The effects of the replacement of fish meal with gossypol-free cottonseed meal on the growth performance and feed efficiency ratios of juvenile gold fish (Carassius auratus)

In this study, effect of gossypol-free cottonseed meal (PÇU) supplementation as an alternative plant protein source to fish meal on growth performance and feed consumption of the plant protein based juvenile goldfish (Carassius auratus) diets. The study was conducted to evaluate in 4 experimental diets that include a fish meal-based control diet and three plant protein-based diets, PÇU % 5, PÇU % 7.5, PÇU % 10. Initial mean body weight of control group, PÇU % 5, PÇU % 7.5, PÇU % 10 were 1.252 ± 0.054 g, 1.251 ± 0.055 g, 1.251 ± 0.056 g, 1.251 ± 0.060 g respectively. At the end of the experiment, mean body weights were reached out in PÇU % 5, PÇU % 10, Control and PÇU % 7.5 groups as 3.722±0,218 g, 3.683 ± 0.219 g, 3.666 ± 0.253 g and 3.422 ± 0.211g respectively (P>0.05). In terms of live weight gain, specific growth rates, survival rates, feed consumption values and FCR were found to be statistically insignificant between the control group and PCU groups (5%, 7.5% and 10%) (P>0.05). As a result of this study, PÇU supplementation of up to 10 % was concluded to be positively effect on growth performances, survival rates, feed consumption and FCR of juvenile gold fish (Carassius auratus).