Solid-state fermentation of sunflower meal using commercial yeast for use as an improved nutrient source in aquafeed

Abstract

Aquaculture, a reliable source of economic gain and employment generation, mainly stands on formulated fish feed costs. Protein is the essential component of animal tissues and constitutes about 65-75% of fish tissue dry matter. Therefore, protein is considered an essential nutrient source, providing a group of essential and nonessential amino acids for both maintenance and growth. Feed proteins are expensive, and their inclusion in aquaculture diets has a significant blow on overall feed costs. And fishmeal (FM) makes up nearly 50% of the total feed cost, and limited FM supplies can no longer meet the needs of the expanding fish-feed industry. Hence, to bring down the feed cost and develop a low cost and high yield production system, fermented plant by-products like sunflower cake might be considered the most viable alternative protein with less antinutritional feed for economic fish production.