Award for study on replacing fishmeal with plant protein in cod feed

The "International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding" (ISFNF), this year held in Brazil, Florianópolis, June 2-5, 2008, is an important meeting place for researchers in the field of fish nutrition.

Ann-Cecilie Hansen from the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) in Norway is a PhD student at the University of Bergen. She received the award for her presentation of two feeding trials examining the effects of replacing fishmeal with plant protein in cod feed.

Plant protein replacing fish meal

Cod weighing 140 grams were fed feed with mixtures of soy meal, soyprotein concentrate, corn gluten and wheat gluten. The inclusion levels of the raw materials differed.

- Raw materials like soy meal, wheat gluten and soy protein concentrate appeared to have the most positive effect on the cod’s growth and health, "says Hansen.

In a new trial different protein mixtures of these raw materials was made. Fish meal was replaced by plant proteins from 0 to 100 %. The feed was given to cod of about 1.6 kilograms.

- Replacement levels up to 50 % had no negative effect on the growth or the health of the cod. Growth and feed utilisation was reduced by replacing over 50% of fish meal with plant meal, says Hansen. However, replacement levels just over 50 % is unlikely to affect the cod negatively provided that amino acids, vitamins and minerals common in fish meal but in short supply in plant protein is added to the feed..

- At the 100 % replacement level intestinal changes which resembles inflammatory conditions was observed in the cod.

Cod need more proteins than salmon, and seems to have a higher tolerance for soy protein than salmon.

Collaborators: The Institute of Marine Research and Skretting ARC

Scientific results are based on:Dietary plant-protein utilization in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L. Hansen, A-C., Karlsen Ø., Rosenlund, G., Rimbach, M. and Hemre, G-I. Aquaculture Nutrition, 2007, vol 13, pp 200-215

Total replacement of fish meal with plant proteins in diets for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) I: Effects on growth and protein retention. Hansen, A.-C., Rosenlund, G., Karlsen, Ø., Koppe, W., and Hemre, G.-I. Aquaculture, 2007, vol 272, pp 599-611.

Interested in plant proteins in aquaculture? Visit the Plant Protein in Aquafeed Working Group (PPA) webpages on Aquafeed.com: About PPA l Resources l Participate l Contact Us