The Effect of Soy-Based Diets on Weight Gain, Shell Hardness and Flavor of the American Lobster (Homarus americanus)

Abstract Harvested newly-shed American lobsters, Homarus amer-icanus, were placed in pounds for long-term storage to increase weight, muscle mass, and shell strength. In a 40-day feeding trial, lobsters were fed four different diets: cod fish racks and prepared diets of 100% soybean mix, soybean with 15% flax seed, and soybean with 15% fish meal. Following the feeding trial, lobsters were weighed, carapace samples were subjected to a compressive force test to measure shell strength and sensory evaluation was performed on the tail meat portions. There was a significant (P 0.05) among treatments and no off flavors.