Effects of Partial Replacement of Fish Meal by Soybean Meal on Growth of Juvenile Saddled Bream (Sparidae)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soybean meal (SBM) inclusion and treatment on growth of juvenile saddled bream. The saddled bream (1.1 +/- 0.5 g body weight) were fed with,four practical diets containing 44% of crude protein (CP). Diet 1 was a control diet containing 100% fish meal (FM) as a protein source. Diets 2-4 contained 29% 34% and 49% soybean meal with FM (ratio of fish protein (FP) to soybean meal protein (SP) were 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1, respectively). Fish fed the diet containing FP/SP ratio 1:1 had significantly (P<0.05) lower weight gain than fish fed with the other diets. There was no significant difference in body weight of fish fed with the other three diets. When compared to the control (Diet 1), fish fed with the diets 2 and 3 did not show any significant difference in body protein content. Body fat content was significantly higher in fish fed with the control diet than the fish fed with diets containing FP/SP ratios 2:1 and 1:1. Whole body ash content was significant higher in fish fed with diet 4. The present study indicates that SBM may be included in the diet up to 34% as a substitute for FM, replacing about 28% of FP.