Use of soybean as an alternative protein source for welfare-orientated production of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).

ABSTRACT: Soybean meal based diets have been suggested to cause gastrointestinal issues in certain species when used as a protein alternative. Using a randomized design, we tested 1,728 alligators in one of 13 communal pens offered one of two diets (seven pens (n = 928) of soybean-based protein diets and six pens (n = 800) of animal-based protein diets) to determine if soybeans would negatively affect the growth, hide quality, behavior and health, when compared with an otherwise identical diet using animal-based protein. Both feeds were nearly identical in composition for protein and fat percentages and identical for all minerals and elements. Crude protein was a minimum of 50%, crude fat a minimum of 12%, crude fiber a minimum of 4%, and phosphorous was maintained at 1%. From this inf

SUBMITTER: Flint M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10613434 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature