Growth, survival, body composition and amino acid profile of Macrobrachium borellii against the limitation of feeds with different C:N ratios with comments about application in integrated multi‐trophic aquaculture

CARVALHO, DÉBORA; REYES, PAULA; WILLINER, VERÓNICA; MORA, MARÍA C.; VIOZZI, MARÍA F.; DE BONIS, CRISTIAN J.; COLLINS, PABLO A.

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2020

1355-557X

One way to attain more sustainable aquaculture systems is through the species diversificationand optimization of the feed input, such as obtained by integrated multitrophicaquaculture (IMTA). Macrobrachium borellii is a native freshwater prawn thatreunites many useful features to be implemented in an IMTA. The aim of this studywas to gather information about to which extent M. borellii can survive, grow andmaintain body composition against feed limitation. The C:N ratios of feedstuffs werevariable in order to simulate a hypothetical scenario of an integrated culture with fishof different trophic habits. The nutritional aspects (amino acid profile and proximalcomposition) of feeds and prawns were also analysed. Macrobrachium borellii couldgrow, survive and maintain the proximal content and C:N ratio of its muscle tissuewith all feedstuffs but exhibited higher biomass gain and specific growth rate consumingfeeds with lower C:N ratios. In this view, the integration of this prawn withomnivore or carnivore fish species should be recommended. The amino acid profileexhibited little variation before and after the experimental period, and was rich inlysine, leucine and arginine. In this study, it was also discussed the nutritional aspectsof M. borelliii as a valuable by-product to human and animal nutrition.