fermented copra meal as potential replacement for fish meal protein in BLACK tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon practical diet: EFFECTS ON GROWTH AND FEED efficiency  

Copra meal, the by-product of oil extraction from coconut Cocos nucifera is being used as feed ingredient in terrestrial and aquatic animals. Treatment of copra by fermentation can reduce its fiber content, improve protein and essential amino acid profiles, as well as enhance the physical properties of the meal such as odor and color.

Five isonitrogenous diets with fermented copra meal (FCM) replacing fish meal protein at different levels were formulated. Shrimp (0.38 ± 0.02g) stocked in triplicate 100-L capacity fiberglass tanks were fed the diets for 15 weeks. The results demonstrated that growth and feed performance were not adversely affected up to 40% replacement of fish meal by FCM protein.

The best diet (FCM replacing 40% of the fish meal protein) was then tested against a commercial feed in outdoor grow-out culture systems in HDPE-lined ponds and 10-ton capacity tanks.  Better growth and FCR were observed in the formulated than the commercial feed in both the tank and pond feeding trials. No detrimental changes in terms of weight gain, FCR, PER, and PPV were noted with the inclusion of FCM up to 40% of the dietary protein. Similarly, FCM did not alter the proximate composition of the shrimp whole body.

Replacement of fish meal by FCM protein up to 40% did not compromise growth, feed efficiency, survival, and body composition of the tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon.