Willow Williams, “Gender-Specific Responses to Diets in Yellow Perch: Evaluating Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate as a Soy Protein Substitute”
Mentor: Dong Fang Deng, Freshwater Sciences, Freshwater Sciences (School of)
Poster #66
The aquaculture of yellow perch, a cool-water fish native to the Great Lakes region, is expanding; however, cost-effective feed options for this species remain limited. Our research addresses how to improve production efficiency through a better understanding of species and gender-specific needs and reducing dependence on crop-based feeds (soybean) by exploring alternative protein sources. This study assessed alfalfa nutrient concentrate as a soybean substitute in yellow perch feed and explored sexual dimorphism via acute heat shock. Over eight weeks, yellow perch were fed either a soy protein-based diet (SBC) or a diet with 50% of the soy protein replaced by ANC. A commercial diet was used as a reference. Each diet was tested in three tanks per gender, with 12 fish per tank, in an indoor system with flow-through water. At the end of the trial, no significant difference in weight gain was observed across the dietary treatments. However, female fish exhibited significantly higher weight gain than male fish (P<0.05). When subjected to acute heat shock (an 8°C increase within 2 hours), females had a higher survival rate than males (76% vs 52%). Furthermore, female fish on both the SBC and ANC-based diets had higher survival rates compared to those on the commercial diet, while males on the SBC-based diet had the lowest survival rates among the treatments. These findings suggest that different diets impact heat shock tolerance in yellow perch, with gender playing a significant role. The results highlight the importance of considering gender differences when optimizing feed. Preliminary findings also suggest that ANC could be a viable alternative to soy protein concentrate in yellow perch feed. A more definitive conclusion will be drawn once additional data on nutritional quality and fish health are obtained.