Effects of Different Soybean Meal Sources on Feed Utilization, Growth Performance, and Survival of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Abstract

The economic impact generated by the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) industry has become relevant in the U.S. because of the profits produced in the southern states of Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi, becoming the most significant aquaculture segment in the nation. However, the hegemony of the catfish industry has not been exempted from setbacks throughout its history. One of the most common complications for the industry is the farmers' demand for low-cost feeds, which may result in the use of low-cost, low-quality ingredients in the diets of channel cat-fish (Ictalurus punctatus). This can negatively impact the production of this asset due to the delay in the days to market and prolonged exposure to pathogens in the environment. The aquaculture industry, including channel catfish production, has traditionally used diets with animal-based pro-teins. These products' have increasing costs and limited availability which have opened the opportunity for less expensive and more consistent plant-based proteins like soybean meals. Nevertheless, several studies show that the total or partial replacement of animal-based proteins with soybean could impact growth performance, protein intake, and feed utilization in channel catfish. Con-sequently, this study was initiated to determine if replacing solvent extracted soybean meal in a practical catfish feed could improve the performance. The basal diet (32% protein, 6% lipid) con-tained 56.4% SBM, which was then partially replaced by including 10% of a corn fermented pro-tein from the ethanol industry (Basal-CFP) , or completely replaced with fermented soybean meal (43% diet) produced by Hamlet Inc (Findlay, OH, U.S.) or 45% of a low oligosaccharide soybean meal (Basal LO) produced by a genetically engineered technology and produced by Benson Hill (St Louis, MO, U.S.A.). Two 12-week growth trials were performed. One in a recirculating aquaculture system using a series of aquaria and juvenile catfish (mean initial weight 2.14 ± 0.03 g). This trial included the before mentioned diets as well as a 32% protein commercial feed as a reference. Interestingly, enough final weights for fish reared on the test diets were all significantly greater than those reared on the commercial reference. Demonstrating that improvements in feeds can be made. Within the test diet fish were significantly larger and FCR were lower for fish maintained on the diets containing low oligosaccharide soybean meal and fermented corn protein. Under IPRS conditions in ponds, juvenile fish (32.56 ± 0.72 g) were reared on the test diets to a final size of 134.4g to 113.4 for fish offered the fermented soy-based diets to those offered the basal diet. Overall, results indicated that new varieties of soy can help improve the growth of channel catfish and work should be continued to evaluate results under production conditions.