Crocodile meat meal for juvenile dusky kob in South Africa

Published Oct 21, 2021

Tridge summary

A study published in Aquaculture Reports has explored the possibility of using crocodile meat meal (CMM) as a replacement for fishmeal in the diet of juvenile dusky kob. The research, conducted at the University of Mpumalanga in South Africa, revealed that while CMM shows promise as a protein source for carnivorous fish, it negatively affects the growth of juvenile dusky kob and the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in fish fillet. The authors suggest that supplementing CMM with omega-3-rich oils, such as microalgae oil, could offset these negative effects. This research underscores the potential of utilizing the non-edible parts of crocodile meat, which currently have no commercial value, in aquaculture, thereby enhancing the sustainability and value of crocodile farming.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Short or long-term supplementation using omega-3-rich oils is proposed for crocodile meat meal (CMM)-fed juvenile dusky kob (Argyrosomus japonicus). A preliminary study in South Africa investigated the effect of replacing fishmeal with raw or cooked crocodile meat meal on feed utilization, growth performance, blood parameters, and tissue nutrient composition in juvenile dusky kob (Argyrosomus japonicas). It concluded that crocodile meat has good characteristics as a fishmeal substitute. “Using crocodile meat as an alternative source of protein for carnivorous fish, such as the dusky kob, could be an ingenious strategy that adds value to the crocodile farming enterprise, while ensuring economically and environmentally sustainable dusky kob aquaculture,” Reginah M. Mdhluvu et al. said in the study published in Aquaculture Reports. As a fishmeal substitute, however, the study showed that CMM compromised growth of juvenile dusky kob. It likewise had an adverse impact on the level of ...

Source: Hatcheryinternational