Palm date meal as a non-traditional ingredient for feeding aquatic animals: A review

Abstract

Protein ingredients in aquafeed are one of the most important factors responsible for the development and sustainability of aquaculture. Currently, because of high costs and fluctuating production, some animal and plant protein sources are unable to satiate the increasing demand from the fish feed manufacturers. Aquatic animals’ nutritional requirements have been accorded particular focus with less costly feedstuff in aqua feed given extra weightage. There has been increasing attention in recent years on finding methods to recycle the animal and plant by-products for feed preparation. Due to its vital amino acid content as well as high protein composition, palm date meal (PDM) which is a renewable and sustainable resource is expected to be a viable raw material option for replacing protein ingredients (e.g., fish meal and soybean meal) or as a supplement in fish feed. PDM is an agro-industry by-product which left from dates as waste in several countries. This article reviewed the current research including the source, derivatives, and the potential of PDM as a possible alternative to the conventional plant and animal protein sources. Also, the added value of using PDM waste in aquafeed to reduce the feed cost, enhance this e growth rate of fish, improve the health and well-being of fish, and subsequently sustain the aquaculture industry. Therefore, this review paper will illuminate the possibility of PDM as a promising feed source and also the present knowledge and future perspectives about the application of PDM in aquaculture.