Effects of fishmeal substitution with mealworm meal (Tenebrio molitor) on the growth performance, flesh quality, feed utilization, digestibility, and digestive system histology of fingerling rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Yamaner G., Yıldız M., Metin Ö., Çanak Ö., Ekici A., Tosun D. D., ...Daha Fazla

Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, cilt.56, sa.6, ss.1-23, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 56 Sayı: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/jwas.70063
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-23
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study examined the effects of fishmeal substitution

with mealworm meal (MWM) in the diets of rainbow trout

fingerlings (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on growth performance,

flesh quality, amino acid digestibility, and digestive system

histology. Five diets, which were iso-nitrogenous (average

of 46.50% crude protein), iso-lipidic (average of 19.76%

crude lipid), and iso-energetic (average of 15.74 kJ/g), were

formulated and fed to triplicate groups of rainbow trout fingerlings (17.02 ± 1.33 g) for 90 days. Dietary treatments

included one control (100% fishmeal) and four experimental

diets. The experimental diets included MWM30 (150 g/kg

MWM, no addition of methionine or arginine), MWM50

(250 g/kg MWM, 1 g/kg methionine, 1 g/kg arginine),

MWM70 (350 g/kg MWM, 2 g/kg methionine, 2 g/kg arginine), and MWM100 (500 g/kg MWM, 4 g/kg methionine,

3 g/kg arginine). The growth performance was optimal up to the MWM70 group, while there was a significant

decrease in the MWM100 group for weight gain (70.33

± 1.13 g) and increased feed conversion ratio (1.04 ± 0.04).

There was no significant difference in the proximate composition of MWM on crude protein and lipid levels in

whole-body and fillet samples. Apparent digestibility coefficients were at acceptable levels, although there was a

decrease in crude protein, crude lipid, and amino acid

digestibility in parallel with increasing MWM levels. Histological analyses showed little adverse effects, with a significant reduction in liver vacuolization in MWM70 and

MWM100 groups, and the experimental treatment did not

result in severe negative effects on the formation of interstitial tissue, tubules, or glomeruli in the kidney.