biostudies-literatureHuang HGuangdong Ocean UniversityNational Natural Science Foundation of China9366952https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11211014biostudies-literatureUnknown2024A 9-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with sunflower meal (SM) or fermented sunflower meal (FSM) on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal health of genetically improved farmed tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>) (initial weight 6.55 ± 0.01 g). Eleven isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated by replacing 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of dietary SBM with SM or FSM. The results showed that the replacement of more than 40% of SBM with SM decreased the weight gain and special growth rate of tilapia, while the complete replacement of SBM with FSM did not affect the growth performance of tilapia. From transmission electron microscopy analyses, it was shown that high levels of both SM and FAquaculture nutritionEffects of Replacing Soybean Meal with Sunflower Meal or Fermented Sunflower Meal on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Microbiota, and Intestinal Health of Tilapia (GIFT, <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>).PMC1121101406030202200732273152Mi HLiu YJiang WHuang HDeng JLin XWang XZhang LZhou HfalseEffects of Replacing Soybean Meal with Sunflower Meal or Fermented Sunflower Meal on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Microbiota, and Intestinal Health of Tilapia (GIFT, <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>).A 9-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with sunflower meal (SM) or fermented sunflower meal (FSM) on the growth performance, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal health of genetically improved farmed tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>) (initial weight 6.55 ± 0.01 g). Eleven isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated by replacing 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of dietary SBM with SM or FSM. The results showed that the replacement of more than 40% of SBM with SM decreased the weight gain and special growth rate of tilapia, while the complete replacement of SBM with FSM did not affect the growth performance of tilapia. From transmission electron microscopy analyses, it was shown that high levels of both SM and F2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242026-06-03T05:37:33.401Z2025-04-03T23:56:15.861ZS-EPMC112110143955554010.1155/2024/9366952