The use of Silkworm pupae powder as a protein source on the diet of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Silkworm pupae powder is obtained as a by-product after separating silk strands from cocoons. This powder can be used as a suitable protein source for terrestrial and aquatic animals because of its amino acid structure. In this study, the effects of diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15% silkworm powder instead of fish meal on growth performance of rainbow trout were investigated in a completely randomized design. 360 juvenile rainbow trout (average weight 55±3.42 g) were used. They were divided in 4 groups and 3 replication. At the end of the experiment; total length, weight gain, condition factor, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio were not significantly different (P>0.05). Specific growth rate and nutrition protein utilization were significantly higher in control group compare to other treatment groups (P<0.05). Results of the present study showed that silkworm pupae meal could replaced up to 15% of fish meal diet in rainbow trout culture without adverse effect on growth performance.