Partial replacement of fish meal by porcine meat meal in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

In this study, it evaluated the growth performance of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in response to the replacement of fish meal with rendered porcine meat meal (PMM) in its diet. Six isolipidic and isonitrogenous diets were formulated with 0, 25, 35, 45, 55 or 65% replacement of fish meal with PMM on a protein basis. Shrimp grew from 0.55 g to > 3.6 g during the 41-day experimental period. Specific growth rate (SGR) was significantly lower when PMM inclusion was 26.18% or greater, replacing more than 45% fish meal protein. A significant negative relationship was observed between growth response and the level of fish meal protein replacement with PMM protein. Methionine content decreased as PMM inclusion levels increased, consequently compromising growth performance. Dry feed intake (DFI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) were unaffected by fish meal replacement levels. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) was highest at the lowest PMM inclusion level. Apparent protein digestibility coefficient (APDC) for PPM was 66.2%. Experimental diets D-0 and D-25 had apparent dry matter digestibility (ADMDs) ranging from 77–81% and ADPs from 82–85%, while the diets with higher PMM inclusion (D-35 to D-65) had a significantly lower ADMD range (70–72%) and APD range (73–78%). It is concluded that porcine meat meal is an acceptable alternative animal protein source that can replace up to 35% of fish meal protein in shrimp diets without significant adverse effects on growth, survival, FCR, PER and body composition.