Why alternative lipid sources are relevant in aquaculture
Lipids are essential components of aquaculture diets, providing energy and essential fatty acids. Limited availability of fish oil and the continued growth of aquaculture have increased interest in alternative lipid sources.
Vegetable oils and fats can provide greater flexibility in feed formulation without compromising fish performance. Beyond nutritional value, oxidative stability, handling, and consistent quality are important characteristics of dietary fats.
BEWI®-SPRAY is a refined and hydrogenated triglyceride powder developed as an alternative lipid source for animal nutrition.
Experimental setup
A total of 135 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with an initial weight of 22.39 g were used in the study.
The fish were distributed among nine tanks with 15 fish per tank. Three feeding groups were evaluated, with three replicates per group and 45 fish per feeding group.
Feeding groups
Control
Soybean oil + sunflower oil (1:1); 4.2% + 4.2%
BEWI®-SPRAY 33 %
33% replacement of oil mixture by BEWI®-SPRAY (2.8%)
BEWI®-SPRAY 66 %
66% replacement of oil mixture by BEWI®-SPRAY (5.5%)
Results
Values are presented as mean ± standard error; tank was the experimental unit (n = 3 tanks per treatment). SGR: specific growth rate, FCR: feed conversion ratio, PER: protein efficiency rate.
Conclusion: BEWI®-SPRAY as an alternative lipid source.
- BEWI®-SPRAY replaced up to 66% of the soybean and sunflower oil mixture without adverse effects on growth, feed utilisation or survival.
- Apparent lipid digestibility remained above 92%, and protein digestibility above 96% in all treatments.
- Refined and hydrogenated vegetable fat is therefore a suitable alternative lipid source for Nile tilapia diets and may add formulation flexibility plus technological advantages during feed production and storage.
