Growth, Hepatic Enzymatic Activity, and Quality of European Seabass Fed on Hermetia illucens and Poultry By-Product Meal in a Commercial Farm

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Pulido-Rodriguez, LF (Author) Other; Bruni, L (Author) Other; Secci, G (Author) Other; Moutinho, S (Author) Other; Peres, H (Author) FCUP; Petochi, T (Author) Other; Marino, G (Author) Other; Tibaldi, E (Author) Other; Parisi, G (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Animals

Vol. 14

Final page: 1449

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-DVJ

DOI: 10.3390/ani14101449

Abstract (EN): After a decade of research about the use of insects as fish feed, this paper reports the results of a large-scale trial on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) farmed under commercial conditions. Fish were fed an experimental diet containing 10% Hermetia illucens larva meal, 30% poultry by-product meal, and <5.5 g/100 g of feed of marine proteins. The results highlight that fish growth performances and the flesh quality of sea bass fed the experimental diet were similar to those of fish fed a commercial diet containing fish meal and fish oil. This study suggests that a diet rich in plant proteins, in which H. illucens and poultry by-products are also included, may be a viable alternative to existing aquafeeds for marine species. Protein meals from insects in combination with poultry by-product meal appear to be promising ingredients for replacing conventional proteins in the diets of carnivorous fish. The present study explored the effects on growth performance, hepatic enzymatic activity, and fillet physical and nutritional characteristics during a 66-day feeding trial performed on European seabass. A total of 3000 fish were distributed into three tanks, where the control group was fed with a commercial diet (CG) and a second group was fed in duplicate with the experimental diet (SSH) containing 10% Hermetia illucens larva meal, 30% poultry by-product meal, and <5.5 g/100 g of feed of marine origin proteins. All fish showed good growth performance. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities were higher in the SSH group than in the CG group. The fillet fatty acid profile was largely unaffected by diet, except for a few fatty acids. Fish fed the SSH diet had a lower C22:1n-11 content than CG, thus suggesting an increased beta-oxidation. The oxidative status of muscle lipids was not affected by the diet. In conclusion, the present study showed that European seabass can be successfully fed the SSH diet for two months in a commercial setting.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14