Effect of fish meal replacement with Aqupro (processed soybean meal) on hematological and biochemical indices of juvenile Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of fish meal replacement by Aqupro (processed soybean meal) on hematological and biochemical indices of juvenile Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). To do this, 105 juvenile Siberian sturgeon (initial body weight 171.79±1.07g) were distributed in five treatments each with three replicates. The experimental treatments included the control (AP0), 20 (AP20), 40 (AP40), 60 (AP60) and 80 (AP80) percent replacement of Aqupro substituted with fish meal. Fish were fed according to apparent satiation four times daily for 12 weeks. According to the results, the highest final weight was observed in the control treatment (252.95±27.00g) and among the treatments containing Aqupro, the highest and lowest weights were observed in AP60 (226.38±14.71g) and AP40 (211.09±4.14g), respectively, but no significant difference was observed in any treatments (P>0.05). Hematological results showed significant differences in the number of white blood cells and differential white blood cells in some treatments with the control group (P<0.05). The percent of lymphocytes showed no significant difference between treatments and control (P>0.05), but AP20 and AP40 showed significant differences with AP60 and AP80 (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH and MCHC among treatments (P>0.05). The highest cholesterol level was observed in AP60 and showed a significant difference with control (P<0.05). Glucose levels showed significant differences between different treatments, as the lowest level was found in AP80 and indicated a significant difference with control (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in plasma triglyceride and proteins (total protein, globulin and albumin) compared with control (P<0.05). According to the results of this study, due to the importance of fish meal and its high price, nutritional value of Aqupro and easy accessibility and also no negative impact on measured indices, replacement of high levels of fish meal with Aqupro is possible in Siberian sturgeon diet.