A compendium of raw material digestibilities for barramundi, Lates calcarifer

Abstract

A series of experiments were conducted to examine the nutrient and energy digestibility of a suite of diets and specific test raw materials when fed to juvenile (179 to 439g) barramundi, Lates calcarifer. Each of the diets was prepared using a twin-screw extruder to mimic modern aquafeed manufacturing processes. Each of the diets was fed to juvenile barramundi for a minimum of a week to allow acclimation to the diet before the faeces were collected using stripping methods. A broad range of digestible nutrient and energy values among the different raw materials were observed, with protein digestibilities ranging from 36% to 106% and energy digestibilities ranging from 36% to 93%. This range in nutritional values of the different raw materials provides substantial utility in allowing the formulation of diets on a digestible nutrient and energy basis across the Asia Pacific region. These results also provide critical data to help underpin the replacement of both fishmeal and fish oil in barramundi diets.