View article

A performance trial (88 days) was undertaken to evaluate the effects of replacing fishmeal (FM) and/or fish oil (FO) in a practical formulation for juvenile meagre with a mixture of plant proteins (PP) and vegetable oils (VO), in terms of growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal structure and functionality and several haematological stress indicators. Twelve homogenous groups of 75 meagre (mean initial body weight: 55.4 ± 3.5 g) were fed one of four isonitrogenous (51% DM), isolipidic (17% DM) and isoenergetic diets (22.9 MJ · kg^− 1 DM). A FMFO diet was formulated with high levels of marine protein sources (45%) and fish oil as the sole fat source. Based on this formulation, 60% of fish oil was replaced by a blend of vegetable oils (diet FMVO). Two other diets were formulated with a 50% replacement of marine proteins by plant protein sources. One of these plant protein-rich diets contained fish oil as the sole …