Growth,body chemical composition and trypsin activity of South American catfish,surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) juveniles fed different dietary protein and lipid levels

To evaluate protein and lipid requirement of South American catfish surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp.) juveniles, nine semi‐purified diets containing three levels of protein (40%, 45% and 50%) and three levels of lipid (12%, 16% and 20%) were tested. After 8‐week feeding trial, body weight increase averaged 2124.3 ± 295.7%. Growth performance was significantly affected by dietary level of protein (P < 0.05). At the 40% protein level, increasing level of dietary lipid had a positive effect on final individual mean weight (protein sparing effect). Whole body protein and moisture contents were affected by the dietary level of lipid (P < 0.05). Whole body lipid content positively correlated with the level of dietary lipid (P < 0.05). Cannibalism related mortality was observed despite rearing fish in 24 h dark. Fatty acid composition of fish was affected by the dietary lipid level (P < 0.05). Polyunsaturated fatty acids increased with the increasing level of dietary lipid while saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased. Trypsin activity in the digestive tract of surubim was influenced by dietary levels of protein and lipid (P < 0.05). Our preliminary results suggest that the optimum protein/lipid ratio might be close to 45/16% for surubim juveniles.     

Optimal dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios for silvery‐black porgy (Sparidentex hasta) juveniles

Four isonitrogenous diets containing different carbohydrate:lipid (CHO:L) ratios (0.3, 0.6, 1.1 and 1.8) were tested in triplicate groups (16 fish per replicate) of silvery‐black porgy juveniles for 8 weeks. Growth performance was not affected by different dietary CHO:L ratios (P > 0.05); however, the viscerosomatic index, the intraperitoneal fat, whole‐body lipid, energy and n‐3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids levels increased with decreasing dietary CHO:L ratios (P < 0.05). Fish fed with 1.8 CHO:L diet had the lowest apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and lipid, as well as the lowest plasma haemolytic and lysozyme activities (P < 0.05). Red blood cell counts and plasma glucose levels were higher in fish fed with 1.1 and 1.8 CHO:L ratio diets than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Plasma alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as the level of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity in the liver and plasma increased as dietary CHO:L ratios decreased (P < 0.05). The results of the current study indicated that the diets with CHO:L ratios between 0.6 and 1.1 are optimal for silvery‐black porgy, whereas higher ratios may result in hyperglycaemia and immune suppression, and lower CHO:L ratios may lead to oxidative stress and liver dysfunction.     

Effects of Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels with Different Protein‐to‐Energy Ratios on Growth,Feed Utilization,and Plasma Biochemical Parameters of Dianchi Golden‐line Barbell,Sinocyclocheilus grahami

An 8‐wk feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dietary protein and lipid levels with different protein‐to‐energy (P/E) ratios on growth, feed utilization, and plasma biochemical parameters of Sinocyclocheilus graham. Nine experimental diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (35, 40, and 45%), and each with three lipid levels (4, 8, and 12%), to produce a range of P/E ratios from 71.31 to 98.64 mg protein/kcal. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 fish. Fish grew best when fed the diet containing 45% protein and 12% lipid. However, fish fed the diet with 40% protein and 8% lipid had similar weight gain and specific growth rate as those fed the above diet but showed relatively better feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and protein and energy retentions. Additionally, plasma total amino acids and blood urea nitrogen contents and γ‐glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities in fish fed the diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid were relatively low among the dietary treatments. These results may indicate that a diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid with P/E ratio of 84.05 mg protein/kcal would be suitable for the optimal growth, feed utilization, and health of S. graham.     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate to lipid ratio on growth,feed utilization,body composition and digestive enzyme activities of golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary carbohydrate to lipid ratio (CHO: L) on growth, feed utilization, body composition and digestive enzyme activities of golden pompano, Trachinotus ovatus. Five iso‐nitrogenous (450 g/kg protein) and iso‐energetic (19 MJ/kg gross energy) diets with varying CHO: L ratios of 0.68, 1.02, 1.62, 2.61 and 4.35, respectively, were fed to triplicate groups of 30 fish (average 13.8 ± 0.1 g). Results showed that dietary CHO: L ratios did not show any significant influence on survival of golden pompano (p > .05) but significantly affected its growth performance and feed utilization (p < .05). Fish fed diets with CHO: L ratios at 1.62 and 2.61 exhibited the highest final body weight, weight gain ratio, specific growth rate, feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio. Fish body lipid and liver glycogen contents were also significantly influenced by CHO: L ratio (p < .05). Hepatic amylase activity increased firstly and then decreased as the dietary CHO: L ratio increased, while lipases activity decreased with increasing dietary CHO:L level. The regression model analysis showed that the most suitable dietary CHO: L ratio (protein 450 g/kg) to reach the highest weight gain ratio is 2.38.     

Effects of grape Vitis vinifera seed oil supplementation on growth,survival, fatty acid profiles,antioxidant contents and blood parameters in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

In this study, effects of grape Vitis vinifera seed oil supplementation (0, 250 mg, 500 mg, 1,000 mg/kg feed) for 60 days on rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss juveniles were investigated. The average final fish weights were not different between the control group and 500 mg/kg feed group (p > .05), but 250 mg/kg feed group were lower than those of the control group, and 1,000 mg/kg feed group were higher than those of the control group. Although the SFA, MUFA and n3 ratios of the control group were higher than that of the other groups, no statistical difference was found. The highest fatty acids in the fish were palmitic acid C 16: 0 in the SFA group and C 18: 1n‐9 and docosahexaenoic acid C 22: 6n‐3 in the PUFA group. The EPA ratio was significantly increased in all groups compared with the control group. The DHA ratio was significantly higher in the control group than in the experimental groups, and there was no difference between the experimental groups. Urea were significantly lower in the 250 mg/kg feed group. Total protein and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly increased in the 1,000 mg/kg feed group. Only the 1,000 mg/kg feed group showed an increase in antioxidant activities, and this concentration also yielded positive results in terms of growth performance, survival rates, fatty acid composition and antioxidant enzyme activities in rainbow trout juvenile and can be used as a natural feed additive.     

Effects of different dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios on growth,plasma biochemical indexes,digestive and immune enzymes activities of juvenile orange‐spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid (CHO:L) ratios on growth, liver and muscle glycogen content, haematological indices, and liver and intestinal enzyme activity of juvenile grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Five isonitrogenous (496.0 g/kg protein) and isoenergetic (21.6 KJ/g gross energy) diets with varying CHO:L ratios of 0.65 (D1), 1.31 (D2), 2.33 (D3), 4.24 (D4) and 8.51 (D5), respectively, were fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish (average 10.02 ± 0.1 g) for 8 weeks. Results showed that the weight gain rate, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of juvenile grouper increased first and then decreased with the increase in CHO:L ratio, reaching a maximum value in the D4 (CHO:L = 4.24) diet. The trend for the feed conversion ratio was opposite to the PER. Along with the diet CHO:L ratios, the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of crude lipid and energy for the juvenile groupers decreased gradually, while the ADC of dry matter, liver and muscle glycogen level increased gradually. Total protein, triglycerides and cholesterol in serum were all maximized in the D4 diet and glucose in the D5 (CHO:L = 8.51) diet. Digestive enzyme activity in the intestine was significantly affected by dietary CHO:L ratio. Liver hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase activity increased significantly as CHO:L ratio increased. Liver lysozyme and acid phosphatase activity in the groupers fed the D3 (CHO:L = 2.33) diet was significantly higher than that of other diets. Liver fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity reached a maximum value in the D4 diet and was significantly higher than that in the D1 diet. Taking the above results together, it can be concluded that an optimal dietary CHO:L ratio of 2.33 is suitable for grouper culture concerning growth performance and health.     

Effects of dietary coated protease on growth performance,feed utilization,nutrient apparent digestibility,intestinal and hepatopancreas structure in juvenile Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary protease on growth performance, feed utilization, whole‐body proximate composition, nutrient digestibility, intestinal and hepatopancreas structure of juvenile Gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio (mean weight 8.08 ± 0.18 g). Six diets were prepared, including a positive control diet (dietary protein 350 g/kg, PC), one negative control diet (dietary protein 33 g/kg, NC) and four protease supplementations diets, which were 75, 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg protease NC diet. After 12 weeks of diet feeding in indoor recycle aquarium tanks, no significant difference (p > .05) was found on growth performance between fish fed diet with 75–600 mg/kg protease and the PC group. Compared with the fish fed the NC diet, the specific growth rate of fish fed 300 mg/kg protease increased significantly (p < .05), as well as protein efficiency ratios (p < .05), while feed conversion was the opposite (p < .05). The nutrient digestibility of crude protein and lipid was higher (p < .05) in fish fed 150 mg/kg protease diet than the PC diet. Whole‐body proximate composition of fish was not affected (p > .05) by the dietary treatment. Serum alkaline phosphatase and albumin were significantly affected by dietary protease (p < .05), while the content of total protein, glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities in serum was not affected (p > .05). Foregut muscular thickness was thinner (p < .05), when the fish fed diets supplementation of protease in 150 or 600 mg/kg diet than the NC diet. Protease activities in hepatopancreas and foregut were higher (p < .05), in the fish fed 150 or 300 mg/kg protease diet than the fish fed the PC diet, but those in the mid‐ and hindgut were not significantly affected (p > .05) by the dietary treatments. Based on the regression analysis of weight gain rate, the optimal dietary inclusion level of protease was 400 mg/kg in the diet for juvenile Carassius auratus gibelio.     

Digestive efficiency,free amino acid pools and quality of growth performance in Atlantic salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo salar</Emphasis> L.) affected by light regimes and vaccine types

This study comprised the results of three different seawater trials using unique combination of techniques to study protease digestive efficiency and growth performance quality to illustrate the effects of light regimes and vaccine types in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Fish with higher growth had higher trypsin (T) and chymotrypsin (C) specific activities with higher T/C ratio or slope T/C ratio [calculated from the regression between trypsin (y) and chymotrypsin (x) specific activities] in the pyloric caeca. The T/C ratios indicated fish growth rates over a period of 1–2 months, while the slope T/C ratios indicated fish growth rates at sampling. Adaptation period for adjustment to the new environment of continuous light was 70 days, indicated by the differences in trypsin specific activities and the crossing of slope T/C ratio regressions following with the changes in growth rate directions between the control and the treated group. Vaccine types affected fish vertebral growth, and additional continuous light enhanced the impact of vaccines on fish growth during springtime, indicated by differences in slope T/C ratios. Continuous light stimulated fish growth during winter to spring, when the natural day length was short, without significantly changing white muscle and oocyte qualities in the fish of about 500 g, except for significantly increased white muscle RNA concentration. Continuous light also reduced fish growth rate later during summer, when the natural day length was long, by precedently decreasing the T/C ratio in late spring. Interestingly, plasma levels of free lysine related to tryptic digestion were correlated with trypsin specific activity levels. Continuous light caused higher levels of most free amino acids (FAA) involved in nitrogen metabolism, higher incorporation of essential FAA for protein synthesis, and higher protein turnover rate (free hydroxyproline levels) in both plasma and white muscle. However, continuous light did not affect higher protein content, intracellular buffering capacity and RNA levels in the white muscle of the fish of about 1 kg, probably due to limitation of FAA available for protein synthesis. It is therefore suggested that enhancing fish growth by continuous light stimulation should be accompanied by increasing availability or content of dietary protein (and probably minerals), which in turn would improve the quality of fish growth performance through increasing fillet protein concentration, strengthening vertebral growth, and delaying oocyte development.     

Effects of dietary lysolecithin on growth performance,feed utilization,intestinal morphology and metabolic responses of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

This study investigated the effects of dietary lysolecithin on growth performance, feed utilization and metabolic responses of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Fish (initial weight: 14.77 ± 0.45 g) were randomly fed one of five practical diets supplemented with graded levels of lysolecithin (0, 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg/kg) in quadruplicate groups for 10 weeks. Results showed that no significant differences in weight gain, condition factor and viscerosomatic index among all the treatments. Fish fed diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg lysolecithin had significantly decreased feed conversion ratio and significantly increased protein efficiency ratio compared to that fed the control diet. The group with 250 mg/kg of dietary lysolecithin had higher protein and lower lipid contents in the whole body, and lower lipid content in the liver than those in the control group. Groups supplemented with 250–500 mg/kg of dietary lysolecithin had significantly higher gastric and intestinal lipase activities than the control group. Dietary lysolecithin at the level of 250 mg/kg significantly increased the activities of Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, total antioxidative capacity, total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase and significantly decreased the content of malondialdehyde compared to the control diet. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of lysolecithin could confer benefits of feed utilization, body composition and antioxidative capacity of channel catfish.     

Effects of Dietary Carbohydrate‐to‐lipid Ratio on Growth Performance,Body Composition,Digestive Enzyme Activities,and Hepatic Enzyme Activities in Juvenile Large Yellow Croaker,Larimichthys crocea

An 8‐wk feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios (CHO : L) on growth performance, body composition, digestive enzyme activities, and hepatic enzyme activities of juvenile large yellow croaker, Larimichthys crocea. Six isonitrogenous (45% crude protein) and isoenergetic (18 kJ/g gross energy) diets with varying CHO : L ratios (0.07, 0.48, 1.20, 2.19, 4.81, and 10.48) were fed to triplicate groups of large yellow croaker in floating sea cages. Results showed that the highest specific growth rate (SGR) was found in fish fed diets with CHO : L ratio of 2.19. Fish fed the lower (0.07 and 0.48) CHO : L ratios tended to produce lower growth (P < 0.05). The whole‐body lipid content significantly decreased, while hepatosomatic index, liver glycogen content, and plasma glucose concentration significantly increased as dietary CHO : L ratios increased (P < 0.05). Plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations significantly decreased with elevated dietary CHO : L ratios (P < 0.05). The increasing dietary CHO : L ratios significantly stimulated the activities of intestinal amylase and hepatic pyruvate kinase and depressed the activity of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (P < 0.05). Based on a second‐order polynomial regression analysis of SGR, 2.38 was determined as the optimal dietary CHO : L ratio for juvenile large yellow croaker.     

Effects of dietary lipid levels on growth,feed utilization,digestive tract enzyme activity and lipid deposition of juvenile Manchurian trout,Brachymystax lenok (Pallas)

Six isoproteic diets were designated to evaluate the effects of dietary lipid levels (from 70 to 270 g/kg) on the growth performance, feed utilization, digestive tract enzyme activity and lipid deposition of juvenile Brachymystax lenok (average initial weight 0.54 ± 0.04 g). Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks (30 fish per tank) in an indoor closed recirculating system for 9 weeks. Final body weight and weight gain were highest in fish fed 190 g/kg diet and lowest in fish fed the 70 g/kg diet. Specific growth rate of fish fed with 190 g/kg diet was significantly higher than those fed with 70 and 270 g/kg diets (p < .05). Protein efficiency ratio of fish fed with 70 g/kg diet was significantly lower than the 110–230 g/kg treatments and was not significantly different from the 270 g/kg treatment. Fish fed with 270 g/kg diet had significantly higher hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index than those fed with 70–190 g/kg diets (p < .05). Intraperitoneal fat ratio and the whole‐body lipid content had a trend to increase with increase in dietary lipid level. Muscle crude lipid content increased up to 190 g/kg with increase in dietary lipid level. Lipid retention decreased with increase in dietary lipid level, while no significant differences in protein intake and retention levels were observed in fish among all treatments. Lipase activity of the mixture of pyloric caeca and foregut in fish fed 190 and 230 g/kg diets was significantly higher than those fed 70 and 110 g/kg diets. Midgut and hindgut lipase activities of fish were significantly higher than those fed the 190 and 230 g/kg diets. In conclusion, based on the second‐order polynomial model of WG and FCR, this study suggested that 173.8–195.0 g/kg dietary lipid levels were appropriated for B. lenok.     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels and protein to energy ratios on growth performance and feed utilization of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Babylonia areolata</Emphasis>)

A 120-day feeding trial was designed to determine the effects of different dietary protein and lipid levels and protein to energy ratio (P:E) on growth performance and feed utilization of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata, cultured under a flow-through seawater system. Six diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (18, 28, and 36%) and two lipid levels (10 and 15%) in a 3 × 2 factorial design with three replicates to provide six different dietary P:E ratios (50.17, 49.09, 68.50, 65.85, 88.66, and 85.36 mg protein/kcal). Each replicate was stocked with 50 snails (0.12 + 0.01 g, initial weight) and fed to satiation once daily. The results showed that survival was above 96% at the end of the feeding trial in all groups and was not affected by either dietary protein level or dietary lipid level. The highest significant (P < 0.05) growth and feed utilization were observed for juveniles fed diet with a P:E ratio of 88.66 kcal g⁻¹ diet. With respect to dietary protein and lipid levels, the highest (P < 0.05) values for growth and feed efficiency were observed for snails fed a diet containing 36% protein level and the same trend was observed for snails fed a diet with 10% lipid level. This results indicated that the diet containing 36% protein and 10% lipid level with a dietary P:E ratio of 88.66 mg protein/kcal would be suitable for optimum growth and feed utilization of B. areolata juveniles.     

Effects of dietary protein at two lipid levels on growth,gonadal development,body composition and liver metabolic enzymes of brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) broodstock

This study was conducted to estimate the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth, body composition, gonadal development and activity of liver metabolic enzymes of the brown trout Salmo trutta fario broodstock. Ten diets were formulated containing five different protein levels (360, 390, 420, 450 and 480 g/kg) and two different lipid levels (90 and 180 g/kg). The experiment was a completely randomized 5 × 2 factorial design. The fish with an initial body weight of 462.53 ± 45.40 g were cultured in a spring water flow‐through system for 77 days. The growth performance was affected by dietary protein and lipid levels. Increase in the dietary protein and lipid resulted in increase in the body lipid and protein contents. The male gonadosomatic index decreased in the groups treated with relatively high levels of protein (390–480 g/kg). The activities of the hepatic amino acid‐catabolizing enzymes—alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase—increased significantly with the increase in the dietary protein level. The activities of the lipogenic enzymes (fatty acid synthetase and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase) and gluconeogenic enzyme (fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase) increased with the increase in the dietary protein level. Further, an increase in the activities of glycolytic enzyme in liver with an increase in the dietary lipid was observed. The variation in some intermediary metabolizing enzymes due to dietary components supports the high‐metabolic adaptability of this species to dietary protein and lipid levels. A diet with 450 g/kg protein and 90 g/kg lipid with 24.56 mg/kJ protein/energy ratio maximizes the growth, feed efficiency and gonadal development.     

Protein‐sparing effects and LPL gene expressions of dietary lipids in the juvenile soft‐shelled turtle,Pelodiscussinensis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary lipids on protein‐sparing and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mRNA expression in culture using 360 juvenile soft‐shelled turtles (Pelodiscussinensis) (initial weight 4.26 ± 0.14 g). The turtles were allotted to six diets with three duplicates for 60 days. A control diet with 46% protein and 55% fishmeal (CD) and five isonitrogenous diets with 41.3% protein and 45% fishmeal (F, S, L1, L2 and L3) were used, containing the following three lipid types: fish oil, soybean oil and mixed oils (soybean oil: fish oil = 1:1). The results showed that the survival rate was not affected by dietary lipids (P > 0.05). The highest weight gain and lowest feed coefficient ratio were seen in the L3 diets (P < 0.05). Turtles fed with L2 and L3 diets had lower superoxide dismutase activities, higher alanine aminotransferase activities and higher cholesterol concentrations than those exposed to other diets (P < 0.05). Hepatic LPL activity and LPL mRNA expression were higher in the L3 diets than in the other diets (P < 0.05). Overall, there were obvious protein‐sparing effects of dietary lipids and LPL mRNA expression was stimulated by high dietary lipids in soft‐shelled turtles in this study.     

Effects of Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels on Growth,Nutrient Utilization,and the Whole‐body Composition of Turbot,Scophthalmus maximus,Linnaeus 1758, at Different Growth Stages

Three 9‐wk feeding trials were performed to assess the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth, feed utilization, and body composition of turbot, Scophthalmus maximus Linnaeus, at three different growth stages with initial average weight 4.5 ± 0.01, 59.1 ± 0.24, and 209.1 ± 0.21 g, respectively. Six practical test diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (45, 50, and 55%), each of which was supplemented with two lipid levels (12.0 and 16.0%), to produce a range of P : E ratios (from 87.4 to 110.0 mg protein/kcal). The results of three experiments suggested that growth performance generally improved with increasing dietary protein irrespective of dietary lipid. Fish fed diets with 55% protein (12 and 16% lipid, P : E ratio of 110.9 and 107.1 mg protein/kcal) had the highest specific growth rates (SGRs), feed efficiency ratios (FERs), and energy retention. At the same protein level, FER and protein efficiency ratio (PER) increased significantly with the increase of lipid except in large fish (initial average weight 209.1 ± 0.21 g). SGR of medium turbot (initial average weight 59.1 ± 0.24 g) was also improved by the lipid increase, indicating a protein‐sparing effect of lipid.     

A comparative study on protein‐sparing effects among juvenile Erythroculter ilishaeformis line,Ancherythroculter nigrocauda line and their hybrid F1 fed diets with different protein to carbohydrate ratios

To investigate the mechanism underlying the difference of dietary protein requirements among Erythroculter ilishaeformis line, Ancherythroculter nigrocauda line and their hybrid F₁ (E. ilishaeformis♀×A. nigrocauda ♂), juvenile fish of these three species with initial body weight (5.86 ± 0.10 g) were fed the six isoenergy diets with different dietary protein/carbohydrate ratios (P/C ratios were 0.56, 0.78, 1.11, 1.61, 2.52 and 4.43, respectively) for 8 weeks. The results showed that the hybrid culter had the higher weight gain rate (WGR), protein efficiency ratio and protein deposition ratio compared with its parents lines; using WGR as a response criteria, the dietary carbohydrate tolerant level of juvenile E. ilishaeformis line, A. nigrocauda line and their hybrid was 24.3%, 28.5% and 29.7%, respectively, and the optimal P/C ratio was 1.69, 1.35, 1.22 and respectively. Dietary carbohydrate activated hepatic protein kinase B (Akt), dietary protein activated hepatic target of rapamycin (TOR) and the induction of mRNA expression of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and pyruvate kinase showed a similar change in hybrid F₁ and its parents. A. nigrocauda had the highest enzymes activities in intestinal protease and amylase, and hybrid culter had the highest intestinal lipase activities. Our results demonstrated that the hybrid culter has the better protein‐sparing effects by increasing carbohydrate metabolism than its parent lines.     

Dietary manganese requirement of juvenile hybrid grouper,Epinephelus lanceolatus × E. fuscoguttatus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to estimate the optimum dietary manganese (Mn) requirement for juvenile hybrid grouper, Epinephelus lanceolatus × E. fuscoguttatus. The basal diet was formulated to contain 520 g/kg crude protein from casein and fishmeal. Manganese methionine was added to the basal diet at 0 (control group), 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg Mn/kg diet providing 7.48, 10.34, 13.76, 19.72, 31.00 and 53.91 mg Mn/kg diet, respectively. Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of juveniles, and each tank was stocked with 20 fish (initial weight, 60.06 ± 0.68 g). The manganese content in rearing water was monitored and kept below 0.01 mg/L. Results showed that the weight gain ratio (WGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), specific growth rate (SGR), Mn contents in whole body, liver and vertebra, and activities of hepatic Mn superoxide dismutase (Mn‐SOD), total SOD (T‐SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐PX) were significantly improved by dietary Mn supplementation (p < .05). However, dietary Mn did not affect arginase (DArg) activity. The highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in fish fed the basal diet (p < .05). No significant differences were found on the Cu and Zn contents in whole body by supplementing dietary Mn. Supplemented Mn in diets had significantly effect on liver and vertebral trace element deposition (p < .05). Fish fed the basal diet had the highest Fe and Zn contents in vertebra (p < .05). There were no significant differences on hepatic pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) activity with supplemented Mn levels below 13.76 mg/kg. As biomarker of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver was significantly higher in fish fed the basal diet (p < .05). Using the broken‐line models based on SGR, dietary Mn requirement of the juvenile hybrid grouper was estimated to be 12.70 mg/kg diet.     

Increased dietary protein‐to‐lipid ratio improves survival during naturally occurring pancreas disease in Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L.

This study demonstrated that increased dietary protein‐to‐lipid ratio (P/L‐ratio) improved survival of farmed Atlantic salmon naturally affected by pancreas disease (PD). In addition to diet, body weight (BW) and delousing mortality prior to the PD outbreak also contributed significantly (p < 0.05) to explain the observed variation in PD‐associated mortality. Subsequent to the PD outbreak, large amount of fish failed to grow and caused thin fish with poor condition (runts). At the end of the trial, significantly (p < 0.05) lower amounts of runt fish and increased amount of superior graded fish where detected among fish fed increased P/L‐ratio and within the fish with the largest BWs prior to PD. Diet, BW and delousing mortality contributed significantly (p < 0.05) to explain the variation in the amount of superior graded fish, whereas BW and diet explained the variation in the amount of runt fish. A significant (p < 0.01) negative linear relationship was observed between the amount of superior graded fish and the total mortality, whereas a positive linear relationship was detected between percentage of fillets with melanin and the total mortality. Thus, increased dietary P/L‐ratio seem to reduce the mortality and impaired slaughter quality associated with PD.     

Effects of dietary vitamin C and vitamin E on the growth,antioxidant defence and digestive enzyme activities of juvenile discus fish (Symphysodon haraldi)

A 56‐day experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin C and vitamin E on the growth, antioxidant status and digestive enzyme activities of discus fish (Symphysodon haraldi; initial body weight: 7.96 ± 0.61 g and body length: 5.45 ± 0.65 cm). Animals were fed with 13 different diets including one control diet and 12 treatment diets containing four levels of vitamin C (magnesium‐L‐ascorbyl‐2‐phosphate; 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg/kg) crossed with three levels of vitamin E (DL‐α‐tocopheryl acetate; 40, 80 and 120 mg/kg). The results showed that the fish fed diets containing additional vitamin C (40 mg/kg) and vitamin E (80 mg/kg) showed higher specific growth rate, length growth rate, total antioxidant capacity and protease activity but had lower feed conversion ratio and total superoxide dismutase activity than those fed the control diet. Collectively, these findings suggest that the inclusion of additional 40 mg/kg of vitamin C and 80 mg/kg of vitamin E in the basal diet could have beneficial effect on the growth, antioxidant defence and digestion of S. haraldi.     

Exogenous xylanase improves growth,protein digestibility and digestive enzymes activities in Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,fed different ratios of fish meal to sunflower meal

A 3 × 2 factorial experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of different ratios of fish meal (FM): sunflower meal (SFM) with or without exogenous xylanase supplementation on growth, feed utilization, digestive enzymes activities, apparent digestibility, intestinal and liver morphology and chemical composition of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Three isonitrogenous (329.80 g/kg of crude protein) and isoenergetic (18.46 MJ/kg gross energy) experimental diets were formulated as SFM₁ (FM:SFM = 2:1), SFM₂ (FM:SFM = 1:1) and SFM₃ (FM:SFM = 1:2) based on protein content. Each diet was supplemented with 0 or 0.5 g/kg of exogenous xylanase and was fed to triplicate groups of twelve fish (with initial weight, 1.31 ± 0.02 g) for 84 days. After 84 days of feeding period, the highest weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency, protein productive value and the best feed conversion ratio were recorded in fish fed either SFM₁ or SFM₂ supplemented with exogenous xylanase. Whereas lowest growth performance was recorded in fish fed SFM₂ and SFM₃ un‐supplemented with xylanase. The highest activities of chymotrypsin, trypsin, lipase, amylase, alkaline phosphatase and cholecystokinin were observed in fish fed SFM₁ and SFM₂ diets supplemented with xylanase. The highest ADCs of dry matter, protein, lipid and digestible energy were recorded in fish fed SFM₁ and SFM₂ diets supplemented with exogenous xylanase. Supplementation of exogenous xylanase improved muscularis mucosa thickness, height of mucosal folds and enterocytes of intestinal fish. Addition of exogenous xylanase increased the calcium and phosphorus retention. Results of this study indicated that the addition of exogenous xylanase to diet containing high inclusion level of sunflower meal improved growth, digestive enzymes, nutrient digestibility, histological morphometric of liver and intestine and nutrient retention.