Fish viscera can be an important source of protein and energy for aquafeed, and its use contributes to circular aquaculture. The aim of this study was to produce acid and fermented silage from fish viscera to determine their nutritional value and the apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients and energy for juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). An acid silage and three fermented silages with different sources of carbohydrates (molasses, wheat bran, and cassava waste) were produced with 0.25% sorbic acid as an antifungal in the formulation. Silages presented an average of 55% dry matter, 62.9% lipids, and 12% crude protein. Leucine and lysine predominated as essential amino acids in the acid silage and fermented silages. Fish viscera silages presented EPA and DHA content from 5.4 to 17.8 and 1.7 to 8.9 mg.g⁻¹ of lipids, respectively. The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) (indirect method) was above 82% for gross energy for all the formulations. The ADCs for protein were similar for the fermented silages, with a maximum 92% level for the fermented wheat bran silage. The bioconversion of fish viscera into silage makes it an energy ingredient for aquafeed that is well digested by tambaqui juveniles.

The black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) is a prominent insect species and a novel alternative ingredient for aquafeeds. This study aimed to evaluate the replacement of commercial feed with fresh whole black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) for Colossoma macropomum. Juvenile tambaqui (115.2 ± 0.9 g/fish) were stocked in 800 L tanks (11 fish/tank) operating as a recirculating system. The dietary treatments consisted of whole larvae only (BSFL), 50:50 BSFL: commercial feed (BSFL: CF), or only commercial feed (CF), and the fish were fed to apparent satiation for 120 days. At the end of the feeding trial, fish were group weighed, and blood and muscle were collected for hematological and sensorial evaluations. Fish fed BSFL:CF presented with similar growth performance and carcass yield to tambaqui that were fed only CF. The high fat content of the larvae contributed to the highest values for the viscerosomatic index (7.01%; 6.56%), plasmatic triglycerides (312.1 mg/dL; 295.1 mg/dL), and cholesterol (120.6 mg/dL; 119.1 mg/dL) in the fish provided with BSFL or BSFL:CF, respectively. However, a better acceptance in the fillet sensory analysis was observed for these fillets than for the fillets from the CF group. Feeding tambaqui with BSFL:CF did not compromise the production performance and may have improved the acceptance of their fillets.

The aim of this study was to produce feed based on locally sourced ingredients for tambaqui farming in Amazon. Diets were formulated with increasing levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFL) as a replacement for fish meal (FM), and cassava by-products in the same proportion (tuber residues, peel and leaves). A conventional diet (CO) was used as the control. Juvenile tambaqui (24.61 ± 1.14 g) were housed in 24 tanks in a recirculation aquaculture system. Neither diet rejection nor mortality were observed. Fish fed cassava by-products showed similar feed conversion rates (FCR 1.76); however, these values were worse than those observed in fish fed the CO (FCR 1.33). No differences were observed in the whole-body composition of the fish. The fillets of fish fed cassava by-products had a yellow color due the carotenoids present in the leaves. Dietary BSFL and cassava by-products can contribute to the sustainability of Amazonian aquaculture. Further studies with a lower proportion of cassava leaves in the diet formulation are recommended so as to ensure enhanced diet digestibility and less impact on the color of the fillets.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho produtivo e qualidade do ovo da suplementação de níveis crescentes (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 e 5%) de óleo de dendê em rações de poedeiras leves. O experimento teve duração de 105 dias com cinco intervalos de 21 dias cada. Foram utilizadas 144 poedeiras Hissex White com 32 semanas de idade alojadas em 24 gaiolas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições de seis aves cada. O óleo de dendê foi utilizado nas rações como fonte energética e pigmentante da gema do ovo. As estimativas dos níveis de óleo de dendê foram determinadas através de regressão polinomial. O consumo de ração, produção de ovos, conversão alimentar por dúzia de ovos e conversão alimentar por massa de ovos não foram influenciados significativamente (P > 0,05) pelos tratamentos. A altura do albúmen apresentou efeito quadrático, obtendo seu melhor desempenho nos níveis 2% e 5% de óleo de dendê nas rações. A espessura da casca foi afetada pelos tratamentos (P < 0,05), tendo o nível 5% apresentado melhor resultado. A pigmentação da gema foi influenciada pelos tratamentos (P < 0,05) aumentando proporcionalmente ao nível de inclusão de óleo de dendê nas rações, tendo o nível 5% apresentado maior pigmentação (6,2). O óleo de dendê pode ser utilizado como alimento alternativo e fonte natural de pigmento da gema do ovo. É possível utilizar até 5% de óleo de dendê em rações para poedeiras leves sem afetar o desempenho produtivo das aves.