Replacement of Fishmeal with a Blend of Poultry Byproduct Meal and Soybean Meal in Diets for Largemouth Bass, <i>Micropterus salmoides</i>

Abstract

Abstract A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the potential of replacing fishmeal with poultry byproduct meal ( PBM ) and soybean meal in diets for largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides . A reference diet (C) contained 400 g/kg fishmeal, and 40 or 60% of the fishmeal was replaced with a blend of pet‐food‐grade PBM and soybean meal (diets PP1 and PP2 ) or a blend of feed‐grade PBM and soybean meal (diets PF1 and PF2 ). No significant differences were found in weight gain, nitrogen retention efficiency ( NRE ), condition factor, and body composition among fish fed diets PP1 , PP2 , PF1 , and PF2 . Feed intake and feed conversion ratio ( FCR ) were higher in fish fed diet PF1 than in fish fed diet PP1 . No significant differences were found in weight gain, NRE , condition factor, and body composition between fish fed diet C and diets PP1 , PP2 , PF1 , and PF2 . The feed intake and FCR were lower in fish fed diet C than in fish fed diets PP2 , PF1 , and PF2 . This study reveals that dietary fishmeal level for largemouth bass could be reduced to 160 g/kg by inclusion of PBM and soybean meal in combination.