Chapters authored
Legumes, Sustainable Alternative Protein Sources for Aquafeeds
Aquaculture produce a great portion of aquatic derived proteins for human in the world. It has the highest and the fastest growth rate among the protein producing industries. Fish meal (FM) is the main and the most expensive ingredient for aquafeeds production. It provides protein, essential amino acids, energy, minerals and vitamins in aquafeeds. Given the current rapid development of aquaculture industry the competition for limited global supplies of FM may reduce its availability and elevate its price. Thus, finding high quality, economic and environmentally friendly alternative protein sources (APS) for aquafeeds production is vital for sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Among various APS, legumes have been proved to be promising APS because they have medium protein content with suitable amino acid profile, high digestible protein and energy levels, and appropriate minerals and vitamins for the most cultured aquatic species. They also are cost-effective and highly accessible. However, they contain various anti-nutritional factors that may reduce feed palatability and may negatively affect growth and health of cultured aquatic animal species. This chapter provide information regarding legumes and their derivatives as APS, their nutritional quality and their potential drawbacks. In addition, strategies for increasing the efficiency of legumes in aquafeeds are reviewed and discussed.
Part of the book: Legumes Research