Evaluating Soy Protein Concentrate as A Sustainable Alternative to Fish Meal in Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ X E. lanceolatus ♂) Diets with Phytase Inclusion
Keywords:
growth, hybrid grouper, nutrient digestibility, phytase, soy protein concentrateAbstract
Hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ x E. lanceolatus ♂) is a prominent aquaculture species in Southeast Asia. To reduce reliance on fish meal (FM), soy protein concentrate (SPC) is being considered as a plant-based alternative. This study evaluates the effects of partial replacement with 30% SPC, with or without phytase, on growth, feed utilisation, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal morphology in juvenile hybrid grouper. Four diets were tested: a control with only FM, and three others where 30% of the FM was replaced by SPC, each with 0, 1000, or 2000 FTU/kg of phytase. After 12-week feeding experiment, there were no significant differences in growth or feed utilization between fish on the control and SPC-based diets. Nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology were also similar, regardless of phytase. These results show that SPC can partially replace FM in hybrid grouper diets without harming growth or gut health. Adding phytase at the tested levels did not provide beneficial effects, thus supplementation of the enzyme in SPC-based diets is not necessary under this dietary formulation and culture condition.
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