Substituting Fishmeal with Poultry By-Product Meal Enhances Economic Efficiency in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Farming

Vergara-Rubín V.J.; Guevara-Carrasco V.R.; Yance-Flores B.; Marchán-Timorán A.; Bustamante-Gonzales P. · Animals (2025) · DOI: 10.3390/ani15182723

Resumen

The global aquaculture industry faces increasing pressures to find sustainable and economically viable alternatives to traditional fishmeal, a key component in aquafeeds. This study investigates the economic impact of replacing fishmeal with poultry by-product meal (PBM) in large-scale farming of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), focusing on the Economic Conversion Ratio (ECR) as a primary metric. Conducted at the Sociedad Agrícola de Interés Social Túpac Amaru in Peru, the research utilized a multi-phase experimental design with a total of 46,320 fish. In the first phase, fish with an average initial weight of 4.34 ± 0.32 g were distributed across 12 concrete experimental units (2.25 m3 effective capacity each), with 4 replicates per treatment. Fish were initially fed a diet with a 5% fishmeal replacement, progressing to 30% and 45% replacements in subsequent phases, with specific fish selections and numbers for each stage. Water quality was meticulously monitored throughout the study to ensure optimal conditions. Key performance metrics, including initial and final body weights, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, were measured alongside economic parameters such as ECR. Results indicated no significant differences in growth performance across all phases, except for ECR. The commercial diet consistently demonstrated a lower ECR compared to PBM-inclusive diets, suggesting a higher cost-efficiency. This study concludes that poultry by-product meal (PBM) can effectively serve as a partial substitute for fishmeal, specifically up to 45% inclusion, without compromising the growth performance of rainbow trout. However, its overall economic viability still requires careful consideration of feed costs relative to fish sale prices.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina