Effects of Diets with Different Fish Meal Origins on the Performance of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

The aim of this trial was to compare the performance of rainbow trout fed diets with different fish meal origin as the main protein sources. The growth trial lasted for 12 weeks and carried out in floating cages (5x5x5 m), with triplicate groups of 10,500 rainbow trout of an initial average weight of 40+/-1.2 g. The experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and to include imported (Peru) fish meal (Diet A), locally produced fish meal from Anchovy (Diet B) and locally produced fish meal from several fish species (gilthead sea bream, sea bass and rainbow tout) by-products (Diet C). At the end of the trial, there were no significant differences in the growth rate and protein efficiency ratio among groups (p>0.05). Feed conversion ratios were significantly better in. groups fed Diets B. It was concluded that, performance of rainbow trout fed practical diets including good quality local processed fish meal are similar to that of fish fed diets including imported fish meal.