The aim of this study was to evaluate vegetable protein concentrates to replace soybean meal (traditional protein) on performance and chemical composition of catfish (Rhamdia quelen) and its influence on the coloration of the fillets. We used 20 experimental units (EU), with a capacity of 90L each, where 400 fish were rearing for 45 days. Juvenile catfish had 11.5±5.0cm and an initial weight of 10.4±5.5g. We evaluated four diets with different sources of protein concentrates, which are: Control, conventional diet using soybean meal as source of protein; CL: diet containing protein concentrate crambe meal protein concentrate; CLGM: protein concentrate consisting of crambe meal protein concentrate protein concentrate cassava leaf protein concentrate and GM sunflower meal: protein concentrate consisting of sunflower meal protein concentrate cassava leaf. At 30 and 45 days were evaluated growth parameters (weight, condition factor, specific growth rate, daily weight gain and relative protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion) and proximate evaluation of the whole fish and fillet (humidity, crude protein, fat and ash). In addition, the 45-day evaluation was made color instrumental in fillets. At the end of the experiment, significant differences were observed for growth parameters and proximate, and the animals fed the LC diets had higher growth (13,8cm), specific growth rate (2,43% day-1), daily weight gain (0,41g day-1), relative weight gain (108,3%) and lower feed conversion (1,21) compared to diets containing protein concentrate of sunflower and cassava leaves. We also observed that animals fed on GM diets and CLGM showed a yellowish pigment in the fillets. It is concluded that animals fed the CL diet had the highest levels of performance and can be used as food in the formulation of diets for this species. All others combinations do not showed no better results than the control diet and CL.
crambe meal; cassava leaf; sunflower meal; linseed meal; protein concentrate; fillet; colorimetry
