International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies 2013; 1 (2): 35-38

ISSN 2347-2677 Replacement of fish meal by soybean (Glycine max) in

IJFBS 2013; 1 (2): 35-38
© 2013 AkiNik Publications the formulation of fish feed ingredients essential for
Received: 20-10-2013
Accepted: 29-11-2013 Immunostimulation and growth performance of carps
Madan Prasad Kushwaha
Associate Professor of Zoology, Madan Prasad Kushwaha
Tri-Chandra Campus, Tribhuvan,
University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Email: ABSTRACT
madanpkushwaha@gmail.com Fishmeal is the preferred protein ingredient in aquaculture feed and contributes significantly to the
variable production cost in the aquaculture industry. However, decreasing fishmeal supply relative to
demand and increasing costs threaten the sustainability and growth of the aquaculture industry. The way
to sustain the industry is to remove or reduce the use of fishmeal. Past studies have demonstrated that
complete or partial substitution of fishmeal with alternative proteins does not adversely affect fish
performance. Soybean is probably the most promising alternative protein source for fish meal. It is
widely used as the cost effective alternative for high quality fish meal in feeds for many aquaculture fish
species due to its high protein content, excellent amino acid profile, low cost, availability and steady
supply as compared to the other plant protein sources. Hence taking into account this consideration the
present feed formulation has been undertaken, are introduce while formulating the feed. Hence for the
present work soybean (Glycine max) has been selected as the raw material for formulation of fish feed
along with ingredients essential for growth, disease resistance and the binding agent to hold the feed for
Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Keywords: Formulated feed, Ingredients, Soybean, Grass carp.

1. Introduction
Fisheries have played a very vital role in improving the food security status of the people; it
contributes about 15-16% to the total animal protein consumed by 2.9 billion people in low-
income and food-deficient countries. An estimated 520 million people nearly 8% of the world
population rely on income from fisheries for sustenance. With the continued increase in the
awareness of health benefits, the global demand for aquatic foods, even in developed countries
is expected to continue to rise. Aquaculture production is responsible for 50% of the global
fishery production. Fish is highly nutritive and rich source of animal proteins. For the
improvement of fisheries and to achieve maximum yields from resources of fresh water, it is
necessary to provide artificial feed, by which fish grows rapidly and attains maximum weight
in shortest possible time. Among commonly used feed ingredients, fish meal is considered to
be the best ingredients, due to its compatibility with the protein requirement of fish [1].
Replacement of fish meal with cheaper ingredients of plant origin in fish feed is necessary
because of rising cost and uncertain availability of fish meal [2]. Inclusion of feedstuffs with
relatively high levels of carbohydrate in formulated fish feed is preferred in view of its protein-
sparing action that may make the diet more cost effective [3]. According to Rumsey (1993),
increased use of plant protein supplements in fish feed can reduce the cost of fish meal. The
research has focused on utilizing less expensive and readily available resources to replace fish
meal, without reducing the nutritional quality of feed [4]. The apparent digestibility of protein,
energy and individual amino acids are of prime consideration as the basis for feed formulation
Correspondence: in fish, with information gained for different raw materials, such as plant byproducts
Madan Prasad Kushwaha commonly utilized in the feed manufacturing industry.
Associate Professor of Zoology, Numerous investigations have been applied to variety of fish species for several decades with
Tri-Chandra Campus, Tribhuvan
University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
digestibility data obtained for most nutrients [5]. For commercial culture of fish, the
Email: formulation of low-cost balanced diet using locally available agroindustry byproducts is
madanpkushwaha@gmail.com needed. Recently fish meal has become the most expensive protein ingredient in aquaculture
feeds.

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Many studies have shown considerable success in partially carbohydrates, particularly lactose and calcium 1.3%.
replacing fishmeal with soybean meal and other soybean
products in diet for various fish species [6, 7, 8]. 2.5 Nutritional value of milk powder/ 100 gms
Protein: 20.5 gm, Carbohydrates: 52.7 gm, Fats: 19 gm
2. Materials and Methods Saturated Fatty Acids: 10.9 gms, Cholesterol: 0.05 gm, Mono
Feed formulation and preparation is the processes of Unsaturated Fatty Acid: 4.21 gm, Poly Unsaturated Fatty
combining feed ingredients to form mixture that will meet the Acid: 0.41. Partly skimmed milk along with sucrose is the
specific goals of production. It is often a compromise between ingredient present in used milk powder [11].
an ideal formula and practical considerations. While
formulating the feed one must take into account some 2.6 Egg
considerations such as price, availability of ingredients used Egg albumin was taken. It contains 15% of proteins dissolved
anti-nutritional factors and palatability of mixtures [9]. Along in water. It contains about 40 different types of proteins. It has
with soybean meal other ingredients such as milk powder, high nutritive value. The proteins in egg white are, ovalbumin:
corn flour, eggs, cod liver oil, vitamin mixture containing 64%, ovotransferrin: 12%, ovomucoid: 11%, ovomucin: 1.5%,
vitamin B complex and vitamin E, agar powder, garlic paste, globulin: 8%, lysosomes: 3.5% [11].
pepper powder and cumin powder were used.
2.7 Corn flour
2.1 Preparation of feed Corn flour was used as filler and binder in present formulation.
Soybean meal (80 gm) was taken in powder form as principal It contains proteins: 3 gms, carbohydrates: 23 gms and fat: 1
ingredients. Other ingredients like milk powder (60 gm), corn gm. The major ingredients were maize and starch. Starch acts
flour (20 gm), and eggs (70 gm) were added and mixed well. as additive in food processing. It has 110 calories per gm [11].
Agar powder (4 gm) was added as binding agent; turmeric (0.5
gm) and garlic (1 gm) as antibiotics. The said mixture was 2.8 Cod liver oil
boiled, cooled at room temperature. After cooling cod liver oil Cod liver oil is derived from the liver of cod fish Gadus
(3.5 ml), vitamin mixture of vitamin B complex (gm) and callarias. The main ingredients were maize and starch. Starch
vitamin E (1 gm) were added. It was kept under refrigeration act as additive in food processing. It has a mild fishy taste and
for 12 hours. After 12 hours it was squeezed over polythene smell. It contains small amount of fish protein [12]. It is a good
sheet and dried at room temperature for 48 hours. The dried source of the vitamins A and D, as both the vitamins is
nodules are crushed into small pellets then pellets were sun nutritionally important to body. Cod liver oil along with
dried to avoid fungal infection, weighted and stored in the vitamin E prevents the body from increasing oxidant stress. It
bottle. Following the above procedure all the feeds were also reduces the tendency of blood forming clot. It helps to
formulated in the percentage composition as: reduce generation of free radicals in body. It has been used in
form of a gelatin coated capsule named as Sea cod. Each
1. Diet 1 (25%): (soybean meal 25% + groundnut oil cake single soft gelatin capsule contains 300 mg of cod liver oil.
75%)
2. Diet 2 (50%): (soybean meal 50% + groundnut oil cake 2.9 Agar powder
50%) Agar powder were used as binding agent. It helps to form a
3. Diet 3 (75%): (soybean meal75% + groundnut oil cake unique mass of the feed. It is a polymer made up of subunits of
25%) sugar galactose. It is also act as an emulsifying and suspending
4. Diet 4 (100%): formulated (totally of soybean meal) agent in many food products.
5. Diet 5 (100%): conventional (totally of groundnut oil
cake) 2.10 Vitamin mixture
Vitamin B and E were used as vitamin mixture in equal
2.2 The nutritional importance of ingredients used: proportions.
Soybean meal
Soybean meal has been the most frequently studied dietary 2.11 Vitamin B complex
ingredient as a fish meal replacer in diets for many fish species Each capsule of vitamin B complex composed of Thiamine
because of its high protein content, relatively well balanced mononitrite, vitamin B2, B6, B12, Nicotinamide, folic acid,
amino acid profiles, reasonable price and steady supply [10]. biotin and Titanium dioxide. It promotes activity of enzymes.
Together by weight 60% of dry soybean contains 40% protein It plays an important role in cell growth and metabolism [13].
and 20% oil and the remainder consists of 35% carbohydrate Vitamin B is an essential nutrient for the growth, development
and about 5% ash [11]. and some other bodily functions [14].

2.12 Vitamin E
2.3 Nutritional value of soybean/ 100 gms Each soft gelatin capsule contains Tocopherol acetate of about
Carbohydrate: 30.16 gm, Sugars: 7.33 gm, Dietary Fiber: 9.3 400 mg. It acts as an antioxidant. It protects the body against
gm, Fat: 19.94 gm, Protein: 36.49 gm., Energy: 450 Kcal, [11]. the free radicals, which are potentially damaging byproducts
of energy metabolism. DL-X Tocopherol acetate is the form
2.4 Milk powder used while formulation.
In present feed formulation Nestle milk powder was used. It
contains 20 standard amino acids. It is rich in soluble vitamins
A, D and minerals. According to USAID the typical average 2.13 Turmeric powder (Curcuma longa)
nutrient in the unreconstituted milk are 36% proteins, 52% It was added as, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and

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International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

hepatoprotective. It functions as an antioxidant & adjuctant in diet are another factor that has to be considered when selecting
feed preparation. Turmeric used to protect the food from an economical protein level [22]. Over the years it has been
sunlight [15]. It adds warm, mild aroma and distinctive yellow documented that carefully formulated and well-presented fish
color to the feed. It is also the hypolipidemic [16]. diet plays a very significant role in fish culture [23].
The details of formulation and processing of fish diets have
2.14 Nutritional value of turmeric /10 gms. been studied by several scientists [24, 25, 20]. Bulletin of Food
Protein: 8.6%, Carbohydrates: 63.0%, Fat: 8.9%, Fiber: 6.9%, and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nation of
Total ash: 6.9%, Moisture: 5.8%, Calcium: 6.2% and, Iron: Development Programme (UNDP) had also mentioned about
0.05%. The caloric value is 390 calories per 100 gm. It also feed formulation. Finding alternative protein sources to
contains 5% essential oil, and 3% Curcumin which is a replace fishmeal in fish feed is important if the growth of the
polyphenol [17]. aquaculture industry is to be sustained [26]. Soybean meal is
one such potential alternative [24]. Soybean meal are widely
2.15 Garlic paste used as the most cost effective alternative for high quality fish
It is used as antibiotic and antibacterial properties [18]. It meal in feeds for many aquaculture fish species due to its high
inhibits the growth of bacteria, hence having antibacterial protein content (Approx. 48%) and excellent amino acid
property. profile [4], low cost, availability and steady supply as compared
to the other plant protein sources [11]. Essential or
2.16 Nutritional value of garlic/100 g indispensable amino acids (EAAs) cannot be synthesized by
Moisture: 62.8%, Protein: 6.3%, Carbohydrates: 29%, Fiber: fish and often remain inadequate but are needed for growth
0.8%, Total fat: 0.1%, Total ash: 1.0%, Calcium: 0.03%, and tissue development [17].
Phosphorus: 0.31% Iron: 0.001%, Vitamin C: 13 mg and While formulating the feed vitamin mixture is added as it was
Nicotinic acid: 0.4 mg. The caloric value is 142 per 100 gm. clearly demonstrated that there are some interactions between
vitamins. This is an important factor to be considered while
2.17 Pepper powder formulating the feed with vitamin mixture [18]. Use of garlic in
It was used as a stimulant for appetite. In India it is used in feed formulation as antioxidant increase antioxidant level and
number of health problems [19]. Pepper has two main consequently stability of fish flesh (Frigg et al. 1990).
components volatile oil and pungent component commonly Antibacterial properties of the ingredients resist the growth of
known as pipperine. Black pipers contains 0.6 to 2.6% microorganisms thus preventing different disease due to
essential oil nutritionally pepper contains Vitamins A, B and bacteria, fungi and protozoa [27].
C. The feed is formulated by taking into consideration all the
previous investigations. The value of feed ingredients ranges
2.18 Cumin powder (Cuminum cyminum) in between Rs. 200/ Kg by taking a trial it was observed that it
Research in animals indicates that it stimulate the secretion of was well accepted and easily consumed by the fishes. The
pancreatic enzymes, important factors in nutrient digestion and weights recorded were:
assimilation.
 The total weight of ingredients using Soybean meal
2.19 Nutritional value of cumin/ 100 gms - 232.5 g
Carbohydrates 44.24 gm, proteins 17.819 gm, fats 1.535,  The total weight of formulated feed before drying and
dietary fibers 10.5 gm, iron 66.36 mg, sodium 168 mg, zinc after pelleting-165 g
4.8 mg, calcium 931 mg ,vitamins such as A 64mg, thiamine  The total weight of formulated feed after drying and
Bi 0.628 mg, riboflavin B2 0.327 mg, niacin B3 4.579 mg, pelleting-150 g
foliate B9 10 mg, vitamin C 7.7 mg and E 3.38 mg [11].
4. Acknowledgement
3. Results and Discussion The author is thankful to Head, Department of Zoology and
Fish meal is one of the most expensive ingredients in prepared Campus Chief of Tri chandra Camus, Tribhuvan University,
fish diets. Fish nutritionists have tried to use less expensive Nepal for providing laboratory and other infrastructure
plant protein sources to partially or totally replace fish meal. facilities towards completion of this work.
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