Performance, body compositions, input and output of nitrogen and phosphorus in Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii Brandt, as affected by dietary animal protein blend replacing fishmeal and protein levels

An 8-week growth trial was conducted using a 2 x 3 factorial design to evaluate the effect of substitution of fishmeal (FM) by rendered animal protein blend [APB, comprised of 400 g kg-1 poultry by-product meal, 350 g kg-1 meat and bone meal, 200 g kg-1 hydrolysed feather meal (HFM) and 50 g kg-1 spray-dried blood meal] in diets of Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii Brandt. Two isoenergetic control diets were formulated to contain two different protein levels [high-protein control (400 g kg-1), with 483 g kg-1 of FM] and [low-protein control (360 g kg-1), with 400 g kg-1 of FM]. At each protein level, dietary FM protein was replaced by APB at 75% and 100% levels and supplemented with crystallized essential amino acid under ideal protein concept. The six diets were named as HC, HAPB75, HAPB100, LC, LAPB75 and LAPB100, respectively. No significant differences were found in weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR), but fish fed with the low-protein diets showed higher feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors I of each group were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The whole-body composition and liver composition were not affected by dietary protein levels, replacement or their interaction. Muscle protein and lipid contents of fish fed with diet LAPB100 were significantly lower than those of HC group. Digestibility of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were reduced with higher APB inclusion levels, but productive N and P values of all groups were not different. Lower N and P intake induced lower nutrients losses (P < 0.05). The results suggested that dietary protein level could be reduced to 360 g kg-1 from 400 g kg-1 without affecting WGR or SGR and significantly reduced nutrients lose. Furthermore, dietary FM protein can be totally replaced by APB in feed formulation either at 400 g kg-1 or at 360 g kg-1 protein level.