Evaluation of formulated diets for whitemouth croacker, Micropogonias furnieri (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of partial replacement (50%) of fish meal by bovine meat meal in diets formulated for juvenile whitemouth croaker, Micropogonias furnieri. The growth, feed conversion, apparent digestibility of proteins and lipids and survival of fish fed with both diets was determined. The increase in length (cm) and weight (g) was similar in fish fed with control diet (10.34 and 9.77%, respectively), compared with replacement diet (6.78 and 7.10%, respectively). Survival rate was similar in fish fed with control diet (88.9%) than the replacement diet (86.3%). Protein apparent digestibility of control and replacement diet was 88.8%, and 85.9%, respectively. Lipid apparent digestibility was similar for both treatments (96.6 and 96.8%). The proximate composition of protein and lipids in muscle did not vary between treatments. It is concluded that meat meal could serve as an alternative source replacement of fish meal in diets for Micropogonias furnieri. It is necessary to continue this research in order to increase the understanding of the nutritional requirements of this species.