Efficacy of insect larval meal to replace fish meal in juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer reared in freshwater

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary protein from black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, larval meal (BSFL) to replace fish meal (FM) protein in juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer. Larvae of black soldier fly were fed with the underutilised crop, sesbania, Sesbania grandiflora. Five isonitrogenous (44% crude protein) and isocaloric (16.0 kJ available energy/g) experimental diets were formulated to replace FM using processed BSFL meal at 0 (control), 25% (BSFL25), 50% (BSFL50), 75% (BSFL75) and 100% (BSFL100). Data for proximate and amino acid analysis suggested BSFL meal as an inferior protein ingredient than FM, but parallel to soybean meal. At the end of 8 weeks of fish feeding trial, there were no significant differences in the average weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate among the group of fish-fed control, BSFL25 and BSFL50 diets (P \ 0.05). Although numerical differences were recorded in the fish whole-body proximate composition, crude protein and moisture content were not much affected by the different dietary treatments. Essential amino acids including arginine, histidine, lysine and methionine were found to be higher in the whole body of fish-fed BSFL100 diet. Broken line regression analysis of average WG showed an optimum FM replacement level of 28.4% with BSFL meal. Therefore, the present experiment clearly demonstrates that the maximal dietary inclusion level of BSFL meal as FM protein replacer for the optimum growth of juvenile barramundi reared in freshwater could be greater than 28.4% but less than 50%, without any adverse effects on the fish whole-body proximate and amino acid composition.

Crops For the Future (CFF): an overview of research efforts in the adoption of underutilised species

“…In the next phase of its development, it will collaborate widely with other organisations to promote its agenda of agricultural diversification with benefits to both human health and the wider environment. In a short time, it has produced the disruptive technology associated with feeding black soldier fly in aquaculture systems (Katya et al 2017), developed a freely available knowledge base containing details of 2300 underutilised crops (http://www. cropb ase.org), and its genetic research will shortly publish the gene sequence for winged bean to add to the sequences already published (Chang et al 2018).…”

“…Recent successes in furthering CFF's research objectives include publication of draft genomes of five African underutilised crops in partnership with the African Orphan Crops Consortium and others (Chang et al 2018), proof of Fig. 1 CFF's research strategy involves four themes and three cross-cutting threads to deliver a food systems approach concept that black soldier flies fed with underutilised crops can be used to partially replace fishmeal in fish production (Katya et al 2017), and the development of databases that contain phenological, agronomic and nutritional information about many underutilised crops (Marahaini et al 2019). The purpose of this paper is to: (1) introduce CFF and its research ambition to an international audience; (2) describe some of its current research activities and priorities; and (3) highlight some emerging research priorities.…”

“…A feeding trial with Lates calcarifer (Barramudi, South East Asia Sea Bass) was undertaken over 8 weeks and showed that fish meal could be replaced with BSF meal to a level of 50% without any deleterious effects on growth rates or survivability (Katya et al 2017). At 75% replacement, growth rate was reduced by approximately 25% (Katya et al 2017).…”

“…At 75% replacement, growth rate was reduced by approximately 25% (Katya et al 2017). Fish fed 100% insect meal showed markedly reduced growth rates (reduced by approximately three-quarters) but survival was not significantly below that seen in the control fish (Katya et al 2017). More recently, CFF research has focused on improving the nutritional value of larval meal as a component of nutritionally optimised diets for Tilapia production.…”

Substitution of the fish meal by the earthworm and maggot meal in the feed of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus reared in freshwater

“…However, less attention has been paid to the use of unconventional protein sources, which are promising feeds such as insect larva (maggot) meal and earthworm meal in fish feed formulation. In recent years, considerable research has shed light on the effectiveness of these ingredients in the diet of several aquaculture species, including tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, Lates calcarifer and Litopenaeus vannamei (Ogunji et al, 2008;Katya et al, 2017;Cummins et al, 2017). The crude protein, crude lipid, and essential amino acid content of insect larval flours (maggot) resemble that of fishmeal.…”