Effects of replacing fish meal with plant protein on growth performance, feed utilization and oxidative condition of red sea bream Pagrus major

Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the effect of replacing fish meal with plant proteins on growth performance, nutrient utilization and the oxidative condition of red sea bream Pagrus major juveniles. Isonitrogenious FM 40T, FM 25T, FM 20T and FM 15T diets were composed of fish meal/mixture of plant proteins as 40/27, 25/56, 20/60 and 15/65, respectively, with taurine supplementation. FM 15 diet had no taurine supplementation. Fifty juveniles in a 1,000 l tank were given diet with three replicate tanks for 54 days. Specific growth rate were significantly higher in FM 40T and FM 25T compared to the other treatments (P < 0.05). Feed intake was also significantly increased in FM 40T and FM 25T while no difference was found among the FM 20T, FM 15T and FM 15 groups. Liver lipid contents, GOT and GPT in FM 15 was significantly higher than the other groups. In terms of oxidative condition, supplementation of taurine in FM 15 improved the tolerance against oxidative stress. Therefore, FM 25T could be considered viable for red sea bream diet without negative effect on growth and health condition of fish