Fishmeal remains the primary protein source in aquaculture feeds, but its price has surged due to limited supply caused by overfishing and climate change. With demand exceeding availability, high costs are likely to persist. To mitigate this, the industry is exploring alternatives like plant-based proteins, insect meals, and single-cell proteins. However, these options often have lower digestibility, which can hamper growth and feed efficiency. Enhancing their digestibility is essential to ensure they meet the nutritional needs of farmed species without compromising their health.
Economix is a plant-based feed additive produced by TECHNA FRANCE NUTRITION (Couëron, France) that aims at enhancing protein digestibility. It offers a promising solution for reducing fishmeal use and substituting it with more affordable plant proteins.
This study held at Sparos, Portugal, was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Economix on apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of protein, amino acids, fat, phosphorus, and energy fn diets fed to European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). The trial comprised 2 experimental diets (Control and Economix), both containing 0.02% yttrium oxide as an inert digestibility marker. Each diet was tested in triplicate groups of 13 fish (mean body weight: 73 ± 5 g), maintained in 60 L tanks at a constant water temperature of 20.0 ± 0.43°C. Feces were collected in tanks equipped with a fecal decantation column (Guelph system).
The results showed that the inclusion of 0.2% Economix significantly improved the amino acids digestibility of 13 out of the 17 analyzed amino acids, including lysine, methionine, and threonine (p < 0.05). This trial also indicated numerically higher values, although not statistically significant, for protein, fat and energy digestibility.
To conclude, Economix, with its ability to enhance amino acid digestibility, offers a viable solution by enabling the reduction of fishmeal and the incorporation of cheaper, more sustainable protein sources.