AUTHOR=Zhang Yuexing , Wang Linghua , Dong Zhiyong , Changarawe Samwel Mugeni , Huang Liying , Hu Jinwei , Storebakken Trond , Shi Bo 

TITLE=The effects of replacing fish meal or soy protein concentrate with wheat gluten on growth, whole-body composition, and the retention and apparent digestibility coefficient of amino acids in Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1220192

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2023.1220192

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of wheat gluten replacing fish meal (FM) or soy protein concentrate (SPC) on growth performance, feed utilization and nutrient digestibility and retention in Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus). Seven isonitrogenous (441 - 456 g kg-1 crude protein) and isocaloric (21.5 - 22.0 MJ kg-1 gross energy) diets were produced to replace 0, 33.3, 66.7 and 100% of FM or SPC with a mixture of wheat gluten, wheat and taurine (GWT, 77.5% wheat gluten, 20.5% wheat and 2.0% taurine), respectively. The results showed that gradual replacement of protein in FM with GWT had no significant effects on feed intake, whole-body composition, hepato- and viscerosomatic indexes, but resulted in a linear decrease of weight gain rate, feed efficiency, retentions of nitrogen, energy and essential amino acids (Arg, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, Val), while the apparent digestibility of most essential amino acids (Cys, His, Leu, Lys, Phe) and total amino acid increased linearly. Replacement protein in SPC with GWT had no significant effects on feed intake, growth, feed conversion ratio, whole-body composition and hepatosomatic index, but resulted in linear decrease of nitrogen, energy and Met retentions, while digestibility of Cys and Met increased linearly. Overall, wheat gluten is a more effective alternative to replace protein in SPC than FM.