Replacement of Fish Meal with Corn Protein Concentrate and its Effect on Growth, Survival, and Body Composition of Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

Today, due to the high cost of animal proteins on aquatic diets, a great deal of attention has been paid to further use of plant proteins.

The present study aimed to replace fish meal with corn protein concentrate (CPC) (Empyreal® 75) and investigate its effect on growth, survival, and body composition of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii).

Corn protein concentrate was replaced with fish meal at four levels of 0, 15, 30, and 45 % in three replicates in a completely randomized design. A total of 120 Siberian sturgeons weighing 8.27±0.39 g were distributed into twelve 80-L round plastic tanks with a density of 10 fish per tank. After a week of acclimatization period, fingerlings were fed with four diets with the same protein and energy levels (isonitrogenic and isocaloric) for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, growth parameters and carcass composition were measured.

The results revealed that the total length, final weight, body weight increase. Specific growth rate, average daily growth, protein efficiency ratio, and condition factor were significantly higher in fish fed with corn protein concentrate at the level of 15 % compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). The food conversion ratio had the lowest value in this treatment, which showed a significant difference with the other treatments (P<0.05). A significant difference in carcass protein was observed in fish fed corn protein concentrate 15 % and 30 % in comparison with fish fed with 45 % corn protein concentrate. The survival rate was 100 % in all the treatments.

Based on the obtained findings, it could be stated that corn protein concentrate at the level of 15 % can be a good substitute for fish meal in Siberian sturgeon diet.