Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Gut Integrity, and Economic Revenue of Grey Mullet, Mugil cephalus, Fed an Increasing Level of Dried Zooplankton Biomass Meal as Fishmeal Substitutions

Abstract

Fishmeal is the most expensive feedstuff in the aquafeed and one of the most environmentally limiting factor of aquaculture development. Therefore, the search for alternative protein sources is a continuous process. The present feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fishmeal with zooplankton biomass meal (ZBM) on the growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestine, and liver histological changes of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus (initial weight of 0.10 ± 0.01 g). Five isoproteic (35% crude protein) and isolipidic (8% crude lipid) diets were formulated as the control diet (Z0) and the other four diets (Z25, Z50, Z75, and Z100), where 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of fishmeal was replaced by ZBM, respectively. After 60 days of feeding, the final weight, weight gain, and daily growth index of the grey mullet fed the Z100 diet were higher than those fed the control diet (p < 0.05). In addition, the better values of feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and lipid efficiency ratio were recorded in the fish fed with the Z100 diet. Additionally, the intestinal villus length, crypts depth, and muscle thickness were significantly improved with ZBM inclusion (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, there were no histopathological changes observed on the liver when compared with the control group. From the economic point of view, dietary substitution of fishmeal by ZBM (Z100) reduced the cost of diet formulation by 18% and the price per kg weight gain by about 40%. Overall, according to the findings of this study, substituting fishmeal with ZBM up to 100% could improve growth performance, feed utilization, gut health status, and profit ability of rearing M. cephalus juveniles.

Valorization Use of Amphipod Meal, Gammarus pulex, as a Fishmeal Substitute on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Histological and Histometric Indices of the Gut, and Economic Revenue of Grey Mullet

“…Duncan's multiple range test was also used to find significant variations between means [43]. In addition, to determine the fit regression model between increasing fishmeal substitution level and weight gain, and FCR, polynomial contrasts were performed [44].…”

Effect of different feeds on reproduction performance, nutritional components and fatty acid composition of cladocer water flea ( Daphnia magna )

“…Daphnia is freshwater cladoceran which plays important role as live prey for freshwater fish culture. Beyond that due to the its high level of protein and mineral contents, daphnia is desirable alternative protein sources for replacing fish meal in fish diets (Abo‐Taleb, Ashour, et al, 2021; Abo‐Taleb, El‐feky, et al, 2021; Che et al, 2017; Hongxia et al, 2019; Mona et al, 2017). Feeding type and concentration directly affect the maturation time, nutritional value, egg and egg carrying female numbers of Daphnia.…”

“…Daphnia species are suitable for larvae and juvenile feeding in freshwater fish culture due to the appropriate size after artemia utilization and easy to culture comparing to other zooplankton (Hoff and Snell, 2004; Munirasu, 2013). These cladocerans are used not only for live prey but also used as wastewater treatment (da Silva Campos et al, 2020), protein and lipid sources for dietary supplementation in carp (Abdel‐Tawwab et al, 2020; Bogut et al, 2010; Suantika et al, 2016), barramundi (Chiu et al, 2015), grey mullet (Abo‐Taleb, Ashour, et al, 2021; Abo‐Taleb, El‐feky, et al, 2021) and crustacean such as kuruma shrimp (Mona et al, 2017) diets for different purposes in aquaculture.…”

Assessment of the Effects of Salt and Salicornia herbacea L. on Physiochemical, Nutritional, and Quality Parameters for Extending the Shelf-Life of Semi-Dried Mullets (Chelon haematocheilus)

“…Mullet is a species of fish that is found all over the world. It can be categorized into gray mullet ( Mugil japonicus ) and red mullet ( Mullus ) [ 1 , 2 ]. Mullets are commercially important, since they contribute to large estuarine and coastal fisheries in many countries, especially in the Mediterranean.…”