UTILIZATION OF CORN GLUTEN MEAL AS A PROTEIN SOURCE IN DIETS FOR GILTHEAD SEA BREAM (Sparus aurata L.) JUVENILES

The utilization of corn gluten meal (CGM) was evaluated as a partial fish meal (FM) substitute in practical diets for gilthead sea bream juveniles. Four test diets (isonitrogenous and isoca loric, 52% protein and 10% lipid, 19 kJ/g diet) containing increasing levels of CGM were for mulated to replace anchovy meal at levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%. Triplicate groups of ju venile sea bream (initial body weight of 1.5 g) were reared in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) over 45 days at 18±2°C. Fish fed a diet containing 10% of CGM showed com parable growth performance similar to the control diet containing FM as the sole protein source. No mortality was observed in all treatment groups. Dietary CGM inclusion levels of 20% and 30% showed lower growth performance, feed utilization, and protein efficiency com pared to the control and the 10% CGM inclusion diets. However these values were not signifi cantly different among fish fed the CGM10 and CGM20 diets. Economical analyses also con firmed the growth related experimental results in terms of best profit obtained with the 10% CGM inclusion diet. Results in the present study showed that CGM alone without any amino acid supplements can substitute FM up to 10% with no adverse effects on growth performance, feed utilization, or economical inputs in gilthead sea bream juveniles.