Effect of different level of methionine on growth performance and body composition of juvenile of stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus)

Abstract

Introduction: Methionine is an essential amino acid for fish, which deficiency of it reduces
the growth and efficiency of the food. Methionine is usually the first essential limiting amino
acid in many diets, especially those with high levels of plant proteins. This study aimed to
investigate the effect of increasing the Methionine on growth, and body composition in juvenile
of stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) during 8 weeks.
Materials & Methods: A total of 200 fish were randomly distributed in 10 tanks. Fish were
fed with diets containing different levels of the amino acid Methionine (0.5, 1.5, 2.5 percent
and control diet). Growth and nutrition indices, including condition factor, body weight
increasing, specific growth rate, food conversion ratio, body weight index, visceral index and
carcass composition were evaluated.
Results: Based on the results, there was no significant difference in growth parameters between
the experimental treatments, except for the feed conversion ratio, which had a significant
difference (P<0.05). Accordingly, the highest performance of growth indices in the treatment
contained 2.5 percent and the feed conversion ratio was related to the treatment of 1.5 percent
methionine and the lowest was different in different treatments. On the other hand, the results
showed that the presence of Methionine in the diet increases the amount of protein and fat in
the treatment of 0.5 and 2.5 percent compared to the treatment of 1.5 percent.
Conclusion: It can be stated that the addition of the 2.5 percent Methionine in the diet of stellate
sturgeon juvenile will improve growth performance.