The supplementation of nutrient additives in broad bean-based diet improved the growth of “crisped” grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus

Abstract

To investigate the effects of supplemental nutrient additives in broad bean-based diets on growth, flesh quality, and collagen gene expression of grass carp, five diets were prepared, including complete formula diet (control), soaked broad bean (SBB), and three broad bean-based diets containing 80% broad bean without (BBD1) or with the supplementation of methionine (BBD2), and methionine+vitamins+minerals (BBD3), and were fed to grass carp (171.9 ± 1.1 g), Ctenopharyngodon idellus, for 84 days. The results showed that broad bean-based diets significantly increased weight gain (WG) and reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of grass carp when compared to the SBB (p.05). Grass carp fed the BBD3 diet had lower steaming loss of flesh, higher muscle fiber density, and higher collagen content in muscle and skin than the control (p