Effects of plant proteins as food on growth performance, carcass quality and plasma biochemical parameters of Beluga juvenile (Huso huso)

The possibility of replacing fish meal with plant protein sources (soybean meal and corn gluten) for beluga (initial body mass 159.55±2.14g) was studied in autumn 2009. Experimental feeds with 46.5% of crude protein, GE: 5.4 Cal g-1 in four replacement levels: 0, 270, 450 and 660 gr kg1 were prepared and fish were fed on the diets for 60 days. Significant differences were found in growth performance (P<0.05) of different diets. Biomass gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion rate and protein efficiency ratio in fish feed with diet 1 was higher (P<0.05) that the other ones. However, growth performance in diets 2 and 3 were not significantly different (P>0.05). Moisture of beluga carcass fed with diet 4 was significantly higher (P<0.05) that the other diets. However, protein, fat and ash were not significantly different (P>0.05) among diets. The hematocrit percentage was significantly higher in experimental treatments 1 and 2 than 3 and 4 and the plasma glucose was significantly different between diets 1 and 4 (P<0.05). With decreased fish meal, significantly (P<0.05) decreased plasma cholesterol was found in diet 1 compared to the diets 3 and 4. Results showed that combination of soybean meal and corn gluten is not a good substitute for fish meal and deceased growth performance of the fish.