PX AQUA, AN ALFALFA PROTEIN
& PIGMENTS CONCENTRATE FOR FISH FEED
N. Robert, D. Coulmier, S.
Chatzfotis, P.
Divanach
Alfalfa is a forage widely used
in animal nutrition ; its culture is developed all over the world. A
company based in France has developed an original patented process to
produce an extract, concentrate of proteins and pigments (PX aqua).
A trial in gilthead sea bream (sparus
aurata) was designed to test the effect of PX aqua on skin
colour, and performances.
3 practical formulated diets,
iso proteic, iso lipidic, including 0%, 3.7% and 7.2 % of PX aqua were
given to 60g sea bream by self feeders, in 4 replicates, for 7 weeks. Growth,
feed conversion, colour measurement by chromameter, final gut and
hepatosomatic index were measured.
Results shows that inclusion of
3.7% and 7.2% PX Aqua reduced FCR by 5.1% (not sign.) and 6.6% (significant)
respectively. No effect on voluntary feed intake was recorded. So growth
was improved in a similar trend : +2.3% and +6.5%
respectively. Gold-yellow colour of operculum and front head was
steadily increased by PX aqua inclusion, and difference was obvious
by eyes observer. Hepatosomatic index was reduced with the 7.2% PX aqua inclusion.
It is concluded that Alfalfa
protein and pigment concentrate is an interesting natural raw material
for skin coloration of gilthead sea bream, and can also improve growth performances.
(D.V.M., Aquaculture
consultant : Nutrition, Feeding, Health Le bas mounouff, F-56 230
Questembert – France, e-mail: dr.nicolas.robert@,wanadoo.fr)