Open AccessMealworm meal use in sea trout ( Salmo trutta m. trutta , L.) fingerling diets: effects on growth performance, histomorphology of the gastrointestinal tract and blood parameters
Author(s) -
Hoffmann Lilianna,
Rawski Mateusz,
NogalesMérida Silvia,
Kołodziejski Paweł,
PruszyńskaOszmałek Ewa,
Mazurkiewicz Jan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aquaculture nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2095
pISSN - 1353-5773
DOI - 10.1111/anu.13293
Subject(s) - salmo , mealworm , biology , zoology , meal , feed conversion ratio , fish meal , trout , salmonidae , blood meal , fishery , food science , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , endocrinology , larva , body weight
Insect meals are a group of promising feed materials and sources of nutrients. Their production does not entail deforestation, global warming, environmental pollution or decreased biodiversity. One of the most important farmed insect species is mealworm, which is allowed to be used in aquafeeds by the European Commission Regulation no. 2017/893. The aim of this study was to examine four doses of mealworm meal (TM 10 = 10%, TM 20 = 20%, TM 30 = 30% and TM 40 = 40%) in sea trout ( Salmo trutta m . trutta ) fingerling diets and their effects on growth performance, somatic and condition indices, blood parameters, histomorphological characteristics and body composition. Our results showed the most satisfactory growth performance results with 10% mealworm meal. The feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), relative growth rate (RGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) was similar in the control and TM 10 group. The lowest fish survival (95%) was occurred in the group of fish fed TM 40 , and the highest (98.33%) in fish fed control or TM 10 diets. The fish condition and the hepatosomatic index were similar among treatments. The histomorphological structures of the intestine and liver were not negatively affected by the experimental diets. The inclusion of up to 40% mealworm meal did not negatively affect growth performance, feed utilization, fish health or survival.