The effect of exogenous enzyme supplementation on growth performance and digestive enzyme activities in Oreochromis mossambicus fed kikuyu‐based diets

The utilization of plant‐based diets in fish is limited by the presence of anti‐nutrients, which bind to dietary nutrients and reduce their bioavailability. Exogenous enzyme supplementation may alleviate the effects of anti‐nutrients and improve feed utilization. In this study, a commercial multi‐enzyme Natuzyme50^® was added to a kikuyu‐based diet at a rate of 0 (control), 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.00 g kg^?1 DM. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of Oreochromis mossambicus for 60 days. All fish fed diets containing Natuzyme50^® had higher (P < 0.05) growth performance compared with those fed the control diet. Fish fed the diet containing 0.50 g kg^?1 had the best growth performance, highest protein digestibility and the highest levels of digestive enzyme activities. When Natuzyme50^® was supplemented above 0.50 g kg^?1 in the diet, growth performance and enzyme activities decreased. The improved growth performance observed with Natuzyme50^® supplementation was attributed to the presence of enzymes such as cellulase, xylanase and phytase in the cocktail that are not naturally produced by fish. The presence of these enzymes released bound nutrients that would have not been available to the fish. Natuzyme50^® supplementation also increased (P < 0.05) the activities of endogenous enzymes, improving the efficacy of the digestive process. The optimal dietary level of Natuzyme50^® for optimal growth performance in O. mossambicus was 0.62 g kg^?1 DM feed. Cost benefit analysis indicate that adding up to 0.5 g Natuzyme50^® kg^?1 in the diet results in higher profits as the increased growth attained offset the additional cost of Natuzyme50^®.     

Cross‐effects of dietary probiotic supplementation and rearing temperature on growth performance,digestive enzyme activities,cumulative mortality and innate immune response in seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Probiotic influence on fish immune response and digestive capacity is extensively discussed in aquaculture. In this experiment, a feeding trial was carried out for 100 days to evaluate the cross‐effects of probiotic supplementation and rearing temperature (17, 20 and 23°C) in juvenile seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). The experimental diet was supplemented with a commercial probiotic blend (Biomin AquaStar Growout) at 3 g/kg diet (5.23 × 10⁸ CFU/kg diet), and tested against a non‐supplemented diet (control). Growth performance and innate immune responses were analysed at 70 and 100 days of feeding, whereas digestive enzyme activities were determined at 100 days of feeding. At the end of the feeding trial, fish were subjected to a handling stress and cumulative mortality was recorded. Digestive enzyme activities were influenced by temperature, with α‐amylase and lipase activities peaking at the higher temperature (23°C) and trypsin at the lower temperature (17°C). Immune parameters showed a significant temperature versus feeding duration effect, with complement system (ACH50) and peroxidase peaking at 70 and 100 days of feeding, respectively. Poststress cumulative mortality was higher at the lowest temperature (17°C), especially in fish fed the control diet. In conclusion, water temperature was the main variable affecting the studied parameters, whereas the dietary probiotic supplementation had influence on the chymotrypsin activity and survival rate in seabass reared at 17°C.     

Utilisation of diets supplemented with microbial phytase by seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles

A trial was carried out to compare the growth performance, body composition and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of diets by seabass, with an initial weight of 13.5 g, fed diets including fish meal (68.6 % of the dietary protein) or soybean meal (65.6 % of the dietary protein) as the main protein sources. Microbial phytase was added to the soybean meal based diet (1 000 and 2 000 IU·kg⁻¹) and to the fish meal based diet (2 000 IU·kg⁻¹) in order to study its effect on phosphorus utilisation. Results of this trial showed that growth rate, feed conversion and nitrogen retention were significantly better in fish fed the fish meal based diet. Energy retention was similar in both groups. ADC of protein were similar among groups. ADC of phosphorus was significantly higher in the fish meal based diet (63 %) than in the soybean meal based diet (25 %). Supplementation of the fish meal based diet with microbial phytase did not improve the ADC of phosphorus, while in the soybean meal based diet the inclusion of 1 000 and 2 000 IU·kg⁻¹ of microbial phytase significantly increased the ADC of phosphorus to 71.5 % and 79.8 %, respectively. It is concluded that for practical purposes supplementation of diets with microbial phytase may prove valuable in diets including high levels of plant feedstuffs.     

Effects of prebiotics on nutrient digestibility of a soybean‐meal‐based diet by red drum Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus)

The present study examined the effects of four prebiotic compounds on nutrient and energy digestibility of soybean‐meal‐based diets by red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). The experimental diets contained 40% crude protein of which approximately half was provided by soybean meal with the remainder from menhaden fish meal. The four prebiotics GroBiotic^®‐A (a mixture of partially autolysed brewers yeast, dairy ingredient components and dried fermentation products), mannanoligosaccharide (MOS), galacto‐oligosaccharide (GOS) and inulin were individually added to the basal diet at 1% by weight. A diet with all its protein provided by menhaden fish meal was also included as a control. This control diet had the highest apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) values – 87% for protein, 87% for lipid, 78% for organic matter and 83% for energy. The basal soybean‐meal‐based diet supplemented with GroBiotic^®‐A, GOS and MOS had significantly (P<0.05) increased protein (82%, 82%, 82% respectively) and organic matter ADC values (69%, 64%, 66% respectively), compared with the basal diet (69% for protein and 49% for organic matter). However, the lipid ADC values were significantly decreased for fish fed with the diets supplemented with inulin, GOS and MOS (63%, 61%, 61% respectively) compared with the basal diet (77%) but not for those fed GroBiotic^®‐A (82%). Energy ADC values were also increased in fish fed with the GroBiotic‐A^®, GOS and MOS diets (73%, 70%, 72%), compared with the basal diet (57%); however, fish fed with the inulin diet had an energy ADC value (54%) similar to that of fish fed with the basal diet. Thus, the present study is the first to demonstrate that nutrient and energy digestibility of soybean‐meal‐based diets by red drum can be enhanced with prebiotic supplementation.     

Growth performance,survival, body composition,hematological parameters,intestinal histomorphology,and digestive enzymes’ activity in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed dietary Immunogen®

The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Immunogen® supplementation on juvenile rainbow trout, where 120 fish (81.7 ± 2.23 g) were fed diets supplemented with either 0.0 (control) or 2 g Immunogen® kg^?1 for 7 weeks. The fish fed the Immunogen®-supplemented diet showed an improvement in growth performance, feed utilization, and protein efficiency ratio and a decrease in feed conversion ratio. The fish fed the Immunogen®-supplemented diet showed higher body protein content. There were no significant differences in red blood cell count, eosinophil, or lymphocyte between the treatments. However, white blood cells, neutrophil, and monocyte were higher in the fish fed fish with the Immunogen®-supplemented diet. Supplementation of Immunogen® has increased villi height and tunica muscularis thickness as well as gut protease and lipase activities. The present study revealed that supplementation of Immunogen® can improve intestinal morphology and increase digestive enzyme activity and consequently increase trout growth and feed efficiency.     

Effects of short‐chain fructooligosaccharides on growth performance and hepatic intermediary metabolism in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) reared at winter and summer temperatures

The effect of short‐chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) incorporation on growth, feed utilization, body composition, plasmatic metabolites and selected liver enzyme activities of turbot juveniles reared at winter (15 °C) and summer (20 °C) temperatures was studied. Four comparable diets were formulated to contain circa 50 : 50 fish meal and plant ingredients as protein sources. Experimental diets included increasing levels of scFOS (0, 5, 10 and 20 g kg^?1). Final weight was higher at 20 °C, but thermal growth unit, feed efficiency, nitrogen and energy retention were better at 15 °C. scFOS supplementation did not affect fish growth performance. Fish reared at 15 °C had higher liver glycogen, visceral and hepatosomatic indices. Liver lipids, plasma triglycerides, total lipids, cholesterol HDL and LDL were higher in turbot reared at 20 °C. Malic enzyme, fatty acid synthetase, alanine aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities were higher in fish reared at 15 °C. Malic enzyme was lower in turbot fed with 20 g kg^?1 scFOS compared to control diet; however, fatty acid synthetase presented an increasing trend as dietary scFOS increased up to 10 g kg^?1. Glutamate dehydrogenase activity was higher in fish fed the control diet. Results seem to indicate no benefits of scFOS incorporation to diets on growth performance of turbot.     

Wheat germ as an alternative ingredient to a fair average quality fishmeal in diets for European seabass

Wheat germ (WG) is a by‐product of the flour milling industry and could be a sustainable ingredient to replace a fair average quality fishmeal (FM) in aquafeeds. Subsequently, three diets were tested in European seabass juveniles (IBW: 16.7 ± 2.8 g): control diet without WG (CTRL); two diets with 75 g/kg and 155 g/kg WG (WG8 and WG16, respectively) at the expense of FM. Diets were isoproteic (500 g/kg dry matter, DM) and isoenergetic (21 MJ/kg, DM). After 18 weeks of feeding, apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) were determined and growth performance evaluated. Intestine and muscle were collected for histology and fatty acid profile, respectively. Innate immune parameters were evaluated in plasma. DM, protein and phosphorous ADCs increased concomitantly with the inclusion of WG; WG16 reached significantly higher values (p < 0.05) than CTRL. Feed conversion ratio was lower in fish fed WG16 than in those fed CTRL (1.5 vs. 1.6), while protein efficiency ratio increased with WG inclusion (1.4 vs. 1.2). Results demonstrate WG's potential to partially replace a fair average quality FM in diets for European seabass juveniles without impairing growth and body composition. WG inclusion at 16% (WG16) improved protein ADC and feed utilization, resulting in the lowest economic efficiency ratio, ECR (€/kg fish).     

Galactooligosaccharide and a combination of yeast and β-glucan supplements enhance growth and improve intestinal condition in striped catfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pangasianodon hypophthalmus</Emphasis> fed soybean meal diets

The effects of galactooligosaccharide (GOS) and a combination of yeast and β-glucan (YβG) supplementation of dietary soybean meal (SBM) on the growth and digestive performance of striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus were evaluated. Four isonitrogenous (30% protein) and isocaloric (19 MJ/kg diet) diets were formulated to contain 100% fish meal (FM) protein, 55% FM protein/45% SBM protein, FM-SBM supplemented with 1% GOS, and a combination of 1% yeast and 0.1% β-glucan, respectively. Each diet was fed for 12 weeks to three groups of 30 striped catfish fingerlings (average weight 16.45?±?0.07 g) maintained in circular fiberglass tanks (600 l). Growth, feed utilization, and muscle protein composition of fish improved significantly after supplementation with either GOS or YβG compared to the unsupplemented SBM diet, but were similar to those of fish fed the FM diet. Nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activities, villi and microvilli length were significantly increased in fish fed the supplemented SBM diets. The gut microbiota ranking profile showed that supplementing the SBM diet with YβG and GOS gave a ranking of Verrucomicrobia, Spirochaetes, Bacteriodetes, and Actinobacteria phyla similar to that of the FM diet. Thus, diet containing 45% protein from soybean supplemented with either GOS or YβG can be recommended to improve the growth and digestive performance of striped catfish.     

Apparent digestibility coefficients of several protein sources,and replacement of fishmeal by porcine meal in diets of Japanese seabass,Lateolabrax japonicus,are affected by dietary protein levels

A digestibility and a growth trial were conducted in this study respectively. Firstly, the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of nutrients and energy in meat and bone meal, porcine meal (PM), hydrolysed feather meal, poultry by‐products meal, fishmeal (FM), soybean meal and spray‐dried blood meal were determined. In experiment 2, an 8‐week growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the substitution of FM by PM under the digestible ideal protein concept at two protein levels in the diets of Japanese seabass, Lateolabrax japonicus. A FM‐based control diet (FM diet; FM: 320 g kg^?1, crude protein: 434.9 g kg^?1, crude lipid: 124.6 g kg^?1) and three other diets were formulated to contain 115 g kg^?1 PM and only 160 g kg^?1 FM. Two diets were formulated on a crude protein basis without (PM diet) or with (PMA diet) essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation respectively. A low‐protein diet was designed (LPMA diet, crude protein: 400.9 g kg^?1, crude lipid: 96.3 g kg^?1) with the same level of FM and PM but with the same digestible protein/ digestible energy and EAA profile as the FM diet. The results showed that nitrogen and total amino acid digestibility of the tested ingredients were ranged from 85.6% to 95.5% and from 87.6% to 95.5% respectively. Apparent digestibility coefficients of protein for FM and PM were 91.2% and 95.9% respectively. In the growth trial, the weight gain rate and feed conversion ratio of fish fed the PMA diet did not show a significant difference from those of the control group, but were significantly higher than those of the PM and LPMA groups (P<0.05). Growth was related linearly to lysine and methionine intakes. It was shown that PM could be utilized in the Japanese seabass diet up to 115 g kg^?1 to replace about 160 g kg^?1 of FM protein under an ideal protein profile. Essential amino acid deficiency (diet PM) or a lower protein level despite having an ideal amino acid profile (diet LPMA) could not support the optimal growth of Japanese seabass.     

Nutrition of red drum,Sciaenops ocellatus L.: An additional evaluation of the effects of soya‐based diets and supplemental prebiotic

We assessed the effects of a fishmeal (FM)‐ and two soya‐based diets [without or with prebiotic (GroBiotic^® ‐A; GBA) supplementation] on the production performance, non‐specific immunity, blood parameters and gut microbiota diversity of red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. All diets were formulated to contain 450 g/kg crude protein (CP) and 120 g/kg lipid. A combination of soya bean meal and soya protein concentrate (SP) was used to replace 88% of the FM in the FM‐based diet (REF) originating the first soya‐based diet (SOY). The second soya‐based diet (SOY + GBA) was designed identically to SOY except for the supplementation of GBA (20 g/kg) substituting for wheat flour. After feeding the experimental diets to triplicate groups of 25 (~3.4 g/fish) and 90 (~4.1 g/fish) red drum juveniles for 9 (Trial I) and 16 weeks (Trial II), our results showed that (i) red drum was highly sensitive to the soya‐based diets in the first week of feeding; (ii) replacing 88% of FM with SP reduced the production performance of red drum without affecting intestinal micromorphology; (iii) whole‐blood leucocyte oxidative radical production was unaffected while lower haematocrit and higher plasma lysozyme activity were found in fish fed REF; (iv) plasma osmolality was unaffected while lower glucose and higher lactate levels were observed in fish fed SOY and SOY + GBA; (v) 16S rRNA gene‐based diversity of fish gut microbiota was affected both by SP and by GBA. This study expands the information on red drum responses to soya‐based diets and prebiotic supplementation.     

Effects of dietary ethoxyquin on growth,feed utilization and residue in the muscle of juvenile Japanese seabass,Lateolabrax japonicus

Ethoxyquin (EQ) is the most common synthetic antioxidant used for preventing rancidity in fish foodstuffs. However, literature related to the effects of dietary EQ on performance of fish was limited. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of EQ on performance and EQ residue in muscle of juvenile Japanese seabass Lateolabrax japonicus and to estimate the optimal EQ concentration in the diet. Graded levels [0 (control), 50, 150, 450 and 1350 mg EQ kg^?1 diet] of EQ were added to the basal diet, resulting in five dietary treatments in the experiment. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of seabass (initial body weight 8.01 ± 0.76 g) for 12 weeks in floating sea cages (1.5 × 1.5 × 2.0 m, 30 fish per cage). Survival ranged from 78.9 to 86.7%, and was irrespective of dietary EQ levels. The specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed diets supplemented with ≤50 mg kg^?1 EQ had significantly (P < 0.05) higher SGR than fish fed diets supplemented with ≥150 mg kg^?1 EQ, the highest SGR was observed in fish fed diet with 50 mg kg^?1 EQ supplementation. Feed intake (FI) and feed efficiency (FE) were not significantly (P > 0.05) different among dietary treatments. Fish fed diets with 50 and 1350 mg kg^?1 EQ had a significant (P < 0.05) lower body lipid content than fish in the control group. Muscle EQ level significantly increased when dietary EQ increased. Optimal EQ concentration estimated by polynomial regression based on maximum growth of juvenile Japanese seabass was 13.78 mg kg^?1 diet.     

Evaluation of the Ability of GroBiotic®‐A to Enhance Growth,Muscle Composition,Immune Responses,and Resistance Against Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of graded levels of GroBiotic^®‐A to improve performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, fed a 29% crude protein (CP) diet. A 29% CP diet was formulated and supplemented with 0, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% GroBiotic^®‐A and compared to performance of fish fed a 33% CP diet. Enhanced weight gain and feed efficiency were generally observed in fish fed the diets supplemented with GroBiotic^®‐A compared to the 29% CP diet. No significant differences in these responses were observed between fish fed diets supplemented with GroBiotic^®‐A compared to those fed the 33% CP diet. Supplementation of 0.8 and 1.2% GroBiotic^®‐A induced significantly lower condition factor and hepatosomatic index compared to fish fed the 29% CP diet, but those values were similar to that of fish fed the 33% CP diet. GroBiotic^®‐A supplementation and protein reduction had no effect on the viscerosomatic index of fish or moisture, lipid, and protein content of muscle samples. However, muscle ash increased significantly with protein reduction (29% CP diet), but GroBiotic^®‐A supplementation (0.8 and 1.2%) reduced muscle ash content. Activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were markedly reduced in fish fed GroBiotic^®‐A (0.8 and 1.2%) compared to those fed the control diet. GroBiotic^®‐A supplementation also induced significantly higher neutrophil oxidative radical production compared to fish fed the 29% CP diet, but no significant difference was observed in comparison with the 33% CP diet. After 8 wk of feeding, exposure to Aeromonas hydrophila for 3 wk resulted in 40% (0.4, 0.8% GroBiotic^®‐A) and 27% (1.2% GroBiotic^®‐A) mortality and reduced signs of disease, while 47% mortality was observed in fish fed the 29% CP diet. Based on the result of this study, it is concluded that 0.8 and 1.2% GroBiotic^®‐A positively influenced growth performance and feed efficiency of tilapia fed diets containing 29% crude protein to levels comparable to fish fed the 33% CP diet. GroBiotic^®‐A supplementation also significantly increased neutrophil oxidative radical production as well as resistance to Ae. hydrophila infection.     

Comparative evaluation of fermented and non-fermented de-oiled rice bran with or without exogenous enzymes supplementation in the diet of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Labeo rohita</Emphasis> (Hamilton, 1822)

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of exogenous enzymes (xylanase and phytase) supplementation in the non-fermented and fermented de-oiled rice bran (DORB)-based diet of Labeo rohita. Four test diets (T1-DORB-based diet, T2-fermented DORB-based diet, T3-phytase and xylanase supplemented DORB-based diet, and T4-phytase and xylanase supplemented fermented DORB-based diet) were formulated and fed to the respective groups. Test diets T3 and T4 were supplemented with 0.01% xylanase (16,000 U kg^?1) and 0.01% phytase (500 U kg^?1) enzymes. One hundred twenty juveniles of L. rohita, with an average weight 5.01?±?0.02 g, were stocked in 12 uniform size plastic rectangular tanks in triplicate with 10 fishes per tank following a completely randomized design (CRD). Exogenous enzyme supplementation to the T3 group significantly improved the growth performance of L. rohita (p?<?0.05). Fermented DORB fed groups registered significantly lower growth irrespective of the supplementation of exogenous enzymes. The carcass composition (except CP %), enzyme activities (except amylase activity), globulin, and A/G ratio did not vary significantly (p?>?0.05). Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that exogenous enzyme supplementation significantly increases the growth of fish fed with DORB-based diet.     

European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) ability to discriminate between diets made with different dietary fat sources

The aim of this work was to determine whether juvenile and adult European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), fed ad libitum manually and with self‐feeding demand feeders, respectively, were able to discriminate between a fish oil‐based diet and a series of diets made with vegetable oils (soybean, linseed, rapeseed and sunflower oil), as well as a fat‐free diet. Adult D. labrax (443.6 ± 108.8 g) selected diets made from soybean (SYO) and rapeseed (RO) in proportions similar to fish oil (FO). Demand levels for the other two diets, sunflower (SUO) and linseed (LO) oils, were significantly lower than FO, whilst juveniles (56.4 ± 11.2 g) displayed a preference for SYO and FO. The lowest demand levels were associated with a fat‐free diet (FF). Selection percentages of the diets for adult and juvenile fish were, respectively, FF—22.96% and 39.76%, SYO—43.02% and 53.26%, LO—36.48% and 36.19%, SUO—39.87% and 37.32%, and RO—46.38% and 40.94%. The animals’ size and feeding method did not significantly affect dietary selection. However, a statistical difference in specific growth rate (1.37% ± 0.26% day^?1) for juveniles was only observed for FO+FF combination. For juveniles, no differences were observed in the conversion index. The juvenile group (FO + FF) had the highest food intake (2.00 ± 0.35 g 100 g^?1 body weight). Moreover, the groups fed FO + SUO and FO + RO consumed the least. In conclusion, this study shows D. labrax can discriminate between diets where the only difference is the lipid source. These findings should be used to understand the acceptance or rejection of different source oils, which are increasingly being used in aquaculture such as aquafeeds for European seabass.     

The effects of dietary inulin on growth performances,survival and digestive enzyme activities of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fry

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inulin on growth performance, diet utilization, survival rate, carcass composition and digestive enzymes activities (amylase, lipase and protease) of carp (Cyprinus carpio) fry (0.55 ± 0.02 g). After acclimation, fish were allocated into 9 tanks (40 fish per tank) and triplicate fish groups were fed, control diet (0 g) or diets containing 5 g and 10 g inulin kg^?1 for 7 weeks. No significant effect on growth performance and diet utilization of fish fed inulin compared with the control group was observed. However, supplementation of inulin significantly increased survival rate and carcass lipid content, while carcass protein content significantly decreased. Dietary inulin had no significant effects on digestive lipase, protease and amylase activities.     

Effect of enzyme supplementation to dehulled lupin-based diets on growth, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility and carcass composition of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

High inclusion levels of dehulled lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) in salmonid diets significantly decrease growth rates. This may be caused by the high concentrations of non‐starch polysaccharides including oligosaccharide (OS) in lupin. The antinutritive effects of OS have not yet been fully investigated in fish. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of enzyme supplementation of dehulled lupin‐based diets on the fish performance. There were two control diets: a fish meal‐based diet with no plant protein (FM) and a diet that contained 50% dehulled lupin (L). Four experimental diets based on diet L and containing four different exogenous enzyme supplements were used: diet L(E) (Energex^™); diet L(B) (Bio‐Feed^™ Pro); diet L(α) (Alpha galactosidase^™); and diet L(Mix), which contained all the enzymes. Fish were randomly stocked into tanks in duplicate groups of 38 fish, 16.58±0.169 (SE) g, and were fed twice a day for 6 weeks. The supplemented enzymes did not improve weight gain in fish fed lupin‐based diets. However, mixed enzyme significantly improved Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER). Apparent digestibility of DM, CP and GE significantly improved in fish‐fed L(E) diet. None of the supplemented enzymes affected digestive tract indices or carcass composition. Surprisingly, weight gain was significantly higher in fish‐fed L(α), L(E) and L(Mix) diets as compared with FM diet. Feed intake was significantly higher in fish‐fed L, L(α) and L(E) diets compared with the FM diet. It is concluded that storing of lupin kernel under a suitable condition may have partially hidden the positive effects of exogenous enzymes through activating the endogenous enzymes.     

Comparison of high‐protein soybean meal and commercial soybean meal partly replacing fish meal on the activities of digestive enzymes and aminotransferases in juvenile Japanese seabass,Lateolabrax japonicus (Cuvier, 1828)

This study was conducted to compare the effects of fish meal (FM) replacement by two types of soybean meals (SBMs) on activities of digestive enzyme, intestinal brush border enzyme and aminotransferases of juvenile Japanese seabass (initial weight 8.3 ± 0.2 g). Nine isonitrogenous (crude protein 44%) and isoenergetic (20 kJ g^?1) experimental diets replacing 0 (the control), 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% FM protein by high‐protein SBM (HSB) or commercial SBM (CSB) were formulated. The concentrations of anti‐nutritional factors (ANFs) in HSB were relatively lower compared with CSB (P < 0.05). After 10‐week feeding experiment, activities of digestive enzymes, intestinal brush border enzymes and aminotransferases in liver decreased with increasing dietary SBM. When the substitution level was above 30% with CSB and 60% with HSB, activities of pepsin, disaccharidase in the intestinal brush border membrane and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in liver were significantly lower than the control. However, activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST in serum were significantly higher than the control when the substitution level was above 30% with CSB and 60% with HSB. Regression analysis showed that effects of FM substitution by HSB on digestion and metabolism of juvenile seabass were relatively smaller compared with CSB.     

Effects of rice bran protein concentrate on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824)

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of increasing inclusion levels (100, 150, 200 and 300 g/kg) of rice bran protein concentrate (RBPC) in jundiá (Rhamdia quelen) diets using growth, body composition, somatic indices and digestive enzyme activity as parameters. Five isoproteic (370.08 ± 0.04 g/kg) and isocaloric (13.38 ± 0.04 MJ/kg) diets were formulated with four replicates per treatment. After acclimation, 500 jundiá juveniles (initial mean weight of 6.28 ± 0.12 g) were distributed into 20 round polyethylene tanks (280 L) (25 fish per tank) coupled to a thermoregulated water recirculating system. The fish were fed experimental diets three times daily (at 9:00, 13:00 and 17:00 hr) to apparent satiation. At the end of the trial (45 days), no significant differences were found in the body chemical composition, somatic indices, and trypsin and chymotrypsin enzymes of the fish fed experimental diets. A lower final weight and a lower condition factor were found in fish fed diets RBPC10 (100 g/kg of RBPC) and RBPC15 (150 g/kg of RBPC). Based on the results of this study, it is clear that the use of RBPC (at high dietary inclusion levels of 200 and 300 g kg^?1) is an effective alternative protein source to fishmeal.     

Effects of lysine and methionine supplementation on growth,body composition and digestive function of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed plant protein diets using high‐level canola meal

A 76‐day feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of Lysine and Methionine supplementation on growth and digestive capacity of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed plant protein diets using high‐level canola meal (CM). Fish with initial average weight 103.9 ± 0.6 g were fed three extruded diets. Fish meal (FM) diet was formulated as the normal control with 40 g kg^?1 FM and 300 g kg^?1 CM; CM diet was prepared by replacing all FM with CM (total 340 g kg^?1) without Lys or Met supplementation; CM supplement (CMS) diet was similar to CM diet but was supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) to ensure the levels of Lys and Met similar to those in the FM diet. Feed intake, feed efficiency and specific growth rate of the grass carp fed CMS and FM diets were similar (P > 0.05), but higher than those of the grass carp fed CM diet (P < 0.05). The hepatosomatic index, relative gut length, intestosomatic index and intestinal folds height were significantly improved in fish fed FM and CMS diets as compared to CM diet (P < 0.05). Lower activities of trypsin, lipase and amylase in hepatopancreas were observed in fish fed CM diet (P < 0.05). Three hundred and forty gram per kilogram CM without Lys or Met supplementation significantly decreased trypsin, lipase and amylase mRNA levels in hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the high supply of CM (340 g kg^?1) in plant protein (200 g kg^?1 soybean meal and 100 g kg^?1 cottonseed meal) diets decreased digestive ability through decreasing digestive enzyme activities and enzyme gene's expressions of grass carp, and these side effects can be reversed by supplementing Lys and Met. Therefore, CM could be high level used in a plant protein blend‐based extruded diet for grass carp as long as EAA were supplemented.