Growth, Fatty Acids, and Protein Profiles of Carp (Cyprinus carpio L. 1758) Fed Diets with Incremental Levels of Sunflower Seed Meal

This study evaluates the growth performance and nutritive value of carp fed diets containing moderate levels of sunflower seed meal in partial replacement of fishmeal. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated with 0% (control), 15%, 30%, or 45% sunflower seed meal and fed to triplicate groups of carp (993.82 +/- 11.68 g). Growth was assessed using a range of biometric parameters and nutrient utilization was determined by muscle content, fatty acids, and electrophoretic protein profiles of tissues. Condition factor and survival were unaffected by the sunflower seed level but weight gain, protein efficiency rate, and absolute and specific growth rates significantly declined as the inclusion level rose. Feed conversion ratio negatively correlated with SGR and reflected feed intake. There were no significant effects on protein, lipid, or pH content of fish, but there were slight alterations in dry matter and ash values. Total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) dropped as the incorporation of sunflower seed meal increased, contrary to total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of both diets and flesh. Minor differences existed in the fractions of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins, independent of the dietary treatment. In conclusion, sunflower seed inclusion beyond 15% can lead to changes in growth performance and fatty acid composition.