Search Results (269)

We evaluated the inclusion of hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) as a partial replacement for fishmeal in diets for Macrobrachium rosenbergii post-larvae (PL) over a 32-day nursery feeding trial. Five experimental diets with increasing HFM levels (control, 1.5%, 3.0%, 4.5%, and 6.0%) were tested. Survival rates ranged from 73.3 ± 5.44% to 83.3 ± 3.84% without significant differences among groups. Dietary HFM inclusion levels above 3.0% significantly improved prawn performance, including final weight (up to 2.18-fold higher than control), length (1.13-fold), antenna length (1.18-fold), biomass gain (2.14-fold), and feed conversion ratio (1.59-fold lower). Prawn-fed diets at 6.0% HFM showed the highest performance among all experimental groups. No significant effects were observed on antioxidant biomarkers or digestive enzymes in prawns hepatopancreas, which suggests no imbalance in the antioxidant system or impairment of digestive function. Likewise, carcass proximate composition remained stable across experimental groups. These findings suggest that HFM at 3.0–6.0% dietary inclusion levels is a potential alternative to fishmeal in nursery-phase diets for M. rosernbergii PL, promoting prawn growth and welfare and maintaining health and carcass quality. Notably, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the potential effective use of HFM in feeding the nursery phase of M. rosernbergii. Full article

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various fungal species that can contaminate food and feed, posing significant risks to human and animal health. In aquaculture, the replacement of fishmeal with alternative protein sources has increased the risk of mycotoxin contamination, becoming a major challenge in fish feed production. Current data highlights that fish are exposed not only to common mycotoxins but also to emerging ones, raising concerns about human exposure through fish consumption. In this review, we draw attention to the toxicity data of key emerging mycotoxins from Fusarium (enniatins, ENNs; beauvericin, BEA) and Alternaria (alternariol monomethyl ether, AME; alternariol, AOH), their occurrence in aquafeeds and in commercially relevant fish species in Europe, and potential biocontrol approaches to prevent/mitigate contaminations. From the present review, it emerged that these mycotoxins exhibit in vitro cytotoxic properties. Their prevalence and concentrations vary widely both among aquafeeds, depending on the sample’s origin, and among fish species. Biocontrol approaches using microorganisms or natural compounds show promise as sustainable solutions to limit contamination. However, further research is essential to address data gaps and to allow for a proper risk assessment and, if necessary, the implementation of effective management measures. Full article

Background: Aquaculture increasingly seeks sustainable alternatives to fishmeal, a key protein source in fish diets. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) meal is a promising substitute, but its effects on fish growth, immunity, and gut health need further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of varying BSFL inclusion levels on juvenile hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂), a widely farmed species in tropical aquaculture. Methods: Juvenile hybrid grouper were fed diets with four levels of BSFL substitution (0%, 10%, 30%, and 50%) over 56 days. Key metrics such as growth performance, immune function, antioxidant capacity, and gut transcriptome were analyzed. Results: Replacing fish meal with BSFL meal had no significant effect on the survival rate of hybrid grouper (p > 0.05) but significantly affected growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). BSFL10 and BSFL30 groups showed good growth and elevated immune enzyme activity, with significantly higher HIS levels (p < 0.05); the Wf of the BSFL10 group was comparable to the control. However, excessive replacement (BSFL50) led to reduced growth (Wf significantly lower, p < 0.05) and increased oxidative stress, as indicated by higher CAT activity (p < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of immune- and metabolism-related genes with increasing BSFL levels, with immune pathways notably activated in the BSFL50 group. Conclusions: BSFL meal is a promising alternative to fishmeal in juvenile hybrid grouper diets, with moderate inclusion (10–30%) being most beneficial. Excessive BSFL substitution (50%) may impair fish health, highlighting the need for careful formulation in aquaculture diets. Full article

Food waste management is a major global issue, and alternative protein sources like insect farming offer a sustainable solution. This study investigated the environmental impacts of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) production using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), evaluating its role in both protein production and food waste treatment. The assessment considered three functional units: FU₁ (1 kg of dried larvae), FU₂ (per kg of protein), and FU₃ (treatment of 1 ton of food waste). The results indicate that larvae rearing is the largest contributor to emissions in FU₁ (46% of 18.51 kg CO₂ eq). In FU₂, BSFL protein shows a higher climate impact (49.41 kg CO₂ eq) than fishmeal or soybean meal but requires significantly less land. FU₃ demonstrates that BSFL-based composting can achieve net negative emissions (~−24.8 kg CO₂ eq), outperforming conventional waste treatment. An optimized scenario (Scenario A) shows marked improvements across all units compared to a Business-as-Usual case, including a 79% reduction in FU₁ emissions and a 577% increase in FU₃ carbon savings. These findings underline the environmental advantages of BSFL systems, especially in Singapore, and support their potential as sustainable alternatives for protein production and food waste management. Full article

Aquaculture advancement depends on alternative raw materials to reduce reliance on fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO) from extractive fisheries. Strategies like restricted feeding reduce costs and improve sustainability by minimizing feed waste and enhancing water quality, while selective breeding boosts growth and adapts fish to innovative diets. However, these measures may affect quality and shelf life. Gilthead seabream selected for high growth or non-selected were fed in 500 L tanks for 300 days until apparent satiety (AS) or with food restrictions (85AS or 65AS) using a control diet with low FM and FO balanced with vegetable ingredients, and an alternative diet (ALT) where FM was substantially replaced with insect, poultry by-product, feather, and porcine blood meals, while FO was completely replaced by microalgae, poultry, and salmon by-product oils. The ALT diet improved EPA + DHA levels, n-3/n-6 ratio, and fillet hardness. The selected fish outperformed the non-selected ones in growth and were more resilient to ALT diet and feeding restrictions. The 85AS feeding strategy optimized fillet quality by preventing lipid accumulation and muscle adaptations, as observed with the other feeding strategies. Combining sustainable feed formulations, genetic selection, and moderate feed restriction enables a viable, long-term strategy for high-quality, environmentally responsible seabream farming. Full article

The rapid expansion of the global population has intensified the demand for protein-rich food sources, positioning aquaculture as a crucial sector in the endeavor to alleviate global hunger through the provision of high-quality aquatic protein. Traditional protein sources such as fishmeal have historically served as the foundation of aquafeeds; however, their elevated costs and limited availability have catalyzed the search for sustainable alternatives. These alternatives encompass plant-based proteins, insect meals, and, more recently, single-cell proteins (SCPs), which are derived from microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, fungi, and microalgae. Nonetheless, SCP remains in its nascent stages and currently accounts for only a minor fraction of aquafeed formulations relative to other established alternatives. The production of SCP utilizes low-cost substrates, such as agricultural and dairy wastes, thereby supporting waste mitigation and principles of the circular economy. This review elucidates the nutritional value of SCPs, their potential for biofortification, and their emerging roles as functional feeds with immunomodulatory and nutrigenomic effects. Additionally, the review underscores the potential of endophytes as a novel SCP source, highlighting their underutilized capacity to foster sustainable innovations in aquafeeds. Full article

The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids, digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in 10 fishmeal (FM) samples were evaluated in weaned barrows (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) using two experiments. In Experiment 1, 11 piglets (18.87 ± 0.10 kg) fitted with T-cannulas were randomly allocated to an 11 × 6 Latin-square design with 11 diets (1 nitrogen-free diet and 10 assay diets) and six periods. The AID and SID of all amino acids (AAs) except proline showed significant differences among all FM (p < 0.05). Importantly, the SID of amino acids was positively correlated with key antioxidant markers and immune parameters, and it was negatively correlated with oxidative stress markers (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2 and IL-6). In Experiment 2, 11 piglets (18.05 ± 1.15 kg) were assigned to an 11 × 5 Latin-square design with 11 diets (a 96.35% corn diet and 10 assay diets) and five consecutive periods. Significant variations were observed in the DE, ME, and ATTD of dry matter among different FM samples (p < 0.05). Moreover, predictive equations for estimating the SID of lysine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan, as well as DE and ME, were established using stepwise regression analysis based on the chemical composition of the FM. These findings demonstrate that the nutritional value of FM in nursery pig diets has been underestimated, and this study provides precise data and predictive methods for evaluating the nutritional quality of FM in precision nutrition. Full article

The trial explored innovative low-protein diets for weaning piglets, testing the elimination of fish meal and blood derivatives. The trial compared three treatments, each with two post-weaning feeds: control feed with blood plasma and fishmeal; T1: low-protein feed with seven amino acids, fishmeal, and blood plasma; T2: low-protein feed with seven amino acids without fishmeal and blood plasma. The trial tested 180 weaned piglets, 24 days of age, evenly distributed by weight, age, and litter of origin. At the end of the first phase, T1 and T2 recorded a significantly higher average weight, ADG, and FCR compared with the control feed. At the end of the second phase, the T2 group maintained a significantly better weight, ADG, and FCR than the control group. Considering the entire test period (phase 1 and phase 2), the T2 thesis appears to have a significantly higher average weight, ADG, with a lower FCR compared to the control group. The T2 thesis fixed a significantly (p < 0.01) greater quantity of nitrogen compared to the T1 thesis and control feed (T2 58.71% vs. T1 54.13% and control 54.02%). In conclusion, a low-protein diet without raw materials of animal origin proved more efficient in terms of performance and nitrogen retention. Full article

The influence of algae in a final fattening diet for gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, was studied in an 87 d feeding trial. Five groups were analysed (three tanks per group). In the first 38 days, one lot was fed with standard algae-free feed (C1) and four batches were fed with an algae-free diet low in fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO) and rich in terrestrial vegetables (C2). Subsequently, the C2 diet was changed in three out of the four groups, two of them being fed a diet with a microalgae blend (10%) plus 2% macroalgae (Alaria esculenta), either in raw (C2-R) or hydrolysed (C2-H) form, and a third batch with a diet lacking FM and FO but supplemented with 10% microalgae and 7% algae oil (C2-O) for 49 days. Body length and weight, muscle parameters, and conversion index were analysed after 38 and 87 days. At day 38, no significant differences were observed in any parameter between C1 and C2, but at the end of the trial (day 87), C2 displayed the lowest weight gain and the worst conversion rate, whereas C2-R showed higher body weight, fibrillar hypertrophy, and better conversion rates than the other groups, and C2-H displayed higher hyperplasia values than the other groups. Full article

This research investigated the growth, serum biochemistry, antioxidant capability, and immunity impact of black carp fed degossypolled cottonseed protein replacing fishmeal at the levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% (DCP0, DCP10, DCP20, DCP30, DCP40, and DCP50), respectively. The results showed there were no significant changes in growth among these test groups. The activities and mRNA expression levels of amylase and trypsin were heightened in conjunction with 30–40% DCP. Although the insulin contents were reduced with a rise in DCP content, 5-hydroxytryptamino was increased in the DCP40 and DCP50 groups. DCP40 could heighten the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and urea nitrogen. Although lower levels of DCP (≤20%) could increase the total antioxidant capacity compared with the DCP50 group, DCP50 could markedly heighten levels of catalase, glutathione S-transferase, H₂O₂, and malondialdehyde. Meanwhile, the mRNA levels of Mn-superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutamate–cysteine ligase regulatory subunit, and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 were heightened in the DCP30 group compared with the DCP50 group. The levels of alkaline phosphatase, immunoglobulin M, and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 were markedly heightened in the liver of the DCP20 group compared with the DCP50 group. In conclusion, a suitable level of DCP (20%) could improve serum biochemical indices and hormone variation, enhance antioxidant capability, and increase immunity in black carp. Full article

The sustainable growth of finfish farming relies heavily on reducing the high ecological footprint of sourcing and producing fish feeds that accounts for almost 50% of the total ecological footprint of finfish farming. Sustainable alternatives to fishmeal often pose challenges due to the presence of antinutritional factors and nutrient imbalances that impair fish health and growth. Screening for alternative nutrient sources and adapting to global commodity fluctuations requires modern tools that can predict the physiological responses of fish early and reliably. The present study explores for the first time the potential of fish red blood cell (RBC) transcriptome as a minimally invasive biomarker of physiological responses in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fed either a fishmeal-based (FM) or a plant-protein-based (PP) diet. Blood samples were collected at multiple time points (15, 20, and 30 days post-diet initiation) from genetically diverse full-sib families reared under commercial conditions, integrating transcriptomic analysis with long-term growth assessments. Differential gene expression analysis revealed significant dietary effects on oxidative phosphorylation, ribosomal capacity, and lipid metabolism pathways, highlighting metabolic plasticity and cellular adaptations to plant-based feeds. The downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation genes suggests a metabolic shift in response to altered nutrient composition, while ribosomal pathway modulation indicates potential constraints on protein synthesis. These transcriptomic shifts, conserved across two independent experiments, reinforce the utility of RBCs as a real-time indicator of fish physiological status, offering a tool for monitoring dietary impacts and optimizing feed formulations. Such insights are essential for advancing sustainable, nutritionally balanced aquaculture feeds that support fish welfare and productivity. The minimally invasive sample collection respects the 3Rs (Reduce, Refine, Replace) principle in animal experimentation and allows for frequent screening and generation of refined data. Full article

Replacing fishmeal (FM) with plant-based protein sources remains a significant challenge, particularly for carnivorous fish. This study investigates the effect of dietary Lentinus edodes fermentation (LEF) supplementation on Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) fed with fermented soybean meal (FSM) as a partial FM replacement. The positive control consisted of 64% FM (Con), and the negative control (FSM group) included 52% FM plus 12% FSM. Two experimental diets were formulated by adding 2% LEF (LEF2 group) and 3% LEF (LEF3 group) to the negative control diet. The experimental diet was administered to Japanese eels weighing 62.50 ± 2.14 g for 12 weeks. The experimental fish were randomly assigned to four groups, with three replicates of 100 fish per group. The results indicated that growth performance and feed efficiency were significantly reduced in the FSM group, but were significantly improved by LEF supplementation (p < 0.05). LEF supplementation did not significantly affect muscle crude fat and protein content compared to the FSM group (p > 0.05), but significantly increased muscle amino acid content and levels of certain fatty acids (linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, DHA) (p < 0.05). LEF supplementation reduced serum TC and LDL-C levels, increased HDL-C levels, significantly increased CAT and T-SOD activities, and reduced MDA levels in both serum and liver (p < 0.05). ALT and AST activities were significantly elevated in the FSM group, accompanied by liver histological abnormalities, which were improved by LEF supplementation. LEF supplementation increased the thickness of the muscularis, villus height, and goblet cell count in the intestine (p < 0.05). Compared to the control, the FSM group significantly upregulated spleen tnf-α gene expression and downregulated the expression of anti-inflammatory factors (ifn-α, ifn-γ, socs1, mavs). LEF supplementation ameliorated the reduced immunocompetence induced by FM replacement with FSM by enhancing the expression of immune-related genes (irak4, ifn-α, ifn-γ, irf3, irf11, socs1, mavs, traf3) in the spleen. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of LEF supplementation on growth performance and feed efficiency may be attributed to its improvement of liver damage and intestinal histology, as well as its enhancement of antioxidant capacity and immunity. Full article

The rising scarcity and cost of fishmeal due to overfishing and environmental challenges demand alternatives. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) meal, with its nutritional value, shows promise as a sustainable supplement for aquaculture species. This study evaluated the effects of BSFL meal supplementation on growth performance, survival, feed conversion efficiency, and meat quality in juvenile swamp eels (Monopterus albus) initially weighing 4.0 ± 0.5 g. The eels were fed diets with 0% (control), 10%, 30%, and 50% BSFL meal for three months. Growth performance was assessed using the absolute growth rate (AGR) and the specific growth rate (SGR). Feed conversion ratios (FCRs), survival rates, and meat quality metrics, including fillet percentage, crude protein, and moisture content, were analyzed. Statistical differences among groups were evaluated using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for pairwise comparisons. The 30% BSFL group exhibited superior performance, achieving the highest AGR and SGR (p < 0.05) and the lowest FCR (2.33 ± 0.03). Fillet percentage was highest in this group (27.3% ± 0.7%), with no significant differences in crude protein or moisture content. Survival rates were consistent across treatments (75.2–76.0%, p > 0.05). These results confirm that 30% BSFL supplementation optimally enhances productivity and meat quality in swamp eels, highlighting BSFL meal’s potential as a sustainable aquafeed alternative. Full article

Plant biostimulants (PBs) have been considered the new wave for ecological intensification and sustainability, but are they sustainable? They increase nutrient use efficiency and reduce the impact of abiotic stress in plants. However, commercially available PBs based on humic substances are obtained using non-renewable sources of organic matter. At the same time, the microbial inoculants include a discussion of the properties of microorganisms and formulation design, as well as standards of purity and process control. Farmers depend on biological inputs like others to generate additional income for agribusiness. We produced a composite PB using humic substances isolated from vermicompost with KOH 5% and microbial consortia of plant growth-promoting bacteria (H. seropedicae, G. diazotrophicus, Bacillus spp.) grown in a simple medium with molasses and fishmeal as sources of C and N, respectively, in a homemade reactor at 37 °C for 36 h. The on-farm PB was applied directly in a passion fruit trial, and plant health and yield were monitored. The plants treated with the PB showed decreased visual symptoms of pests and diseases concurrent to higher activities of the enzymes used to monitor the induction of the plant resistance system (1,3-β glucanase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase). Plants treated with the PB yielded more than 50% more passion fruit than the control in soil with natural low fertility, fertilized with vermicompost. It is possible to produce PBs directly on the farm, leveraging locally available resources and simple technologies to sustainably enhance plant health and productivity. Full article