progress Report: The raceways were harvested (12/4/2023) with all fish being removed using a crowding net. The fish were group weighed and enumerated. The clear water trail was also terminated. We are currently working on summarizing the data. Based on a preliminary view of the data, it appears that two of the diets performed better in both the raceways and the aquaria trials. Once the data has been screened, we will run the statistics and work towards a final report. It should be noted that as the catfish in the raceways did not get to a marketable size it may be beneficial to extend the grow out of these fish into next summer. This would require a no cost extension.

Update:
Progress Report: The proposed research model was only for work done in in-pond-raceway-systems which also served as a promotion for this technology. The raceways were harvested (12/4/2023) with all fish being removed using a crowding net. The data up to this point is being developed into a Masters of Science Thesis. This will summarize the fish performance on the feed up to this point. Unfortunately, the fish did not come onto feed as expected which delayed feeding and resulted in fish that were smaller than expected. Hence, we are overwintering the fish in the raceways and plan to re-allocate them in the spring and continue the trial to a larger size. Assuming there are no disease outbreaks we hope to reach marketable size fish to provide a more complete picture of the fish’s response.
To complement this work, we also ran an indoor aquaria trial with fingerling channel catfish to evaluate the response under more controlled conditions. This data is presented in the attached summary.

View uploaded report

Updated April 2, 2024:

Updated April 22, 2024: