Effects of Extruded Red Lentil Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Dorsal Muscle Composition in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of extruded red lentil meal as a plant protein source in a rainbow trout diet. Rainbow trout (n = 207) were randomly allocated to the control and two treatment groups. Diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The control diet contained no extruded red lentil meal. Fish in treatments 1 and 2 were fed diets containing 10% and 15% extruded red lentil meal, respectively. Fish were fed twice a day to apparent satiation for 84 days. There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, dorsal muscle composition, or survival. Digestibility of nitrogen free extract+crude fiber was higher in the experimental groups than in the control. Thus, extruded red lentil meal can be considered as a protein source for rainbow trout diets up to the level of 15%.