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Other Land Based Alternatives

Poultry by Product Meal

Poultry by Product Meal is considered a common waste product of the poultry production industry as it is the innards and scraps that naturally result from the butchering of chicken, turkey and duck for meat and human consumption. Poultry by product meal is considered the best and most common replacement for fishmeal currently as it has similar protein levels and amino acid profile to fishmeal. Poultry by Product Meal has been found to successfully replace fishmeal for Nile Tilapia with an initial average weight of 12.08 grams without negative impacts or variation in carcass composition and nutrition in fish meat. Additionally, poultry by product meal was found to outperform fishmeal by 45% economically, providing economic incentive for the shift as well as sustainability (Kamel, 2026).

The validity of Poultry by Product Meal as a potential fish meal replacement is further supported in Yones (2015) where a research study concluded that poultry by product meal can replace fishmeal completely with no negative side effects. They also determined that it is nutritionally adequate and economically superior to fishmeal. The study was conducted on Juvenile Nile Tilapia and replaced Fish Meal with Poultry By Product Meal, Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal, and a half and half protein mix of both PBM and BSFLM. Other noted feed ingredients were Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Wheat Flour, Sunflower Oil, Limestone, Lysine and Methionine supplements, Vitamin and Mineral pre-mix and Vitamin C, demonstrating some supplementation may still be necessary (Yones, 2015). 

Blood and Bone Meals

Blood, Meat and Bone Meals are reviewed in this article in their ability to replace fish meal as a protein source in Nile Tilapia feed. Ogello (2014) conducted a review that found Blood Meal had been shown able to replace fishmeal at 50%, 75% and 100% in three different studies. Blood meal has a similar nutrient digestibility value to fishmeal and is considered cheaper. The review did advise caution as further research may be needed in reference to potential disease transfer as it is a source of protein that is composed primarily of blood from warm blooded animals.

Meat and Bone Meal is another potential protein source that has been used in studies as an experimental replacement for fish meal. Ogello (2014) did a review on its potential and found that it can be less expensive than fish meal but more expensive than blood meal. Additionally it can be used as a supplemental protein and has a well balanced amino acid profile that is also high in minerals. Studies reviewed showed successful fish meal replacement at <50%, 75% and 100%. Despite this promising glance there is currently still further research needed based in concerns for disease transfer.

Feather Meal and Hydrolyzed Feather Meal

There is currently research into utilizing Feather Meal, often a by-product of poultry processing as a fishmeal replacement in aquacultural feeds. Yong (2018) revealed that feather meal can be fed to red tilapia (Oreochromis) up to 15% with only positive impacts on weight gain, growth rate and feed conversion when compared to fishmeal only diets. Additionally water quality was noted not to be negatively impacted with feather meal supplementation and finally, it was stated that feather meal has the potential to replace fish meal fully.

Munguti (2014) performed a study on Nile Tilapia to determine feasibility of feeding hydrolyzed feather meal (supplementing shrimp meal) in conjunction with papain or crude papain (which are protease enzymes). The study found that complete replacement alongside supplementation was possible however the most ideal growth parameters were achieved from a combination of protein sources (hydrolyzed feather meal, cottonseed cake, shrimp meal) and enzymatic supplementation. Hydrolyzed feather meal was only added at 8.6% but the focus of this particular study should be on the improved digestibility of protein with the use of papain and crude papain.

Tadpole Meal

Hindatu (2017) is a study on Bufo maculate tadpoles that were raised for the purpose of being turned into meal after 84 days. The whole tadpole meal was then included into an experimental diet to determine its potential as a fish meal replacement for Clarias gariepinus fingerling production. The study revealed that no significant difference was found when tadpole meal substituted fish meal at 25-50% inclusion rate, with economic benefits being highest 25-50% inclusion rate, determining this to be a recommended amount for tadpole meal use in aquaculture providing economic and sustainability benefits as well as the potential for certain setups to grow their own protein sources. Tadpoles are noted to have similar production environment requirements to fish prior to metamorphosizing and can therefore have potential to be raised within an aquacultural system setup.

Tadpole Nutrition Requirements

Along with conversation on the idea of growing tadpoles within the framework of an established system the question of what this would even require is a natural jumping off point. Feed is typically the number one concern with these concepts, therefore a bit of discussion on what it is that tadpoles need to be grown is necessary. discusses the nutritional needs of tadpoles and their impact on the ecology surrounding them. Montaña (2019) discusses and reviews what tadpoles eat and the nutrients they require. It labels them primarily as herbivores and detritivores within this larval stage, stating, "algae and protozoa exhibiting the highest frequencies of occurrence in tadpole diets." It is mentioned that some do consume insect larvae and other tadpoles at times. There are several nutritional sources listed for tadpoles including: leaf litter, aquatic vegetation, insect larvae, microbes, detritus. The importance of this studies inclusion is that it provides parameters for Hindatu (2017) and its implications for rearing tadpoles as a protein source. The article demonstrates the opportunity to grow tadpoles largely on algae and detritus or sludge from other areas of production (especially for aquaponics operations) which could have significant impact on feed for aquacultural production if applied well.

References

 

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