Soy Protein Concentrate as an Alternative Ingredient in Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) Diets

Current research is intended to develop cost-effective, plant-based diets for intensive production of Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus). Three growth trials were conducted with juvenile pompano over a 106- to 115-day period. The trials evaluated the systematic substitution on an equal protein basis of (1) menhaden fish meal, FM with soy protein concentrate (SPC), and (2) solvent extracted soybean meal (SBM) with SPC. This confirmed the reduction of FM and evaluated the possible nutrient restrictions of methionine (M) and phosphorus (P) in low FM, high SPC diets. There was no significant reduction in growth parameters when FM was reduced from 300 to 150 g/kg. There was a significant improvement in fish performance with increased SPC concentrations substituted for SBM in diets containing 150 g/kg of FM. All growth parameters indicated a favorable response for inclusion of SPC up to 240 g/kg. The addition of P and M did not significantly improve growth.