Authors: Rawski M., Mazurkiewicz J., Kierończyk B., Józefiak D.
Publications: Animals, DOI: 10.3390/ani10112119
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2119
Research for alternative protein sources that may replace fish meal and fish oil in fish diets is one of the ongoing tasks for aquaculture. Sturgeons role captive fish production increases due to the rapid decrease in its wild stocks during the 20th century. Insect meals are a novel group of feed materials rich in nutrients that are produced in an environmentally sustainable way. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the effects of black soldier fly larvae full-fat meal (BSFL) usage as fish meal and fish oil replacement in Siberian sturgeon diets. The experimentally obtained data showed the possibility of extruded feed production with up to 30% of BSFL and physical parameters suitable for fish feeding. Moreover, feed acceptance increase was observed in treatments containing than 10% and higher shares of BSFL. In the groups whose feed contained 5 to 30% of BSFL in the diet, the growth of experimental fish as well as their feed utilization parameters were improved; however, with no effects on feed digestibility. All presented data make BSFL a suitable nutrient source alternative to fish meal in Siberian sturgeon nutrition.