Project Number: 5366-21310-003-07
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Apr 01, 2008
End Date: Mar 31, 2010

Objective:
The objective of the project is to evaluate the use of low-phytic acid cultivars of soybean and barley in the diet of rainbow trout. This would be a long term study with fish growing from 20 g to 1,000 g. The effect of diet on effluent nutrient levels and thus environmental impact, fish performance and final product quality will be evaluated.

Approach:
Four diets will be fed to triplicate lots of 50 fish per tank. Rainbow trout will be fed special diets made from low phytate cultivars of barley and soybean. The phosphorus and other mineral availability to the fish and presence in the effluent will be quanitified. Initial fish size will be 20 grams and the projected end weight will be 1,000 g/f. The four diets will be; 1) fish meal control. 2) Plant based diet with normal cultivars 3) Plant-based diet with only low phytic acid cultivars supplemented with mono-calcium phosphate supplement 4) Plant-based diet with only low phytic acid cultivars supplemented with alternate phosphorus source to be determined. Growth performance, nutrient retention including phosphorus, effluent characteristics, and product quality will be evaluated for each of the 12 tanks of fish. Documents Reimbursable with United Soybean Board. Log 35829.