Effects of dietary amino acid l‐lysine on survival,growth and haemato‐biochemical parameters in Indian catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1974), fingerlings

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted to estimate the dietary lysine requirement of fingerling Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (total length = 6.35 ± 1.10 cm; weight = 4.70 ± 0.65 g) by feeding six isonitrogenous (400 g/kg CP) and isocaloric diets (17.90 kJ/g) containing six supplemental lysine levels ranging from 11.0 to 23.5 g/kg (diets I to VI, in incremental steps of 2.5 g/kg). Triplicate groups with 20 fish each were stocked in 75‐L circular continuous flow‐through troughs and fed experimental diets at 4% BW/day twice daily (08:00 and 18:00 h). Maximum live weight gain (304%), best‐feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.46) and protein efficiency ratio (PER, 1.71) were obtained at 18.5 g/kg dietary lysine, beyond which these values showed a slight declining tendency. Best values for somatic and hematological indices were also obtained at this level. Significantly (p < .05) higher body protein and low carcass moisture and intermediate fat contents were noted in fish fed diets containing 18.5 g/kg lysine. The quadratic regression analyses of live weight gain, FCR, PER and body protein deposition (BPD) data indicated lysine requirements at 19.3, 18.8, 18.6 and 18.6 g/kg of dry diet, respectively. Based on these results, it is recommended that the H. fossilis diet should contain lysine at a level of 19.0 g/kg of dry diet, corresponding to 47.5 g/kg of dietary protein, for optimum growth and efficient feed utilization.     

Dietary arginine requirement of fingerling Indian major carp,Labeo rohita (Hamilton) based on growth,nutrient retention efficiencies,RNA/DNA ratio and body composition

To quantify the optimum dietary arginine requirement of fingerling Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (4.10 ± 0.04 cm; 0.62 ± 0.02 g), an 8‐week growth trial was conducted in eighteen 70‐L indoor circular aqua‐coloured troughs provided with a flow‐through system at 28 ± 1°C. Isonitrogenous (40 g 100 g^?1 crude protein) and isocaloric (4.28 kcal g^?1 gross energy) amino acid test diets containing casein and gelatin as intact protein sources with graded levels of arginine (0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.50 and 1.75 g 100 g^?1 dry diet) were fed to triplicate groups of fish to apparent satiation at 07:00, 12:00 and 17:30 hours. Growth performance of fish fed the above diets was evaluated on the basis of absolute weight gain (AWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein retention efficiency (PRE) and energy retention efficiency (ERE). Maximum AWG (2.61), SGR (2.80), best FCR (1.35), highest PER (1.85), PRE (37%) and ERE (76%) were recorded at 1.25 g 100 g^?1 dietary arginine. Maximum body protein (18.88 g 100 g^?1) and RNA/DNA ratio (5.20) were also obtained in a 1.25 g 100 g^?1 arginine dry diet. Except for the reduced growth performance in fish fed arginine‐deficient diets, no other deficiency signs were apparent. Based on the broken‐line and second‐degree polynomial regression analysis of the AWG, SGR, FCR, PER, PRE and ERE data, the optimum arginine requirement for fingerling Labeo rohita was found to be in the range of 1.22–1.39 g 100 g^?1 of the dry diet, corresponding to 3.05–3.47 g 100 g^?1 of dietary protein.     

Dietary total aromatic amino acid requirement and tyrosine replacement value for phenylalanine in Indian major carp: Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) fingerlings

Two 8‐week growth trials were conducted to determine total aromatic amino acid requirement and tyrosine replacement value for phenylalanine in Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings. To determine the phenylalanine requirement, 20 fish were randomly stocked in triplicate groups in 55‐L indoor polyvinyl flow‐through circular tanks and fed six experimental diets containing graded levels of phenylalanine (5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0 and 17.5 g kg^?1, dry diet) with 10 g kg^?1 tyrosine. Maximum weight gain (287%), best FCR (1.44) and PER (1.74) occurred at 12.5 g kg^?1 dietary phenylalanine. Quadratic regression analysis of weight gain, FCR and PER data indicated phenylalanine requirement at 13.5, 12.9 and 12.7 g kg^?1 of dry diet, respectively. Protein deposition was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 12.5 g kg^?1 dietary phenylalanine. Based on the above results, phenylalanine requirement of C. mrigala is recommended at 13.0 g kg^?1 of dry diet, corresponding to 32.5 g kg^?1 of protein. On the basis of the above requirement, a second experiment with a similar design was conducted using six diets containing graded levels of tyrosine (2.1, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0 and 12.0 g kg^?1) with 13.0 g kg^?1 phenylalanine fixed in all diets to determine the phenylalanine replacement value with that of tyrosine. Maximum weight gain (315%), best FCR (1.47) and PER (1.69) was at 8.0 g kg^?1 dietary tyrosine. Quadratic regression analysis of weight gain, FCR and PER data indicated tyrosine requirement at 9.0, 8.4 and 8.2 g kg^?1 of dry diet, respectively. Protein deposition was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 8.0 g kg^?1 dietary tyrosine. On the basis of the above results, 8.5 g kg^?1 tyrosine, corresponding to 21.3 g kg^?1 of protein, is taken as the optimum requirement and the replacement value is 39.53% on a weight and 36% on a molar basis. Thus, the total aromatic amino acid requirement is 21.5 g kg^?1 of diet, corresponding to 53.8 g kg^?1 of protein for optimum C. mrigala growth.     

Dietary valine requirement of Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fry

Dietary valine requirement of Indian major carp, Labeo rohita Hamilton, fry (3.0 ± 0.02 cm, 0.16 ± 0.03 g) was determined using dose‐response method. Fishes were fed six isonitrogenous [40% crude protein (CP)] and isocaloric (4.28 kcal g^?1, Gross Energy (GE)) amino acid test diets containing casein, gelatin, and l ‐crystalline amino acids with graded levels of valine (0.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, and 2.00% dry diet) at 5% body weight for 6 weeks in triplicate groups twice a day at 07.00 and 17.30 hours. Live weight gain (158.52%), feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.70), specific growth rate (SGR, 2.25), and protein efficiency ratio (PER, 1.46) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fish fed a diet containing 1.5% of the dietary valine (diet IV). Second‐degree polynomial regression analysis of the live weight gain and FCR data indicated the dietary valine requirement at 1.63 and 1.5% of the dry diet, corresponding to 4.0 and 3.75% of dietary protein. Maximum carcass protein, minimum moisture, and fat were recorded at 1.5% of the dietary valine level, except carcass ash, which remained constant throughout the treatments. No mortality was observed during the entire length of the feeding trial. On the basis of FCR and protein deposition data, it is recommended that dietary valine inclusion at 1.5% of dry diet, corresponding to 3.75% of dietary protein, is optimal for the growth of L. rohita fry.     

Resorption,Exkretion und Verteilung von 99Molybdän nach oraler Gabe an laktierende Wiederkäuer

ABSTRACT

A growth trial was performed to optimise the inclusion of potassium (K) in feeds of Heteropneustes fossilis (body weight [BW] 6.92 ± 0.1 g). Eight isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets with varying dietary K levels were prepared by supplementing 0, 1.91, 3.82, 5.73, 7.64, 9.55, 11.46 and 13.37 g KCl/kg basal diet. Analysed dietary K levels were 0.16, 1.12, 2.08, 3.19, 4.18, 5.16, 6.11, 7.14 and 8.16 g/kg dry matter. BW gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein gain (PG) and gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity were best in fish fed 4.18 g K/kg diet. The K concentrations in the whole body and vertebrae increased linearly with the increase up to 5.16 g K/kg diet and reached then a plateau. The K-retention [%] was highest in fish fed the basal diet and decreased with the further inclusion of dietary K up to 2.08 g/kg followed by no change up to diet containing 4.18 g K/kg and then declined further in fish fed higher levels of dietary K. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was found to increase up to 4.18 g K/kg diet. Regression of BW gain, PG, gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and vertebrae K concentration against varying levels of dietary K using broken-line model indicated that an inclusion of 5.44 g K/kg diet is the optimum for maximising growth and mineralisation of H. fossilis.     

Effect of feeding different protein to energy (P/E) ratios on the growth performance and body composition of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings

This study evaluated the growth performance and body composition of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings (average initial weight 16.53 ± 0.44 g) fed 9 experimental diets (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I) containing three different levels of protein (26, 31 and 36 g 100 g^?1) at three different gross energy (GE) levels (16, 19 and 22 MJ kg^?1) for a period of 64 days. Significant differences were observed in the feed consumption, body weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), condition factor (k), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein retention (NPR) and apparent net energy retention (ANER) values of fish when the energy level of diet was increased at different protein levels. The maximum weight gain, SGR and k were observed on diet F containing 36% protein and an energy level of 19 MJ kg^?1 of dry feed with a protein to energy (P/E) ratio of 18.96 (g protein MJ^?1 GE). A further increase in the energy content of the diet (22 MJ kg^?1) at the same protein level (Diet I) did not produce any improvement in the growth performance. Lowering the energy level at the same protein level significantly affected the growth performance. Fish fed diet B containing 31% protein and a lower energy level of 16 MJ kg^?1 with the same P/E ratio of 18.61 as diet F showed significantly lower weight gain and growth performance than diet F. Diets E and H containing 31% crude protein at all three energy levels produced similar results as diet B. The poorest FCR was observed when the diet contained both lower levels of protein and energy. Fish fed diet G, containing 26% protein at high energy level (22 MJ kg^?1), showed the best PER and NPR values. The PER and NPR were the poorest on diet C containing 36% protein at low energy level (16 MJ kg^?1). The body moisture content at all protein levels decreased (P < 0.05) with the increasing level of dietary energy whereas the body fat content increased (P < 0.05). Similar trends were observed in the body ash and energy content. Increasing the dietary energy content at lower protein levels did not show any difference (P > 0.05) in body protein content. Our results indicated the optimum P/E ratio for O. niloticus as 18.96 g protein per mega joule of gross energy at 36% dietary protein level and a dietary gross energy value of 19 MJ kg^?1.     

Evaluation of optimum dietary vitamin E requirements using DL‐α‐tocopheryl acetate in the juvenile eel,Anguilla japonica

The study aimed at evaluating the optimum dietary vitamin E requirements using DL‐α‐tocopheryl acetate in the juvenile eel, Anguilla japonica, as assessed by fish growth performance and fish body composition. Five semi‐purified experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 (TA₁), 15 (TA₁₇), 30 (TA₃₂), 60 (TA₆₂) and 120 (TA₁₁₉ mg TA kg^?1 diet on a dry matter (DM) basis in the form of DL‐α‐tocopheryl acetate (TA). After a 4‐week conditioning period, fish (15 ± 0.3 g) were randomly distributed into aquaria in groups of 20 at 25 ± 1.0°C (mean ± SD). One of the five diets was fed on a DM basis to fish in three randomly selected aquaria twice daily to satiation (approximately 3% of wet body weight per day at the beginning and 2% of wet body weight per day at the end of the feeding trial) for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12‐week feeding trial, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were determined; these were significantly lower in control fish than in fish fed supplemented diets (P < 0.05). The values for fish fed TA₁₇ were significantly higher than for fish fed TA₁, TA₆₂ or TA₁₁₉ (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in WG, FE or PER among fish that were fed TA₁₇ and TA₃₂, among those that were fed TA₃₂ and TA₆₂, and among those that were fed TA₆₂ and TA₁₁₉ (P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in SGR among fish fed TA₃₂, TA₆₂ or TA₁₁₉ (P > 0.05). A broken‐line regression analysis on the basis of WG, SGR, FE and PER showed that dietary vitamin E requirements of juvenile eels were 21.2, 21.6, 21.2 and 21.5 (mg kg^?1 diet), respectively. These results indicate that the dietary vitamin E requirement could be <21.2 mg kg^?1 but <21.6 mg kg^?1 diet in juvenile eel, A. japonica, when DL‐α‐tocopheryl acetate is used as the dietary vitamin E source.     

Partial replacement of monocalcium phosphate with neutral phytase in diets for grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idellus

A 9‐week experiment was designed to study the effects of partial replacement of monocalcium phosphate (MCP) with neutral phytase on growth, body compositions, serum biochemical statuses and intestinal digestive enzyme activities of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus. The control diet (designated as P2.0) was prepared with 2.0% MCP but without phytase. The three other diets (designated as PP1.5, PP1.0 and PP0.5, respectively) were supplemented with 1.5, 1.0 and 0.5% MCP, respectively, along with 500 FTU of neutral phytase kg^?1 diet in each. After a 9‐week feeding trial, fish (initial body weight: 43.44 ± 2.37 g) fed with PP1.5 and PP1.0 had no significant change in weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency rate (PER) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with the control (P > 0.05) whereas fish fed with PP0.5 showed significantly lower growth performance in the above parameters. The crude lipid content in whole body or muscle of the fish fed with PP1.5 was significantly lower than the control while significantly higher in fish fed with PP0.5 (P < 0.05), whereas no obvious change was observed in the fish fed with PP1.0. For serum indices, higher serum alkaline phosphatase (Alkp), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) contents were observed in fish fed with phytase‐supplemented diets in comparison with the control. In addition, dietary phytase supplementation increased amylase activity and decreased lipase activity in both foregut and hindgut. The present study suggests that dietary MCP can be reduced when neutral phytase is added to the grass carp diet, and that the maximum MCP reduction level can be up to 1% when neutral phytase is supplemented at 500 FTU kg^?1 diet.     

Effects of dietary l‐carnitine supplements on growth and body composition in beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) juveniles

The effects of dietary l ‐carnitine on growth performance, whole body composition and feed utilization were studied in beluga, Huso huso. Fish were randomly allocated in 15 tanks (30 fish per tank) and triplicate groups were fed to satiety during 84 days one of five isonitrogenous (41% CP) and isoenergetic (20 MJ kg^?1) diets, each differing in l ‐carnitine content [0 (control), 300, 600, 900 and 1200 mg kg^?1 diet]. At the end of the trial, fish grew from 19‐ to 23‐fold in weight, from 8.4 g to a maximum of 191 g. Fish fed 300–600 mg l ‐carnitine had the highest specific growth rate (SGR, 3.69 and 3.72% day^?1) and protein efficiency ratio (PER, 0.95 and 0.99), and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.4 and 1.3) than the other groups (P < 0.0001). SGR, PER and FCR were the poorest for fish fed 1200 mg l ‐carnitine, while fish fed the unsupplemented and 900 mg l ‐carnitine supplemented diet showed intermediate performance. Body lipid concentration decreased significantly from 5.8 to 5.1% (P < 0.0001) with dietary l ‐carnitine supplementation increasing from 0 to 300 mg. Energy content was significantly lower in fish fed the 900 and 1200 mg l ‐carnitine diet (5.8 MJ kg^?1), when compared with the other treatment groups (6.4–6.6 MJ kg^?1). The results indicated that feeding sturgeon on diets supplemented with 300 mg l ‐carnitine kg^?1 diet improved growth performance, and stimulated protein‐sparing effects from lipids.     

Effect of dietary protein and carbohydrate levels on growth,nutrient utilization and body composition in fingerling rohu,Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

Twelve experimental diets (D‐1 to D‐12) in a 4 × 3 factorial design having four protein levels (25, 35, 40 and 45%) and three carbohydrate levels (15, 25 and 35%) were formulated and fed to fingerling rohu, Labeo rohita (5.48 ± 0.02 g) for 60 days in three replicates at 2% BW per day. The best performance of fish in terms of weight gain (%), specific growth rate (SGR; % per day), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) was recorded with diet D‐9 containing 40% protein and 35% dextrin as a source of dietary carbohydrate. In general, lower protein consumption per kilogram BW was observed at all protein levels with the rise of the dextrin level. The apparent digestibilities of protein and lipid were not affected by the dietary treatments. At the end of the experiment the body composition of animals from all treatments showed lower percentages of moisture and higher percentages of protein as compared to the initial values. A consistent rise in protein retention efficiency was noted in fish fed diets with increasing dextrin levels. The highest protein sparing effect was found in fish fed the diet containing 40% protein and 35% dextrin.     

Effects of varying levels of dietary vitamin E (α‐tocopherol) on growth performance,proximate and fatty acid composition of juvenile silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus Euphrasen, 1788)

This study investigated the effects of elevated dietary levels of vitamin E (α‐tocopherol) on growth performance, proximate composition and fatty acid profiles of juvenile silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus. Three semi‐purified experimental diets were formulated to contain 49% protein and 16% lipid. High docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) tuna oil was added to the diets to supplement DHA. A graded level of vitamin E (0‐, 50‐, and 100 mg kg^?1) was added to experimental diets 1 to 3, respectively. Analyzed vit. E levels were 155.2, 195.3 and 236.4 mg kg^?1 in diets 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The experiment was conducted for 12 weeks with juvenile silver pomfret (29.6 ± 7.6 g) using a flow‐through system consisting of nine 1‐m³ tanks. Each treatment had three replicates and fish were stocked at the rate of 20 m^?3. Growth performance and feed utilization parameters of fish fed diets 2 and 3 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in fish fed diet 1, but the parameters in diets 2 and 3 did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Although whole body protein levels were not influenced by the dietary vit. E levels, whole body lipid in fish fed diet 2 was significantly higher than in fish fed the other diets. The whole body vit. E levels in fish fed diet 2 (22.6 mg kg^?1) and diet 3 (24.1 mg kg^?1) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in those fed diet 1 (18.2 mg kg^?1). Whole body total saturated fatty acids were significantly lower, and DHA levels higher in fish fed diets 2 and 3 than those fed diet 1. The results of the present study suggest that increasing dietary supplementation of vit. E in high lipid diets enhances the growth performance of fish and that a dietary level of 196 mg kg^?1 vit. E is suitable for the growth of silver pomfret.     

异育银鲫幼鱼对饲料中缬氨酸需求量的研究

通过65d的生长实验, 探讨饲料中不同缬氨酸水平对异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)幼鱼平均体重(3.17±0.01)g/尾生长性能、饲料利用和蛋白利用的影响, 确定异育银鲫对饲料中缬氨酸的需要量。实验设计由酪蛋白、明胶和晶体氨基酸为蛋白源的8种等氮(蛋白含量:38%)等能(总能:17.0 kJ/g)的半精制饲料, 其缬氨酸水平等梯度逐步升高(0.54、0.79、1.04、1.29、1.54、1.79、2.04、2.29%饲料干物质)。各实验饲料中缬氨酸的实测值分别为:0.66、0.85、1.07、1.22、1.46、1.70、1.86和2.12%饲料干物质。饲料中其他必需氨基酸含量参照异育银鲫肌肉氨基酸模式。每种饲料饲喂3个重复,每个重复30尾鱼,养殖于塑料方箱中(70 cm×55 cm×50 cm;水体容积:150 L), 养殖系统为室内流水系统(500 mL/min流速), 每天两次饱食连续投喂(9:00和16:00)。实验结果表明,饲料中适量的缬氨酸显著提高了异育银鲫的特定生长率、饲料转化效率和蛋白沉积率(P0.05), 但显著影响了血清谷氨酰胺的浓度(P0.05), 但不同的缬氨酸水平显著影响了鱼体灰分含量(P<0.05)。对各处理组异育银鲫特定生长率的结果进行二次回归分析, 结果表明满足异育银鲫最大生长的缬氨酸需求量为饲料干物质的1.72%, 即占饲料蛋白的4.53%。       

异育银鲫幼鱼对饲料苯丙氨酸需求的研究

通过55d的生长实验确定异育银鲫幼鱼对饲料苯丙氨酸的适宜需求。实验结果表明,饲料苯丙氨酸含量为1.09%时,异育银鲫幼鱼的增重率、特定生长率和饲料效率均到达最大值,分别为194.50%、1.96%/d、37.74%,而摄食率为最小值4.76%/d。饲料添加适宜水平的苯丙氨酸也显著提高其蛋白质效率、蛋白质沉积率和能量沉积率,均以1.09%处理组显著高于其他各处理组(P0.05)。根据异育银鲫幼鱼特定生长率与饲料苯丙氨酸水平的剂量效应关系,通过非线性回归可以得出饲料酪氨酸为1.04%时异育银鲫幼鱼的苯丙氨酸最适需求量占饲料1.09%,占饲料蛋白的3.02%。       

Effect of cellulase,phytase and pectinase supplementation on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss,Walbaum 1792) fry fed diets containing canola meal

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing exogenous enzymes on growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and apparent nutrient digestibility in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry diets containing 32% canola meal. Five experimental diets (including a control diet containing no enzymes) were prepared as isonitrogenous (44% crude protein) and isocaloric (4000 kcal DE kg¹). The four other diets contained either cellulase, phytase, pectinase or an enzyme mix (a mixture of cellulase, phytase and pectinase in the same ratio). The feeding trial was conducted in triplicate for 12 weeks in 15 tanks (100‐L). At the beginning of the experiment 20 rainbow trout fry (initial weight 1.23 g) were stocked into each tank. Mean water temperature in the rearing tanks was 11°C and water flow in each tank was 6 L min^?1. At the end of the experiment the growth parameters and FCR displayed no significant differences in enzyme supplementation (P > 0.05). In addition, no differences were observed in dry matter, protein, or lipid digestibility with enzyme supplementation (P > 0.05). The results of this study showed that the addition of pectinase, phytase, cellulase or an enzyme mix to a diet containing 32% canola meal had no effect on growth, feed efficiency or dry matter, protein, or lipid digestibility in rainbow trout fry.     

Dietary valine requirement of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala Yih, 1955)

An 8‐week feeding trial was carried out to test the hypothesis that adequate dietary valine might improve growth, feed utilization and protein content in blunt snout bream, whereas a valine deficiency might have adverse effects on these parameters. Six isonitrogenous (34% crude protein) and isoenergetic (14.2 MJ kg^?1 digestible energy) experimental diets were formulated to contain graded valine levels (0.66, 0.95, 1.26, 1.55, 1.87 and 2.16% of dry weight) at about 0.30% increments replaced by equal proportions of glycine. At the end of the experiment the survival rate was not significantly affected by the dietary valine level. Final weight, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency ratio (FER) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) increased with an increasing dietary valine level up to the 1.26% diet, and thereafter remained relatively constant. Dietary valine levels significantly affected the viscerosomatic index, but not the hepatosomatic index or condition factor. The dietary valine levels significantly affected the protein contents of whole body and plasma. Dietary valine supplementation significantly increased the plasma valine concentration, but not the levels of other branched‐chain amino acids (isoleucine and leucine). Based on SGR and FER, the optimal dietary valine requirements of juvenile blunt snout bream were determined to be 1.32% of the diet (3.88% of dietary protein) and 1.26% of the diet (3.71% of dietary protein), respectively, using broken‐line regression analysis.     

Effect of replacing different levels of dietary fishmeal with Jatropha curcas kernel meal on the development of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The present trial tested the applicability of Jatropha curcas kernel meal (JKM) as a protein source in diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in terms of growth and body composition. Four diets were produced replacing 0% (Control), 50% (J50), 75% (J75) and 100% (J100) of fishmeal with JKM. In a fifth diet, 70% of fishmeal was replaced by JKM, and another 20% replaced by blood meal to minimize crystalline lysine addition. Body mass gain of fish fed the control diet was significantly higher than in all other treatments. However, specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not significantly different between diets J50, J75 and the control. Fish fed the control diet had a lower body protein content, but higher body fat and energy content than fish fed the JKM‐based diets. An adaptation of fish fed diets J50, J75 and J100 could also be observed, as these diets showed worse FCR‐values over most of the first three quarters of the experiment and equal (or in the case of J75, even significantly better) FCR‐values over the final 2 weeks. Despite slightly slower growth, JKM should be further included in the search of alternative plant‐feedstuffs in diets for tilapia, as the growth observed here for up to 75% replacement of fishmeal was very promising.     

Phytase can reduce theneedfor monocalcium phosphate supplementation in soybean and rapeseed meal‐based diets of black sea bream,Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker, 1854)

A feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of partial replacement of dietary monocalcium phosphate (MCP) with phytase on growth performance, feed utilization and phosphorus discharge in black sea bream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii. In the feeding trial, the control diet (designated as P1.5) was prepared with 1.5% MCP but without phytase, and the three other diets (designated as PP1.0, PP0.5 and PP0, respectively) were supplemented with 1.0%, 0.5% and 0% MCP, respectively, along with 200 mg (400 U) phytase/kg diet in each. Each diet was tested in triplicate tanks and fish were fed twice daily to satiation. After an 8‐week feeding trial in indoor flow‐through cylindrical fibreglass tanks (25 fish per tank, initial body weight: 11.5 ± 0.12 g), fish fed with PP1.0 and PP0.5 had no significant change in weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency rate (PER) or feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control (p > .05), whereas fish fed with PP0 showed a significantly lower growth performance in the above parameters (p < .05). The addition of phytase did not affect the body composition or muscle composition. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of crude protein and phosphorus increased when fish were fed diets in which MCP was replaced by phytase. Phosphorus discharge was also significantly reduced in fish fed diets in which MCP was replaced by phytase (10.2 ± 0.50 to 8.01 ± 0.47 g/kg weight gain). The present study suggests that dietary MCP can be reduced when phytase is added to the black sea bream diet, with a maximum MCP reduction level of up to 1% when phytase is supplemented at 200 mg (400 U)/kg diet. Thus, phytase in the diet of black sea bream is economically and ecologically beneficial.     

Effect of dietary fish meal replacement by red algae, Gracilaria arcuata, on growth performance and body composition of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

A 12-week long feeding experiment was initiated to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of red algae, Gracilaria arcuata, on the growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758). The fish were fed with an algae-free control diet (C) and three experimental diets which replaced conventional fish meal with varying levels of dried G. arcuata (20%, 40% and 60%, represented as G20, G40 and G60, respectively). The growth parameters of final weight (FW), weight gain (WG), percentage of weight gain (WG%), daily growth rate (DGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) at all levels of algae incorporation compared to the control diet. Moreover, the negative impact of Gracilaria meal on the growth performance of Nile tilapia increased as the proportion of algae in the diet increased, with fish on diet G20 exhibiting a significantly higher growth performance than the fish on either of the G40 and G60 diets. On the other hand, the feed utilization parameters feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) did not show significant differences between the fish in the control group and those on diet G20, although poorer FCR and PER outcomes were achieved in the case of fish on diet G60. The content of moisture, protein and ash in muscle and carcass increased as the proportion of Gracilaria meal in the diets increased, but the reverse was true for lipid level. These results indicate that incorporation of less than 20% red algae, Gracilaria arcuata, could be feasible in the diet of Nile tilapia and further studies are recommended to optimize the level of algae to improve growth performance.     

Growth and body composition of rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fed compound diet: winter feeding and rearing to marketable size

A 122‐day growth trial was conducted to observe the impact of polyhouse in winter on growth, conversion efficiencies and body composition of fingerling Labeo rohita (7.9 ± 1.1 cm; 4.60 ± 0.18 g). Fish were stocked (1.5 m^?2) in polyhouse and outdoor concrete tanks (250 m²) in duplicate and fed a compound diet [35% crude protein (CP)] to apparent satiation twice daily, at 09.00 and 17.00 hours. A natural photoperiod was maintained during the trials. At the end of the trials, polyhouse‐reared fish produced significantly (P < 0.01) higher values for weight increment, specific growth rate (SGR %), protein efficiency rate (PER), protein productive value (PPV) and better feed conversion ratio (FCR). Polyhouse‐reared fish showed higher (P < 0.01) CP and fat, and lower (P < 0.01) moisture and ash contents in the muscle. In the second part of the study, which also lasted 122 days, polyhouse‐reared young L. rohita (21.7 ± 1.3 cm; 127.8 ± 0.69 g) were raised to marketable size in outdoor earthen ponds (500 m²) at a stocking density of 0.37 m^?2 to examine the effects of feeding traditional feed mixture and compound diet (30% CP) on growth and body composition of fish. Labeo rohita fed the compound diet showed higher (P < 0.01) values for weight increment, SGR (%), PER and PPV, and better (P < 0.01) FCR than those fed traditional feed. Proximate composition of fish muscle showed higher (P < 0.05) CP and fat, and lower (P < 0.05) moisture and ash contents in fish fed the compound diet. The results suggest that polyhouse may be used successfully to culture L. rohita during winter, and that thereafter the fish may be reared in earthen ponds using the compound diet to obtain better production.     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth and feed utilization of wild‐caught striped sea bream,Lithognathus mormyrus

A feeding trial was carried out to determine the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth performance and feed utilization of wild‐caught striped sea bream (Lithognathus mormyrus). The experimental fish were collected from a local lagoon (Çardak Lagoon, Çanakkale, Turkey), transferred to the Marine Net Cage Unit and fed by hand to apparent satiation with a commercial sea bream feed (Biomar; 42% crude protein, 16% crude lipid). Approximately 4 weeks were needed to acclimate the fish to farming conditions. No pathological signs were observed and no fish losses occurred during the adaptation period. For the test trials four test diets with different levels of protein and lipid were formulated [low protein and low lipid (LP:LL), low protein and high lipid (LP:HL), high protein and low lipid (HP:LL), and high protein and high lipid (HP:HL)] and fed to L. mormyrus (mean weight 85.0 ± 4.6 g SEM) in the net cages (Ø 2 m, depth 2.5 m) for 60 days. During the experiment water temperature varied between 21.1 and 26.4°C; dissolved oxygen 8.4–9.6 mg L^?1; pH 7.2–8.6; and salinity 23.3–25.6‰. Growth performances of fish fed high protein diets were higher compared to fish fed low protein diets, irrespective of the dietary lipid level (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were not influenced by dietary protein or lipid levels (P > 0.05). Preliminary results indicate that striped sea bream can be easily adapted to farming conditions in net cages, and that a diet containing 50% crude protein and 15% crude lipid (HP:LL) levels with 23.0 g protein MJ^?1 gross energy of protein/energy ratio would be suitable for striped sea bream growth.