Hydrolyzed feather meal as a partial fishmeal replacement in diets for European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles

The present study shows that an inclusion of up to 12.5% HF (76% fishmeal replacement) is possible in European seabass without impairing feed intake, growth, immune response or EPA and DHA levels in the muscle. Although energy and protein apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) were lowest in the HF12.5 diet, energy and nutrient gain remained similar among dietary treatments. Altogether results suggest that HF is an interesting ingredient to be used in practical feed formulations for this species.