Amino Acid Supplementation in Yellow Perch Fed Diets Containing Dried Distiller's Grains with Solubles and Soy Protein Concentrate

Juvenile Yellow Perch (11 g) were fed compound diets containing conventional dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 29% crude protein, 11.9% lipid) and soy protein concentrate (SPC; 73% crude protein, 0% lipid) in a 63-d feeding trial. Diets contained 5% FM and 40% SPC, with 20 or 40% DDGS and with or without six essential amino acid supplements. Growth was measured every 21 days and survival, feed conversion ratio (FCR), total consumption, relative growth, Fulton-type condition factor (K), hepatosomatic index (HSI), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and dress-out percentage were determined at the conclusion of the trial. Diet composition had no impact on survival, but significant differences were observed in growth (P<0.01). Diets supplemented with amino acids resulted in higher growth than un-supplemented diets by 20-70%. Fish fed the diet containing 20% DDGS without additional supplements grew the least. Significant differences were not observed for dress-out percentages (P=0.23). Significant differences were observed in total consumption (P=0.01), FCR (P<0.01), K (P=0.04), PER (P<0.01), and HSI (P=0.02). Overall, responses were more favorable in diets that contained additional amino acid supplements.