Improving High Soy Feed Formulations for Florida Pompano Trachinotus carolinus through Phytase Supplementation.

Abstract

The economically sound and sustainable aquaculture of many marine species in the coming years is dependent on the reduction of fish meal and the increased inclusion of plant protein sources. Florida Pompano perform well on soy-based diets. However, these diets may be improved through the use of certain enzymes to improve digestibility coefficients. Research in other marine fish has shown the potential for phytase supplementation to improve the digestibility of phosphorus, protein, and possibly other minerals. Three growth trials were conducted in recirculating systems at the Claude Peteet Mariculture Center, Gulf Shores, Alabama, USA, which both consisted of 12 tanks stocked with twenty pompano juveniles in each. Fish were fed four times daily one of the four, randomly assigned diets in each trial. The first trial consisted of both low and high levels of phytase (Basal+CaP, Basal, 500 FTU, 4000 FTU, trial 1). The following two trials consisted of a greater spectrum of phytase supplementation levels in both the low (200 FTU, 400 FTU, 600 FTU; Trial 2) and high (1000 FTU, 2000 FTU, 4000 FTU; Trial 3) ranges to further elucidate the response to this enzyme. Digestibility trials were carried out for trial 1 and trail 2. Growth, retention, and digestibility results did not indicate a significant difference in growth or performance with enzyme supplementation. It is possible that the phosphorus requirement for Florida pompano was met or that the enzyme was damaged during storage; resulting in the lack of the observable benefit of phytase supplementation.