Grape marc meal effect on digestive tract health of greenlip abalone
The goal of this aquaculture project is to understand the effect of dietary inclusions of grape marc meal on the digestive tract health of greenlip abalone.
A previous study run in our lab has identified that abalone fed dietary steam distilled grape marc meal inclusions (5-20%) exhibited superior growth compared to a basal diet (0% grape marc meal).
Steam distilled grape marc meal from TARAC technologies is commercially available, which is significantly cheaper than the energy ingredients used in current commercial diets, making this a highly promising alternative ingredient.
However, the effect of feed diets that contain inclusions of distilled grape marc meal on the gastrointestinal morphology of greenlip abalone is unknown.
![Haliotis laegivata - Green lipped abalone, Peter Southwood [CC BY-SA 3.0]](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_image/public/media/images/2019-05/greenlip-abalone.JPG?itok=YU2E9QOX)
Haliotis laevigata - Green lipped abalone
Peter Southwood [CC BY-SA 3.0]
Key methodology:
- Based on this previous study, steam distilled grape marc meal will be validated in an on-farm trial before results are taken up by industry.
- Three diets will be tested on farm that contain different levels of distilled grape marc meal. The experiment will run for ~6 months.
- At the conclusion of the study, four abalone per tank will be sampled and fixed in 10% seawater formalin, before samples are sectioned and stained to determine the effect of dietary inclusions of grape marc meal on the digestive tract health of greenlip abalone.
Funding for sample analysis is provided by SARDI. Samples will be collected from a larger industry funded project.
Study animal and veterinary bioscience
This project is a collaborative link between the University and industry. David Stone has worked throughout Australia, North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, collaborating closely with both governments, universities and small to large sized enterprises on a range of research and development projects aiming to improve businesses through innovation and developing the understanding of the effects of sustainable nutrition and feed technology on growth, feed efficiency, health, product quality and the environment.
Supervisors
- Associate Professor David Stone - PIRSA
- Co-supervisors: Professor Gordon Howarth | Dr Matthew Bansemer - SARDI
- Research area: Animal and veterinary bioscience; aquaculture
- Recommended honours enrolment: Honours in Animal Science