Dr. ROMI NOVRIADI

Fish Meal replacement of Pompano

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of commercial enzyme-treated soy (ESBM) to replace the use of fish meal (FM) in practical diets for Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus. The reference diet which has been run in numerous trials for Florida pompano was formulated using 150, 466 and 80 g kg-1 of FM, soybean meal (SBM) and corn protein concentrate (CPC), respectively. In trial 1, test diets were produced by replacing FM with 30.8, 61.4 and 92.1 g kg-1 of ESBM. In trial 2, test diets were produced by replacing FM with 28.9, 89.8, 120.1 g kg-1 of ESBM. Triplicate group of fish in trial 1 (mean weight = 13.05 ± 0.34 g) and trial 2 (mean weight = 18.45 ± 0.49 g) were fed these diets to apparent satiety for eight weeks. Growth performance was affected as the dietary FM was replaced with ESBM. In trial 1, final weight (FW), percentage weight gain (PWG) and thermal growth coefficient (TGC) were lower in 6 g kg-1 of FM compared to 15 g kg-1, while feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly higher in fish fed the lowest inclusion level of FM (6 g kg-1). In trial 2, FW was significantly lower when FM completely replaced by ESBM and no significant differences in other growth parameters. In all trials, no significant differences were observed in terms of crude protein, moisture, fat, crude fiber, dry matter and ash content of the fish. No significant differences in serum levels of total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, glucose and bile acids were observed in either trial. However, in trial 1, serum cholesterol level was higher in fish fed 150g kg-1 FM compared to other dietary treatments. The histomorphological structure of liver and distal intestine were slightly affected by lower inclusion level of FM. Overall, there was a decreasing trend in pompano growth performance as the inclusion of FM decreased. All parameters indicated that ESBM could be used to reduce the inclusion of FM from 150 to 90 g kg-1.

Shrimp Production

The continued success of shrimp farming will rely on improved feed management and reductions in labor costs. Shrimp are omnivorous, eating many small meals with limited stomach capacity for food storage. Hence, increased performance may be obtained by spreading feed through multiple meals. Initial work has demonstrated that moving from two feeding per day into multiple feeding systems increases growth rate and production. Further advances have been made with on-demand (satiation) feeding systems. The goal of this work was to continue the development of standard feeding protocol’s (SFP) for automatic feeding systems to maximize growth rates in semi-intensive pond production of shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. For this work a 13-week pond production trial was performed in 16, 0.1 ha outdoors ponds, stocked at a 26 shrimp/m2, and fed 1.5-mm 40% crude protein for the first four weeks, and 2.4-mm protein soy optimized feed (35% crude protein) for last nine weeks, both produced by Zeigler Inc.. Four treatments including: three fixed feeding treatments of 130, 145 and 160% of a SFP (SFP+30%, SFP+45%, SFP+60%, respectively) were offered using automatic timer-feeders, and a fourth treatment utilized on-demand AQ1 acoustic feeding system. No statistical differences were found between treatments for survival (ranging 75.2-81.4%) and FCR (ranging 0.96-1.11). In general, increased feed inputs resulted in higher production. The best response was with the AQ1 system which adjusted feed inputs in real time and ended up offered higher feed inputs resulting in larger shrimp and yields. Based on results of this work and previous trials, standard feeding protocols for automated systems can be developed
but to date, automated feedback systems which operate in real time out perform the standardized
practices.

RECENT PUBLICATION

This study evaluated the suitability of commercially produced fermented soybean meal (FSBM) known as PepSoyGen, in a plant-based diet for Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus fingerlings. An 8-week growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of four iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets containing 0, 206, 309 and 410 g kg-1 FSBM, replacing approximately 0, 50, 75 and 100% SBM (designated as Basal, FSBM 50, FSBM 75, and FSBM 100, respectively) on growth performance, body composition, serum biochemistry and morphological condition of liver and distal intestine of Florida pompano. There were no significant differences in final mean weight, percentage weight gain, thermal unit growth coefficient and feed conversion ratio in all treatments. For serum biochemistry analysis, there were no significant differences in total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, bile acids, plasma alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase activities in all treatments. Cellular infiltration, presence of goblet cells and the width of lamina propria in the distal intestine were partly improved in fish fed FSBM 75 and 100 compared to the fish fed FSBM 50 and basal diet. Glycogen granulation, inflammation and nuclear change condition in the liver of pompano were better as the inclusion of fermented product increased. Results of this study indicate that FSBM can be utilized as an alternative protein source and microbial fermentation process could improve the functional properties of SBM.