Evaluation of Leguminous Seed Meals (Rynchosia Minima and Cajanus Cajan) as Plant Protein Sources in Diets for Juvenile Litopenaeus Vannamei

Abstract

The potential use of the leguminous seed meals obtained from Rynchosia minima and Cajanus cajan, which grow in northwestern Mexico, as protein sources was evaluated in Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae. These meals were included in practical diets, replacing fish meal as the protein source in the basal diet, in order to obtain isoproteic and isoenergetic diets. The legu-minous seed meals were included at dietary levels of 10 and 18% of total protein. As a prior step, the meals were submitted to a thermal process (wet heat, 121 0c) during 1, 45 and 90 min to reduce anti-nutritional factors and to evaluate its effect in the experimental organisms. Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae (mean initial weight 10.2±0.5 mg) were fed the practical diets for 38 days. Specific growth rates (SGR), feed conversion (FC) and survival rates (SR) were evaluated. The SGR, FC and SR of shrimp given R. minima or C. cajan meals were comparable to that of shrimp fed a control diet. Results suggest that it is possible to replace 18% of animal protein with R. minima or C. cajan protein. •• KIuwer Academic/Plenum Publishers