Livestock Research for Rural Development 34 (11) 2022 LRRD Search LRRD Misssion Guide for preparation of papers LRRD Newsletter

Citation of this paper

Effect of replacement of fishmeal-based diet by full-fat or defatted black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) meal in diets on performance of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) juvenile in fresh and brackish water

Pham Thi Phuong Lan, Le Duc Ngoan1 and Nguyen Duy Quynh Tram

Faculty of Fisheries, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Vietnam
ndqtram@hueuni.edu.vn
1 Faculty of Animal Science, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Vietnam

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the growth performance of seabass juvenile ( Lates calcarifer) fed full-fat or defatted black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal replacing fishmeal-based diets. A total of 480 seabass juvenile of 14.5 g were randomly allocated into 2 x 3 factorial design treatments (water sources: fresh and brackish water; and feed types: fishmeal, FM, full-fat, FF and defatted BSFL meal, DF). Fish were kept in a 160 L aquarium, with density of 125 fish/m3. The results showed that, with exception of the survival rates, final weight, SGRw and yield were effected by water sources, feed types and their interaction (p<0.05), and final length, SGRL and FCR were affected by feed type (p<0.05) but not water sources (p>0.05). In conclusion, replacing 30% fishmeal-based diet by full-fat BSFL meal improved growth performance of seabass juvenile.

Keywords: feed type, larval meal, seabass juvenile, water source


Introduction

Barramundi or Asian seabass (Lates calcarrifer Bloch, 1790) is one of the important commercial fish species widely cultured in many Asian countries and Vietnam. Barramundi has a fast growth rate, good adaptability to cage and pond culture in fresh, brackish and salt water areas (Singh 2000; Katya et al 2017). Seabass is mainly fed by trash fish or floating pellets with high fish meal (Olsen and Hasan 2012). However, the availability of wild-caught fish is declining, and the use of fishmeal protein has been warned to be unsustainable (Tacon et al 2012). Therefore, Cammack and Tomberlin (2017) remarked that it was necessary to study other protein sources to replace fish meal. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are considered as a good quality and sustainable protein feed in aquaculture (Kroeckel et al 2012; Lock et al 2015; Shakil et al 2015; Sánchez-Muros et al 2016; Cummins et al 2017). Kroeckel et al (2012) reported that defatted BSFL could replace fishmeal upto 33% without affecting growth rate of turbot juvenile (Psetta maxima). Lock et al (2015) showed that replacing fishmeal with full-fat and defatted BSFL meal in salmon’s diets resulted in higher growth performance on full-fat than on defatted BSFL diet. In Vietnam, Hoa and Dung (2015) have shown the growth rate of snakehead fish (Chana micropeltes) fed directly BSFL or 30% of BSFL meal-based diet could improved. A study by Pham Thi Phuong Lan et al (2022) indicated that, the survival rate of Asian seabass cultured in fresh water was higher than in brackish water and productivity was not affected by the water source (fresh and brackish) but it was higher in fish fed trash fish than in the one fed BSFL. The authors concluded that, replacement of total trash fish by fresh BSFL declined the productivity of seabass in both fresh and brackish water environments. Therefore, this study could show the effect of replacing fishmeal-based diet with full-fat or defatted BSFL meal on growth performance of seabass juvenile reared in fresh or brackish water.


Materials and methods

Larval meal and diet preparation

Larval meal preparation: BSFL were fed by tofu by-products and collected at day 7th after rearing. Larval meal preparation was followed Kroeckel et al (2012). Larvae were washed with water several times to remove all impurities and were divided into two parts: one for full-fat meal and another for defatted meal. In the first part, BSFL was dried at 60°C for 48 hrs and milled into full-fat BSFL meal. In the second part, BSFL was frozen at - 24°C for 24 hrs, then ground in a food processor and dipped in warm water 60°C for 5 minutes to remove visceral fat. The ground larvae were then mechanically pressed to take out partly fat and then were dried at 60°C for 24 hrs to pulverize the defatted BSFL meal.

Diet preparation: All ingredients were carefully mixed according to their ratio in the diet. Then the mixtures were extruded through a 3 mm diameter die plate using an extruder (Sheng Kiang, China). Feed was chopped into pellets approximately 3 mm long, dried at 45°C for 24 hrs and stored in plastic bags at room temperature prior to use. The proportions of ingredients and the nutritive value of the diets are presented in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1 Chemical composition of ingredients (% DM)

Items

Fish
meal

Full-fat
BSFL# meal

Defatted
BSFLmeal

Corn
meal

Wheat
meal

Soybean
meal

Dry matter

90.5

87.9

92.1

88.4

87.6

88.8

Crude protein

56.4

58.7

65.0

9.75

13.5

52.7

Crude fat

8.25

18.8

6.65

4.75

1.27

1.19

Crude fibre

6.05

10.8

21.1

3.04

0.97

4.63

Ash

14.3

9.20

4.41

1.67

0.47

9.41

Energy (kcal/kg)

4828

5673

5296

4482

4396

4586

# BSFL: black soldier fly larvae



Table 2. Ingredient and nutritive values of the experimental diets

Dietary treatment

FM

FF

DF

Ingredients (g/1000 g DM)

Corn meal

103

72

72

Wheat meal

140

98

98

Soybean meal

250

175

175

Fish meal

427

299

299

Soybean oil

10

7

7

Fish liver oil

10

7

7

Full-fat BSFL meal

-

300

-

Defatted BSFL meal

-

-

300

Minerals and vitamins (KC - POL)#

30

21

21

CMC##

20

14

14

Titanium dioxide (TiO2)

10

7

7

Chemical composition (% DM)

Dry matter (%)

93.7

93.6

93.5

Organic matter

90.8

90.9

93.3

Crude protein

40.0

43.6

47.9

Crude fat

6.47

10.4

5.78

Crude fibre

3.77

5.36

10.7

Ash

9.16

9.07

6.74

Energy (kcal/kg)

4703

4979

4889

# KC - POL per 1kg: Vitamin A (6,000,000 IU); D3(1,000,000 IU); E(2,000 IU); K3 (1,000 mg); B1 (2,000 mg); B2 (3,000 mg); B6 (500 mg); B12 (1,000 mcg); Niacin Amide (6,000 mg); Na (2,520 mg); Ca-Pantothenate (5,000 mg); DL-Methionine (16,000 mg); Co (220 mg); Mn (140 mg); Fe (2,140 mg); K (3,740 mg); Zn (130 mg); L-Lysine (5,000 mg); Folic Acid (400 mg). ## CMC: Carboxylmethyl cellulose FM: fishmeal-based diet; FF: full-fat black soldier fly larvae; DF: defatted black soldier fly larvae
Experimental design

Seabass juveniles of 14.5 g live weight were purchased from Quoc Thang Company, Thua Thien Hue province, Viet Nam. In order to behave to fresh water, fish were kept in 10‰ salanity water in 0.5 m3 composite tanks for one week for adaptation to fresh water by lowering salinity by 3‰ per day until 0‰.

The experiment was arranged with 2 factorial design (2 x 3) and 4 replicates. Two factors were the water sources (W, brackish and fresh water) and the feed types (fishmeal, FM, full-fat, FF and defatted BSFL meals, DF). Fish were fed by one of three diets in which 30% of fishmeal-based diet replaced by full-fat BSFL or defatted BSFL and were randomly arranged into 24 aquariums with a capacity of 160 L water and stocking density of 125 fish/m3.

Photo 1. Diets preparation Photo 2. Experimental system
Measurements
Environmental factors

Water temperature (°C) was measured by thermometer, pH by HI98107/Hanna handheld meter; NH3 by HI 700/Hanna; dissolved oxygen (DO) by DO test kit of Sera (Germany); and salinity was measured by refractometer (Atago Model 2491-master's, Japan). All water quality factors were measured periodically every 2 days and measured twice per day (7:00 and 14:00 hrs).

Growth performance

Every 7 days of experimental implementation, the weight and length of 10 fish/tank were measured to calculate the following parameters:

Specific growth rate in weight (SGRw, % day -1) = [Ln(final weight) - Ln(initial weight)/ duration in days] x 100

Specific growth rate in length (SGRl, % day -1) = [Ln(final length) - Ln(initial length)/ duration in days] x 100

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) = total feed intake (kg)/total weight gain (kg)

Survival rate (SR, %) = (number of fish harvested/number of fish stocked) × 100

Yield (kg/m3) = Weight of fish harvested in 1 m3 of water.

Chemical analysis

All feed samples were chemically analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude lipid, crude fibre (CF), and ash according to the procedures of AOAC (1990). Samples were analyzed at the Lab of Biotechnology of the National Institute of Animal Sciences, Ha Noi.

The gross energy is calculated according to Ewan (1989):

GE (Kcal/kg) = 4143 + 56 x crude lipid + 15 x crude protein - 44 x ash

Data analysis

Data were presented in the form of the mean (M) and standard error of the mean (SEM). The data were statistically processed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) by General Linear Model in Minitab v.16.2 (2010). The difference between the mean values was determined by the Tukey method at a confidence level of 95%.


Results and discussion

Environmental parameters

The physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and NH3 are shown in Table 3. Temperature and DO values are not affected by feed type and water source, while pH and NH3 values are affected by water source (p<0.05). The water temperature ranges from 25.43 - 26.33 oC, DO 4.08 - 4.28 mg/L, pH 7.29 - 7.80, and NH 3 in fresh water ranges 0.06 - 0.08 mg/L and in brackish water 0.08 - 0.13 mg/L.

Table 3. Range and average of physico-chemical parameters of the water during the experiment

Ingredients

Fresh water

DF

Brackish water

DF

SEM

p-value#

FM

FF

FM

FF

W

F

W x F

Temperature, oC

Morning

25.43

25.48

25.49

25.45

25.46

25.46

0.025

0.684

0.356

0.745

Afternoon

26.28

26.31

26.32

26.31

26.33

26.31

0.030

0.561

0.682

0.726

DO, mg L-1

Morning

4.09

4.08

4.08

4.09

4.08

4.08

0.004

0.846

0.301

0.292

Afternoon

4.28

4.23

4.26

4.25

4.23

4.26

0.016

0.404

0.128

0.683

pH

Morning

7.29b

7.32b

7.32b

7.60a

7.60a

7.58a

0.017

<.001

0.700

0.312

Afternoon

7.48c

7.48c

7.47c

7.78ab

7.80a

7.73b

0.016

<.001

0.038

0.204

NH3, mg L-1

Morning

0.06bc

0.06bc

0.06c

0.09a

0.09a

0.08 ab

0.005

<.001

0.347

0.621

Afternoon

0.08b

0.08b

0.08b

0.13a

0.13a

0.12a

0.002

<.001

0.024

0.348

abc : Means in the same row without common letter are different at p<0.05 # W: water source; F: feed type; WxF: interaction
FM: fishmeal-based diet; FF: full-fat black soldier fly larvae; DF: defatted black soldier fly larvae
Growth performance

Data in Table 4 show that with exception of the survival rates, the final weight, SGRw and yield are effected by water sources, feed types and their interaction (p<0.05), and final length, SGRL and FCR are affected by feed type (p<0.05) but not water sources or their interaction (p>0.05).

The survival rates of fish are 100% in all treatments. The final weight and SGRw are higher in brackish water than in fresh water (p<0.05), and these values are highest in FF and lowest in DF (p<0.05). Value of the final weight ranges 21.86 - 23.37 g in fresh water and 21.71 - 23.51 g in brackish water and 23.37 - 23.51 g in diet of full-fat BSFL meal and 21.71 - 21.86 g in defatted BSFL meal diet.

The final length, SGRL and FCR are not different in fresh and brackish water (P>0.05) but are highest in FF and lowest in DF (p<0.05). The final length ranges 12.46 - 13.01 cm and SGRL ranges 0.52 - 0.68 %/day.

The yield of seabass juvenile is higher in brackish water than in fresh water (p<0.05) and are highest in FF and lowest in DF (p<0.05). Values of the yield in brackish water are 2.71 - 2.94 kg/m3 and 2.73 - 2.92 kg/m3 in fresh water. The yield of fish fed full-fat BSFL meal ranges 2.92 - 2.94 kg/m3 and fed defatted BSFL meal 2.71 - 2.73 kg/m3.

Table 4. Growth performance and survival rate of seabass juvenile after 4 weeks

Ingredients

Fresh water

DF

Brackish water

DF

SEM

p-value#

FM

FF

FM

FF

W

F

W x F

Initial weight (g)

14.56

14.52

14.61

14.56

14.51

14.52

0.025

0.110

0.114

0.179

Final weight (g)

21.94c

23.37a

21.86c

22.63b

23.51a

21.71c

0.087

0.007

<.001

0.001

SGRw (%/day)

1.37c

1.59a

1.34c

1.47b

1.61a

1.34c

0.011

0.001

<.001

0.001

Initial length (cm)

10.66

10.64

10.66

10.65

10.62

10.63

0.014

0.079

0.213

0.712

Final length (cm)

12.46c

12.83ab

12.47c

12.60bc

13.01a

12.46c

0.064

0.071

<.001

0.316

SGRl (%/ngŕy)

0.52c

0.62ab

0.52c

0.56bc

0.68a

0.53c

0.017

0.031

<.001

0.403

Survival (%)

100

100

100

100

100

100

-

-

-

-

FCR

1.84ab

1.78b

1.92a

1.87ab

1.83ab

1.90a

0.024

0.335

0.002

0.275

Yield (kg/m3)

2.74c

2.92a

2.73c

2.83b

2.94a

2.71c

0.011

0.007

<.001

0.001

abc : Means in the same row without common letter are different at p<0.05 # W: water source; F: feed type; WxF: interaction FM:fishmeal-based diet; FF: full- fat black soldier fly larvae; DF: defatted black soldier fly larvae

The results of this study show that, replacing 30% fishmeal diet by full-fat BSFL meal gets better SGRw than that in defatted BSFL meal. López (2015) and Magalhăes (2017) reported that SGRw increased by 1.46 - 1.57% when 20% fishmeal replaced by BSFL meal in European seabass diets. The value of SGRw in recent study is similar to the results of Kroeckel et al (2012) and Caimi et al (2020), who studied in Psetta maxima and Acipenser baerii sturgeon. However, Dumas et al (2018) and Katya et al (2017) concluded that replacing 30% fishmeal by BSFL meal reduced the growth rates of seabass (Lates calcarifer) in fresh water and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Mohamad-Zulkifli et al (2019) reported that replacing 30% fishmeal by BSFL meal reduced SGRw in hybrid grouper. Khanh and Lan (2019) and Belghit et al (2019) reported that the values of SGRw of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed BSFL meal-based diet were 0.8% and 1.08% in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). The FCR of this study was higher (1.83 - 1.90 compared with 0.98 - 1.65) in hybrid grouper, European sea bass, and sea bream (Sparus aurata) by (Mohamad-Zulkifli et al 2019; Magalhăes et al 2017; Karapanagiotidis et al 2014). Breeding seabass in fresh water has a lower FCR (1.78 - 1.92 compared with 2.0 - 2.4) of author Katya et al (2017).

The survival rates in the recent study of 100% in all treatments are similar to the results of Magalhăes et al (2017). Most studies have shown that, when adding a quantity of BSFL meal (≤30%) to the diet, it does not affect growth, meat quality, but reduces costs production (Katya et al 2017; Xiaopeng Xiao et al 2018; Bruni et al 2019). Thong and Lan (2019) reported that, 75% of fishmeal could be replaced by cricket meal (Gryllus bicaculatus) in the diet of pointed barramundi (Psammoperca waigiensis) without affecting growth and survival rate.


Conclusion


Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Strong Research Group Program of Hue University (06/HĐ-ĐHH) and Scientific Research Program of Hue University (DHH2021-02-149).


References

AOAC 1990 Official Methods of Analysis. 15th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA, USA: AOAC International.

Belghit I, Liland N S, Gjesdal P, Biancarosa I, Menchetti E, Li Y, Waagbř R, Krogdahl A, Lock Erik-Jan 2019 Black soldier fly larvae meal can replace fish meal in diets of sea-water phase Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Aquaculture 503, 609-619, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.12.032

Bruni L, Belghit I, Lock Erik-Jan, Secci G, Taiti C and Parisi G 2019 Total replacement of dietary fish meal With black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae does not impair physical, chemical or volatile composition of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 100, 1038-1047, https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.10108

Caimi C, Renna M, Lussiana C, Bonaldo A, Gariglio M, Meneguz M, Dabbou S, Schiavone A, Gai F, Eliae A C, Prearo M and Gascoa L 2020 First insights on Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae meal dietary administration in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt) juveniles. Aquaculture, 515, 734539, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734539

Cammack J A and Tomberlin J K 2017 The Impact of Diet Protein and Carbohydrate on Select Life-History Traits of the Black Soldier Fly Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). Insects 8, 56, doi: 10.3390/insects8020056

Cummins Jr V C, Rawles S D, Thompson K R, Velasquez A, Kobayashi Y, Hager J, Webster CD 2017 Evaluation of black soldier fly larvae meal as partial or total replacement of marine fish meal in practical diets for Pacific white shrimp, Aquaculture 473, 337-344, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.02.022

Dumas A, Raggi T, Barkhouse J, Lewis E and Weltzien E 2018 The oil fraction and partially defatted meal of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) affect differently growth performance, feed efficiency, nutrient deposition, blood glucose and lipid digestibility of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquaculture, 492, 24-34, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.03.038

Ewan R C 1989 Predicting the energy utilization of diets and feed ingredients by pigs. Pp. 271-274 in Energy Metabolism, EAAP Bulletin No, 43, Y, van der Honig and W. H. Close, eds. Wageningen, The Netherlands Purdoc.

Hoa N P and Dung N V 2015 Utilizing the Black Soldier Fly Larvae/Pre-Pupae (Hermetia Illucens) in Feeds for Snakehead Fish (Chana Micropeltes). Journal of Agricultural Sciences (In Vietnamese), 14, 4, 590-597.

Karapanagiotidis I T, Daskalopoulou E, Vogiatzis I, Rumbos C, Mente E and Athanassiou C G 2014 Substitution of fishmeal by fly hermetia illucens prepupae meal in the diet of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). HydroMedit, November 13-15, Volos, Greece.

Katya K, Borsra M Z S, Ganesan D, Kuppusamy G, Herriman M, Salter A and Ali S A 2017 Efficacy of insect larval meal to replace fish meal in juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer reared in freshwater. International Aquatic Research 9, 303-312, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40071-017-0178-x

Khanh H T D and Lan T T 2019 Effects of using cricket meal and black soldier fly larval meal to partly replacement of fish meal on the growth performance of red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology (In Vietnamese), 3, 69-74.

Kroeckel S, Harjes A G E, Roth I, Katz H, Wuertz S, Susenbeth A and Schulz C 2012 When a turbot catches a fly: Evaluation of a pre-pupae meal of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) as fish meal substitute-Growth performance and chitin degradation in juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima). Aquaculture, 364, 345-352, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2012.08.041

Lock E R, Arsiwalla T and Waagbř R 2015 Insect larvae meal as an alternative source of nutrients in the diet of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) postsmolt. Aquaculture Nutrition, 22, 1202-1213, https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.12343

López A S 2015 Potential of pre-pupae meal of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) as fish meal substitute: effect on growth performance and digestibility in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Master thesis. Academic director: Silvia Martínez Llorens under supervisión of: Aires Oliva-Teles Helena Peres, from https://riunet.upv.es/bitstream/handle/10251/75359/TFM%20Antonio%20Sanchez%20Lopez.pdf?sequence=1

Magalhăes R, Sánchez-López A, Leal R S, Martínez-Llorens S, Oliva-Teles A and Peres H 2017 Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) pre-pupae meal as a fish meal replacement in diets for European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Aquaculture, 476, 79-85, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2017.04.021

Mohamad-ZulkifliN F N, Yong A S K, Kawamura G, Lim Leong-Seng, Senoo S, Devic E, Mustafa S and Shapawi R 2019 Apparent digestibility coefficient of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae in formulated diets for hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ x Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂). AACL Bioflux, Volume 12, Issue 2, from http://www.bioflux.com.ro/docs/2019.513-522.pdf

Olsen R L and Hasan M R 2012 A limited supply of fishmeal: Impact on future increases in global aquaculture production. Trends in Food Science & Technology 27, 120-128, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2012.06.003

Pham Thi Phuong Lan, Le Duc Ngoan, Nguyen Hai Quan and Nguyen Duy Quynh Tram 2022 Effects of harvesting time on yield, chemical composition of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae and replacement of trash fish for feeding seabass (Lates calcarifer Bloch, 1790) rearing in fresh and brackish water. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 34, Article #3. Retrieved September 12, 2022, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd34/1/3403ndqtr.html

Sánchez-Muros M J, de Haro C, Sanz A, Trenzado C E, Villareces S and Barroso F G 2016 Nutritional evaluation of Tenebrio molitor meal as fishmeal substitute for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diet. Aquaculture Nutrition 22, 943-955, https://doi.org/10.1111/anu.12313

Shakil Rana K M, Salam M A, Hashem S and Ariful Islam M 2015 Development of Black soldier fly larvae production technique as an alternate fish feed. International Journal of Research in Fisheries and Aquaculture 5(1): 41-47.

Singh R K 2000 Growth, survival and production of Lates calcarifer in a seasonal rain fed coastal pond of the Konkan region. J Aquac. 8, 55-60.

Tacon A G J, Hasan M R, Allan G, El-Sayed A F, Jackson A, Kaushik S J, Ng W K, Suresh V and Viana M T 2012 Aquaculture feeds: addressing the longterm sustainability of the sector. FAO/NACA, 193-231.

Thong P M and Lan T T 2019 Evaluation the ability to replace fishmeal with cricket meal in the diet of waigieu seabass (Psammoperca waigiensis). Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology (In Vietnamese), 3, 133-139.

Xiaopeng Xiao, Peng Jin, Longyu Zheng, Minmin Cai, Ziniu Yu,Jeffrey Yu, Jibin Zhang 2018 Effects of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal protein as a fishmeal replacement on the growth and immune index of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). Aquaculture 49 (4), https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13611