Partial replacement of fishmeal by fermented soybean meal in diets for juvenile white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

As an important feed ingredient, fermented soybean meal (FSM) has been widely used in aquatic animals due to its stable sources and reasonable price. Here, we evaluated the potential for replacement of fishmeal (FM) with FSM in diet of Litopenaeus vannamei. Five isonitrogenous (410 g/kg) and isolipidic (80 g/kg) diets were formulated: a control diet containing 320 g/kg FM and four experimental diets in which FM in control diet was replaced by FSM at 10 (FSM10%), 20 (FSM20%), 30 (FSM30%) and 40% (FSM40%). An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted in fifteen fibreglass tanks with 50 shrimps per tank. After 8 weeks trial, FSM20% had significantly enhanced growth performance (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in body composition and digestive enzyme activities of all groups (p > 0.05). Through real‐time quantitative PCR analysis, tor and s6k expression levels of FSM20% were significantly up‐regulated (p < 0.05). Results of western blot showed that the phosphorylation of S6K was not significantly affected by different dietary treatments (p > 0.05), which suggested mTOR signalling pathway was not affected by FSM diets. Based on the above data, 20% replacement of FM with FSM was reasonable and advantageous for L. vannamei diet.     

Nutritional evaluation of an improved soybean meal as a fishmeal replacer in the diet of Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

A 12‐week growth trial was conducted to assess an improved soybean meal (ISBM) in the diet of Pacific white shrimp (PWS). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated: the control diet (ISBM‐0) contained 30% fishmeal (FM) and three test diets (ISBM‐33, ISBM‐66 and ISBM‐100) were formulated by gradually replacing FM on an isonitrogenous basis. Groups of PWS (3.2 g mean initial weight) were fed their respective experimental diets three times per day. Production performance of PWS was unaffected by diet, except the final weight of shrimp‐fed ISBM‐66 diet was significantly lower than those fed ISBM‐0. Whole‐body moisture was significantly higher and protein was significantly lower in PWS‐fed ISBM‐100 versus shrimp‐fed ISBM‐0. PWS‐fed ISBM‐66 had significantly higher oleic acid than shrimp‐fed ISBM‐0 and linolenic acid versus shrimp‐fed ISBM‐0 and ISBM‐100. The lowest linoleic acid and n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids levels were found in shrimp‐fed ISBM‐100. Based on second‐degree polynomial regression analysis of final weight and weight gain, the estimated optimum levels of ISBM to replace FM in PWS diets are 89.13% and 95.56% respectively. Overall, results indicate alternative, sustainable, plant‐based protein sources such as ISBM may potentially replace FM in PWS diets.     

The replacement of fish meal with fermented soya bean meal or soya bean meal in the diet of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The present study evaluated the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with soya bean meal (SM) or fermented soya bean meal (FSM) on growth, nutrient utilization, digestive enzyme activity and intestinal histology of Pacific white shrimp. The basal diet (control) contained 18% FM, and then, FM in basal diet was replaced by 1/6 (17%), 1/3 (33%) and 1/2 (50%) by the inclusion of SM and FSM, referring to SM17, SM33, SM50, FSM17, FSM33 and FSM50 respectively. The shrimp (3.0 g) were fed one of the seven diets for 8 weeks. The results showed that the control group had the highest weight gain (WG) (653.8%) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1.61). SM33, SM50 and FSM50 groups showed significantly lower WG, crude protein (CP) digestibility, hepatopancreatic protease, amylase activity and higher FCR than the control (p < .05). The villi height of SM33, SM50 and FSM50 groups and the intestinal wall thickness of SM groups and FSM50 group were significantly lower than those of the control (p < .05). In conclusion, fish meal (18%) in white shrimp diet could be replaced by 1/6 (17%) and 1/3 (33%) with SM and FSM respectively. Fermented soya bean meal could replace more fish meal than soya bean meal did.     

Use of new soybean varieties in practical diets for the Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of eight sources (designated A–H) of soybean meal (SBM) which included six new non‐genetically modified soya varieties in practical feed formulation for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, using both growth and digestibility trials. A soybean meal‐based reference diet was formulated using conventional soybean meal (527 g kg^?1 diet), which was then replaced on an isonitrogenous basis with various other experimental soybean meals. In a 6‐week growth trial, shrimp in four replicate tanks per dietary treatment (10 shrimp per tank, initial weight 0.52 ± 0.04 g) were cultured in a recirculating system. There were no significant differences with respects to per cent weight gain and survival across all dietary treatments; however, final weights and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were lower in shrimp offered diet 3. Apparent digestibility coefficients for the eight (A–H) different soybean meals were determined in L. vannamei for dry matter (ADMD), gross energy (ADE) and crude protein (ADP) using 10 g kg^?1 chromic oxide as inert marker with 70 : 30 replacement techniques. Coefficients ranged from 71.3% to 88.3%, from 76.6% to 91.3% and from 93.6% to 99.8%, for ADMD, ADE and ADP, respectively. Improved digestibility values were observed in soybean C which was characterized by crude protein (471 g kg^?1), crude fat (97 g kg^?1), low cooking temperature (180 °C), higher nitrogen solubility index (689 g kg^?1) and protein dispersibility index (619 g kg^?1). This indicates that new lines of soybean meal can be used to improve digestibility coefficients in shrimp feeds.     

Substitution of fishmeal with soybean meal in practical diets for juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti (Pérez‐Farfante & Kensley 1997)

The feasibility of substituting soybean meal for fishmeal diets for juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti (0.35±0.01 g) was evaluated, and an adequate substitution level was determined. Five diets were evaluated using 46%, 59%, 75%, 88% and 100% substitution levels. Pellet water stability was significantly affected by dietary soybean content (P<0.05). Increased soybean content produced lower pellet stability, ranging from a dry matter loss of 14–22% after a 2‐h immersion, and 20–33% after an 8‐h immersion. After 52 days, significant differences (P<0.05) were found in shrimp weight, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio. The values were 0.64–1.06 g, 2.8–7.9 and 0.45–1.21, respectively, for the three measurements. Overall, better results were obtained with diets where soybean meal was substituted for fishmeal up to 75%. The 100% soybean meal diet resulted in poor growth performance of shrimp. Survival rates were acceptable for all treatments (90% or higher) and no significant differences were found in survival between treatments. Regression analysis using the broken‐line methodology indicated that 76.5±2% is an optimum soybean substitution level in diets that contained fishmeal and soybean as the major protein sources for grow‐out of juvenile white shrimp.     

Partial replacement of fishmeal with biofloc meal in the diet of postlarvae of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

This study evaluated the potential for the replacement of fishmeal (FM) by biofloc meal (BM) in the diet of Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae. Four isonitrogenous (437.42 g kg^?1) and isocaloric (19.84 kJ g^?1) diets were formulated, in which FM was replaced with BM at 0% (T0), 7.5% (T7.5), 15% (T15) and 30% (T30). A commercial diet (CD) was used as reference. The study was conducted over 42 days in 50 L tanks connected to a water recirculation system. All tanks were stocked with three postlarvae (initial weight 0.0023 g) per litre. Shrimp survival, weight gain (WG), final weight (FW), specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were measured. Survival rates were high (>91.1%) in all treatments. As the T30 treatment returned a significantly (<0.05) better performance in WG, FW, SGR and PER than all other treatments, partial replacement of FM with BM does not appear to affect productivity. In fact, a regression analysis indicated that a FM to BM replacement level of over 20% may actually improve shrimp growth. In addition to providing a cost‐effective alternative ingredient for L. vannamei postlarvae diets, the production of meal also represents a more sustainable way of disposing of the excess of biofloc produced by BFT systems.     

Fishmeal replacement with feather-enzymatic hydrolyzates co-extruded with soya-bean meal in practical diets for the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

A feeding experiment was conducted to examine the potential of a commercial steam-processed-feather meal (SPFM) and feathers enzymatically hydrolysed for 60 or 120 min (EHF60 and EHF120) as substitutes for fishmeal (FM) in diets for white shrimp juveniles. Enzymatically hydrolised feathers or SPFM were blended through an extruder with soyabean meal (SBM) in a 1:1 ratio (EHF-SBM, SPFM-SBM). Isoproteic and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain 9% EHF60-SBM, 9% EHF120-SBM and 18% EHF60-SBM. These diets were compared with a diet containing 13.7% SPFM-SBM and a control diet designed to contain 18.4% FM and no feather. Quadruplicate groups of 15 shrimp (0.33 g initial-body weight) were fed twice a day on each diet for 4 weeks. The weight gain of shrimp fed on the three EHF-SBM diets did not differ from that of shrimp fed on the FM-control diet; however, shrimp fed on the SPFM-SBM diet gained less weight. The EHF60 and EHF120 coextruded with SBM in a 2:1 ratio were evaluated in a commercial rearing pond. Both ingredients included at 20% in the test diets were compared with a control diet containing 17.8% FM. Triplicate groups of juvenile shrimp (3.4 g initial-mean weight), randomly allocated in 1 m³ plastic cages, were fed with the test diets during 30 days. Growth (weight gain, specific-growth rate (SGR)) and nutritional value of the diets, food conversion ratio (FCR), protein-efficiency ratio (PER), digestibility were similar. In summary, these results indicate that white shrimp can be fed with a practical diet containing 20% EHF-SBM (2:1) without impairing growth or food conversion. The use of 20% EHF-SBM (2:1) allowed the fish-meal portion to be reduced by nearly by 55%.     

Evaluation of differently processed soybean meal products as ingredients in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Numerous advanced soybean meal (SBM) products are available in the market today, which were produced through modified or improved methodologies from the traditional solvent extraction procedure, to reduce or eliminate the antinutritional factors and improve bioavailability of nutrients. Despite the higher manufacturing cost, inclusion levels of these new SBM products into fish feed formulations can still be limited due to the secondary quality characteristics caused during processing. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of differently processed SBM, on growth performances of pacific white shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei). The growth trial was conducted with test diets formulated with two sources of solvent‐extracted (SESBM44 and SESBM49), enzyme‐treated (ETSBM), fermented SBM (FSBM) and alcohol‐extracted soy protein concentrate (SPC) as the primary protein source (650 g/kg). As per the statistical analysis, diets incorporated with SESBM44, SESBM49 and ETSBM yielded a significantly higher growth performance and lower FCR. Results of this study infer that the traditional solvent‐extracted SBM perform equally well as enzyme‐treated SBM, whereas reduced performances of the shrimp offered fermented SBM and alcohol‐extracted soy protein concentrate might be due to reduced nutrient digestibility, palatability or other nutrient shifts caused by processing.     

Using a fermented mixture of soybean meal and earthworm meal to replace fish meal in the diet of white shrimp,Penaeus vannamei (Boone)

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of a Bacillus subtilis E20‐fermented mixture (FSFEM) containing soybean meal (SBM) and Eisenia fetida earthworm meal (EM) at a ratio of 4:1 to increase the methionine level in order to satisfy the methionine requirement of white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei in a diet with fish meal (FM) completely replaced by mixtures. B. subtilis E20 fermentation improved the mixture's palatability and utilization based on better growth performance in comparison to shrimp fed FSEM (contains fermented SBM and EM at a ratio of 4:1) diets. FSFEM is a good substitute for FM. Maximal replacement levels of FM with FSFEM were 80% in a shrimp diet with 37% of crude protein and 7% of crude lipid based on weight gain and 100% based on feeding efficiency. In addition, shrimp fed experimental diets had no significant differences in survival after being challenged by Vibrio alginolyticus. It is suggested that B. subtilis E20‐FSFEM has the potential to replace FM in cultured shrimp diets.     

Increase in the plant protein ratio in the diet of white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone), using Bacillus subtilis E20‐fermented soybean meal as a replacement

This study aimed to improve the nutritional value and utilization of soybean meal (SBM) used as feed ingredient for shrimp by an approach of solid‐state fermentation with Bacillus subtilis E20. The protein content and B. subtilis E20 proliferation significantly increased, as the initial moisture increased from 30% to 50% during fermentation. Compared with SBM, the protein content of FSBM increased by 19% after fermentation, accompanied by an increase of 18.75% in the total hydrolyzed amino acids. The free amino acid profile and content in FSBM also obviously increased by 374.9% compared with SBM. The FSBM is a good substitute for fish meal (FM) in a diet with 37% protein and 7% lipid content. The maximal replacement levels of FM in shrimp diet with SBM and FSBM were 37.42% and 61.67%, respectively, based on the feed efficiency estimated by a broken‐line analysis. The B. subtilis E20‐FSBM can be a potential protein source used as a replacement for FM in shrimp diet.     

Effects of replacing fish meal with soybean meal and peanut meal on growth,feed utilization and haemolymph indexes for juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei,Boone

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with soybean meal (SBM) and peanut meal (PM) on growth, feed utilization, body composition and haemolymph indexes of juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, Boone. Five diets were formulated: a control diet (FM30) containing 30% fish meal and four other diets (FM20, FM15, FM10 and FM5) in which protein from fish meal was substituted by protein from SBM and PM. The dietary amino acids of diets FM20, FM15, FM10 and FM5 were equal to those of the diet FM30 by adding crystalline amino acids (lysine and methionine). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 shrimps (initial weight = 0.48 g), each three times daily. The results indicated that shrimp fed the diets FM15, FM10 and FM5 had poor growth performance and feed utilization compared with shrimp fed the control diet. No difference was observed in feed intake, survival and body composition among dietary treatments. The plasma total cholesterol level of shrimp and the digestibility of dry matter, protein and energy contained in the diets decreased significantly with increasing PM and SBM inclusion levels. Results of this study suggested that fish meal can be reduced from 300 to 200 g kg^?1 when replaced by a mixture of SBM and PM.     

Evaluation of soybean meal from different sources as an ingredient in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Solvent extracted soybean meal (SBM) is generated using different varieties of soybeans grown under a range of conditions and then processed at different crushing plants. Due to its competitive cost and availability, it is a popular plant‐based protein source for shrimp feed formulations. However, there is limited information about effects of variations in the nutritional composition of soybean meal have on performances of shrimp. Hence, the present study was designed to determine the effects of different soybean sources on the growth performances of Litopenaeus vannamei. Two growth trials were conducted with iso‐nitrogenous and iso‐lipidic (350 g/kg protein and 80 g/kg lipid) test diets formulated with 25 sources of soybean meal. Trial one incorporated 14 treatments including a soy‐based diet containing 517 g/kg SBM (eight replicates) and this soy source was then replaced with 13 different soybean sources (four replicates per treatment). The second trial used the same basal diet and 11 different sources of soybean meal (Total 12 diets) with five replicates per treatment. Both growth trials were conducted with a stocking density of 10 shrimps/aquarium in a semi‐closed recirculating system and the initial weight of shrimps for trials 1 and 2 were 0.23 g ± 0.02 and 0.67 g ± 0.02 respectively. During the two trials, shrimp were fed four times/day assuming a FCR of 1.8, over 42 days for trial 1 and 35 days for trial 2. Results indicated that there are differences among sources of soybean meal for standardized percentage TGC. Diet 21 that contained SBM4550 had the largest value for TGC whereas the lowest value for TGC was observed for shrimp fed diet 17 that contained SBM45536. According to the statistical analysis that was used to interpret the growth performance data from the complete chemical profile of the SBM, phosphorous, phytate‐phosphorous and total phytic acid levels had positive correlations (p < 0.005) with TGC whereas raffinose (p = 0.086) had a negative correlation with TGC. Results of this work indicates phosphorous, phosphorous in phytic acid and total phytic acid and raffinose are important components in SBM that may have significant effects on the growth performances of pacific white shrimp.     

Effect of casein substitution with fishmeal, soybean meal and crustacean meal in the diet of the abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

The effect of dietary substitution of casein with fishmeal, soybean meal and crustacean meal on the growth of the abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino was determined. A 350 g casein per kilogram diet was included into the CS diet. The whole casein was then substituted by: (1) 300 g fishmeal and 200 g soybean meal per kilogram diet (FS), (2) 200 g fishmeal, 200 g soybean meal and 130 g krill meal per kilogram diet (FSK), (3) 200 g fishmeal, 200 g soybean meal and 280 g red crab meal per kilogram diet (FSC) or (4) 200 g fishmeal, 200 g soybean meal and 130 g shrimp head meal per kilogram diet (FSS). In addition, a 50‐g by‐product of green tea per kilogram diet was included in the FS diet to form the FSG diet. Sea tangle (ST)diet was supplied to abalone as a control feed. Weight gain, final shell length and final shell width of abalone fed with the various substitution feeds (FS, FSK, FSC, FSS and FSG) were not different from those obtained with the CS diet. All the formulated feeds, however, produced higher weight gain and final shell width values than the ST diet. The results of this study show that casein can be replaced with a combination of fishmeal, soybean meal, krill meal, crab meal and/or shrimp head meal in the diet without a retardation of growth of abalone.     

Effect of culture system on the nutrition and growth performance of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) fed different diets

Two 8-week feeding trials were conducted with juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) to compare the growth and performance of animals fed a series of experimental and commercial pelleted shrimp and fish feeds and dietary feeding regimes within an indoor running-water culture system and an outdoor zero-water-exchange culture system. The best overall shrimp growth performance was observed for animals fed the experimental shrimp diet and all-day feeding regime under outdoor zero-water-exchange culture conditions. Final body weight and average weekly growth rate under these conditions were 2.8 and 3.4 times greater, respectively, than animals of similar size fed with the same diet under indoor running-water culture conditions. Although direct comparison between indoor and outdoor culture systems is difficult because of the lower indoor water temperatures, and consequently lower mean daily feed intake of animals, it is believed that the higher growth and feed performance of animals reared under outdoor `green-water' culture conditions was primarily due to their ability to obtain additional nutrients from food organisms endogenously produced within the zero-water-exchange culture system. The most promising features of zero-water-exchange culture systems are that they offer increased biosecurity, reduced feed costs and water use for the farmer, and by doing so provide a potential avenue of moving the shrimp culture industry along a path of greater sustainability and environmental compatibility.     

Growth performance of juvenile kuruma shrimp,Marsupenaeus japonicus (Bate) fed diets replacing fishmeal with soybean meal

A feeding trail was conducted to evaluate the effect of lowering dietary fishmeal (FM) levels while increasing levels of dehulled soybean meal (SBM) on growth, nutrient utilization and body composition of juvenile kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicas. Five experimental diets were formulated to be isoenergetic, isolipidic and isonitrogenous with decreasing FM levels from 40 to 16% while increasing SBM from 0 to 33% respectively. Quadruplicate groups of shrimp (initial wt = 1.5 g) were fed the test diets for 56 days under the flow‐through system. There were no significant differences in final weight (g) and specific growth rate (SGR, % day) among shrimp fed FM40, FM34, FM28 and FM22 diets respectively. Growth parameters significantly decreased in shrimp when fed FM16 diet, which was the lowest level of FM. Feed intake was positively correlated with the SGR of shrimp, and the lowest one was found in shrimp fed FM16 diet. Protein gain and retention, whole body lipid, arginine and methionine significantly decreased in FM16 fed group. Thus, it is concluded that dietary FM could be reduced down to 22% with SBM without compromising growth, nutrient utilization and retention, and whole body composition of kuruma shrimp.     

Hydrolysed salmon meal as a replacement for salmon meal in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

A series of growth, feed stability and consumption trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of salmon by‐product in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. This included a salmon by‐product meal (Salmon meal: SM) and a silage hydrolysate (hydrolysed salmon meal: HSM). The basal diet containing 120 g/kg SM was incrementally replaced (0. 25, 50, 75, 100%) by HSM to produce five test diets used in two trials. A sixth diet was included which evaluated gelatin supplementation (trial 1) or pH neutralization (trial 2). In trial 1, each diet was produced using two processing conditions (laboratory extruded and formed with meat grinder) and offered to shrimp in a clear water system. The results demonstrate that up to 50% of the SM can be used to replace with HSM; however, further increases resulted in reduced performance of shrimp. The addition of gelatin reduced leaching but there was limited effect of processing on leaching. There were no detectible effects of pH adjustment of the diets. Results indicated that the growth performance of shrimp has not influenced by HSM up to 60 g/kg to replace 50% of the SM in practical diets; however, higher levels resulted in significant decrease in performance.     

Protein‐rich product recovered from brewer's spent grain can partially replace fishmeal in diets of Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

A protein‐rich product (PP) with 46% protein and less than 1% fibre was recovered from brewery's spent grain. This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing dietary fishmeal with PP on the growth, feed utilization efficiency and nutritional composition of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. The control diet (PP0, containing 35% fishmeal) was compared with four isonitrogenous (44% crude protein), isolipidic (10% crude fat) and isocaloric (20 kJ/g) test diets, PP10, PP30, PP50 and PP70, which were formulated using PP protein to replace 10%, 30%, 50% and 70% of fishmeal protein. Sextuplicate groups of shrimp (averaging 1.10 g) were fed each of the five diets for 8 weeks. The results showed that up to 50% of fishmeal replaced with PP did not negatively affect the shrimp survival, growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, or the protein content and amino acid profile of shrimp. However, replacing 70% of fishmeal protein with PP protein negatively affected the percent weight gain and specific growth rate of shrimp, although the shrimp survival rate and feed conversion ratio were not affected.     

Partial replacement of fishmeal by soybean meal in diets for juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted in floating cages (1.5 × 1.0 × 2.0 m) to determine the potential use of defatted soybean meal (roasted and solvent‐extracted) as a partial replacement of fishmeal in the isonitrogenous (approximately 450 g kg^?1 CP [crude protein]) diet for juvenile cobia with an initial average weight of about 8.3 g. Diets were formulated to include 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 g kg^?1 (diets D0, D10, D20, D30, D40, D50 and D60, respectively) of fishmeal protein being substituted by defatted soybean meal without methionine supplementation. The results showed that weight gain rate decreased significantly when the replacement level of fishmeal protein was increased from 400 g kg^?1 to 500 g kg^?1, and the D60 diet was the lowest in all groups. These results indicate that up to 400 g kg^?1 of fishmeal protein can be replaced by defatted soybean meal without causing significant reduction in growth. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly affected by the replacement level of fishmeal protein being substituted by defatted soybean meal, when the replacement level of fishmeal protein was 200 g kg^?1 (diet, D20), FCR was the lowest and PER was the highest. There were no significant differences in the moisture, lipid, crude protein and ash content in whole body and muscle, while lipid content in liver increased as the dietary soybean meal replacement levels increased. There were significant differences in haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell, plasma glucose and triglyceride concentration in fish fed diets with different soybean meal replacement levels. Results of this trial indicated that the optimum level of fishmeal protein replacement with defatted soybean meal, determined by quadratic regression analysis was 189.2 g kg^?1, on the basis of maximum weight gain.     

Substitution of fish meal by Jatropha curcas kernel meal: Effects on growth performance and body composition of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Jatropha curcas (L.) is a multipurpose and drought‐resistant tree, widespread throughout the tropics and subtropics. Its seeds are rich in oil and protein (contains 600–660 g kg^?1 crude protein similar to fish meal). It is being promoted as a biofuel plant. Jatropha kernel meal obtained after oil extraction is an excellent source of protein. However, presence of toxic and antinutritional constituents restricts its use in fish and shrimp feed. An 8‐week experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional quality of the detoxified Jatropha kernel meal (DJKM) in white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Shrimp (60) with an initial average body weight of 4.46 ± 0.64 g were randomly distributed into three treatments with four replicates and fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets (crude protein 350 g kg^?1, crude lipid 90 g kg^?1): Control (fish meal‐based protein), JC₂₅ and JC₅₀ (25% and 50% of fish meal protein replaced by DJKM). Higher (P < 0.05) body mass gain, specific growth rate and metabolic growth rate were observed in DJKM‐fed groups than in Control group. However, lower (P > 0.05) feed conversion ratio was observed in DJKM‐fed groups, while protein efficiency ratio exhibited an opposite trend. Protein, ash and gross energy content of the whole shrimp body were higher (P < 0.05) in DJKM‐fed groups compared to Control group. Moisture and lipid content of the whole shrimp body did not differ significantly among the three groups. Cholesterol level in plasma was highest (P < 0.05) in the Control group, followed by JC₂₅ and JC₅₀ groups; all being significantly different. In conclusion, DJKM is a promising fish meal replacer in shrimp diets.