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 diversification and optimization of the feed input, such as obtained by integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA). Macrobrachium borellii is a native freshwater prawn that reunites many useful features to be implemented in an IMTA. The aim of this study was to gather information about to which extent M. borellii can survive, grow and maintain body composition against feed limitation. The C:N ratios of feedstuffs were variable in order to simulate a hypothetical scenario of an integrated culture with fish of different trophic habits. The nutritional aspects (amino acid profile and proximal composition) of feeds and prawns were also analysed. Macrobrachium borellii could grow, survive and maintain the proximal content and C:N ratio of its muscle tissue with 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 in lysine, leucine and arginine. In this study, it was also discussed the nutritional aspects of M. borellii as a valuable by-product to human and animal nutrition.