The comparison of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed trash fish and formula feeds: Growth, flesh quality and metabolomics

Abstract

This study compared the growth, flesh quality and metabolomics of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed trash fish and formula feeds. Trash fish (TF), self-made feed (SF) and commercial feed (CF) were prepared with crude protein levels of 172.2 g/kg, 503.5 g/kg and 504.1 g/kg (666.2 g/kg, 547.3 g/kg and 535.1 g/kg based on dry matter), respectively. Then, the three diets were fed to largemouth bass with an initial body weight of 75.0 ± 0.1 g for 12 weeks. SF and CF groups presented significantly lower feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and higher protein efficiency ratio (PER) than TF group based on dry matter basis without affecting the weight gain (P < 0.05). The yellowness (b*) in dorsal muscle, flesh heat-insoluble collagen and free flavor amino acids contents in SF group were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while drip loss were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of TF group. Compared to TF group, SF and CF groups showed significantly higher flesh polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), n-3 PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs contents, flesh hardness, shear force and muscle fiber density (P < 0.05), and lower flesh total free amino acids, essential amino acids, muscle fiber diameter, intestine villus height and muscular thickness (P < 0.05). The serum total protein, triglyceride and cholesterol levels in SF group were significantly lower than those in TF and CF groups (P < 0.05). In the muscle metabolomics, 177 differential metabolites were detected between SF and TF groups, which mainly enriched in pathways as biosynthesis of amino acid, histidine metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, etc. Conclusively, feeding largemouth bass with formula feeds improved flesh fatty acid profile and flesh texture without negative effects on the growth, but the flesh free amino acids contents were lower than the fish fed trash fish.

RNA-Seq Reveals Pathways Responsible for Meat Quality Characteristic Differences between Two Yunnan Indigenous Chicken Breeds and Commercial Broilers

“…Inosine monophosphate is an endogenous substance related to meat flavor [19]. Research has shown that the pectoral muscles of five local chicken lines in Korea had higher levels of inosine monophosphate than the leg muscles [20].…”

Comprehensive analysis of metabolomics on flesh quality of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) fed plant-based protein diet

“…Metabolites in muscle play a crucial role in flavor and aroma characteristics, nutritional value, degradation, and biosynthesis of protein in fish. Metabolomics can detect variations in metabolic profiles of various low molecular weight metabolites, such as amino acids, lipids, and sugars (20,21). Gene expression can provide information on the expression activity of enzymes and functional proteins related to the proliferation and formation of myocytes (22).…”

Biological Invasions in Fresh Waters: Micropterus salmoides, an American Fish Conquering the World

“…In some countries, such as China and Portugal, largemouth bass have been one of the most frequently farmed freshwater species for food, due to its rapid growth, flesh palatability, and ability to satisfy market demand [132,[203][204][205]. More than 700,000 tons of bass were produced in China in 2021 alone.…”

“…More than 700,000 tons of bass were produced in China in 2021 alone. These have stimulated the procurement and production of both natural and artificial feeds to further increase flesh quality and optimize fish farming yields [132,203,204]. However, any unintentional spillover of individuals from artificially managed systems into natural habitats may extend the area of impact (and associated economic losses) far beyond the small areas of intentional introduction [6,200].…”