Dietary choline requirement for juvenile blunt snout bream,Megalobrama amblycephala

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine dietary choline requirement for juvenile Megalobrama amblycephala. The basal diet was formulated to contain 310 g kg^?1 diet from vitamin‐free casein and gelatine. Choline chloride was supplemented to the basal diet to formulate six purified diets containing 0, 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg kg^?1, respectively. Each diet was randomly fed to quadrupled groups of Megalobrama amblycephala with initial average weight 1.84 ± 0.04 g in a flow‐through system. Results showed weight gain was increased significantly with increasing dietary choline levels (P < 0.01). Lipid content of liver decreased significantly as dietary choline concentration increased (P < 0.01), whereas lipid content of dressed carcass showed opposite trend (P < 0.01), and lipid content of whole‐body was unaffected by dietary choline supplementation. Broken‐ line regression of weight gain, liver and muscle choline concentration showed choline requirements of Megalobrama amblycephala of 1198, 1525 and 1365 mg kg^?1, respectively. In addition, dietary choline supplementation significantly improved lipid content of dressed carcass but not the content of whole body of blunt snout bream.     

Effects of dietary choline on growth performance,lipid deposition and hepatic lipid transport of grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

The number of 360 individuals with an average initial weight of 87.8 ± 0.04 g was fed six diets containing graded levels of choline at 8.1 (control group), 602.5, 1119.0, 1511.5, 1970.0 and 4029.0 mg choline kg^?1 diet, respectively, to investigate the effects of dietary choline on growth performance, lipid deposition and hepatic lipid transport for grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Dietary methionine was estimated to be 10.02 g kg^?1, less than the requirement (13.10 g kg^?1). The results of 10‐week study period indicated that the best values of specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion rate (FCR) and protein efficiency rate (PER) all occurred in 1119.0 mg choline kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). The survival range increased from 8.1 to 1511.5 mg choline kg^?1 diet and then plateaued. Dietary choline supplementation significantly decreased the liver lipid content of grouper (P < 0.05), but the lipid content of the muscle tended to be increased firstly and then decreased (P < 0.05). Liver choline concentration reached a plateau in 1511.5 mg choline kg^?1 diet and then levelled off (P < 0.05). Serum high density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C) and total cholesterol (TCHO) levels were firstly decreased and then increased with dietary choline supplementation. A reversed tendency, however, was found in triglyceride. Broken‐line regression analysis of SGR and liver choline content indicated that choline requirement of grouper was 1093.7 and 1579.7 mg kg^?1 diet, respectively.     

Growth,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus fed at different dietary protein and lipid levels

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the suitable dietary protein and lipid levels for juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus reared in net pens. Ten test diets were formulated at five levels of crude protein (330, 370, 410, 450 or 490 g kg^?1) and two levels of crude lipid (65 or 125 g kg^?1). Golden pompano fingerlings (initial body weight 4.7 g ind^?1) were fed the test diets for 8 weeks. Weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE), energy retention efficiency (ERE), condition factor (CF), hepatosomatic index (HSI), body protein content and total nitrogen waste (TNW) were dependent on both dietary protein and lipid levels. Feed intake (FI) and viscersomatic index (VSI) were dependent on dietary protein level, while body lipid content was dependent on dietary lipid level. Weight gain increased with increasing the dietary protein level (at the same lipid level) but was lower at the dietary lipid level of 65 g kg^?1 than at 125 g kg^?1 (at the same protein level). Fish fed at the dietary protein levels of 460–490 g kg^?1 had higher WG and lower FCR than at 330–410 g kg^?1. Energy retention efficiency tended to increase with increasing the dietary protein level from 330 to 410 g kg^?1, while no significant difference was found in nitrogen retention efficiency between the dietary protein levels (at the same lipid level). Results of this study suggest increasing the dietary lipid level from 65 to 125 g kg^?1 could not induce protein‐sparing action in golden pompano, and the suitable dietary protein and lipid levels for juvenile golden pompano reared in net pens should be 450–490 and 65 g kg^?1.     

Dietary biotin requirement of juvenile blunt snout bream,Megalobrama amblycephala

This study was conducted to determine the optimal dietary biotin requirement of juvenile Megalobrama amblycephala. Quadruple groups of fish (initial average weight 2.01 ± 0.01 g) were fed thrice daily with six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic purified diets containing 0 (basal diet), 0.015, 0.049, 0.158, 0.624 and 2.49 mg kg^?1 biotin, respectively, for 8 weeks. Results showed that survival rate, final weight, feed intake, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and nitrogen retention efficiency all increased significantly (P < 0.01) as dietary biotin levels increased from 0 to 0.049 mg kg^?1, whereas the opposite was true for feed conversion ratio. Dressout percentage, condition factor, hepatosomatic index, viscera/body ratio all showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) within the biotin range tested. Contrary to moisture content, whole‐body protein and lipid contents showed a positive correlation with dietary biotin levels. In addition, liver biotin content increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary biotin levels up to 0.624 mg kg^?1. Hepatic pyruvate carboxylase (PC) and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) activities both showed an increasing trend as dietary biotin levels increased. Based on the regression analysis of weight gain, hepatic PC and ACC activities, the optimal dietary biotin requirement of juvenile Megalobrama amblycephala is estimated to be 0.063, 0.071 and 0.075 mg kg^?1, respectively.     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth,feed utilization and body composition in Pseudobagrus ussuriensis fingerlings

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for growth, feed utilization and body composition of Pseudobagrus ussuriensis fingerlings (initial weight: 3.40 ± 0.01 g). Twelve diets containing four protein levels (350, 400, 450 and 500 g kg^?1 crude protein) and three lipid levels (50, 100 and 150 g kg^?1 crude lipid) were formulated. Fish were randomly allotted to 36 aquaria (1.0 × 0.5 × 0.8 m) with 25 fish to each glass aquarium. Fish were fed twice daily (08:00 and 16:00) to apparent satiation. The results showed that weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) decreased with increasing dietary lipid level from 50 to 150 g kg^?1 at the same dietary protein level. Fish fed the diets containing 150 g kg^?1 lipid exhibited higher feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), lower protein efficiency ratio (PER) and nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE) relative to fish fed the diet containing 50 and 100 g kg^?1 lipid. Weight gain and SGR significantly increased with increasing dietary protein from 350 to 450 g kg^?1 at the same dietary lipid level, and even a little decline in growth with the further increase in dietary protein to 500 g kg^?1. Daily feed intake, NRE and PER were significantly affected by both dietary protein and lipid levels (P < 0.05) and tended to decrease with increasing dietary protein and lipid levels. Whole‐body protein content increased as protein levels increased and lipid levels decreased. Whole‐body lipid and muscle lipid content increased with increasing dietary lipid level, and decreased with increasing dietary protein at each lipid level. There was no significant difference in condition factor and viscerosomatic index among fish fed the diets. Hepatosomatic index was affected by dietary lipid level (P < 0.05), and increased with increasing dietary lipid level at the same protein level. These results suggest that the diet containing 450 g kg^?1 protein and 50 g kg^?1 lipid with a P/E ratio of 29.1 mg protein kJ^?1 is optimal for growth and feed utilization of P. ussuriensis fingerlings under the experimental conditions used in the study.     

Growth,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile Manchurian trout,Brachymystax lenok (Pallas) fed different dietary protein and lipid levels

A 10‐week feeding trial with four dietary protein levels (400, 450, 500 and 550 g kg^?1 crude protein) and two dietary lipid levels (80 and 160 g kg^?1 crude lipid) was conducted to assess optimum dietary protein and lipid levels for the growth, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile Manchurian trout (initial weight 11.80 ± 0.15 g). Fish were fed twice daily (08:30 and 16:30 h) to apparent satiation. The results showed that fish fed the diet with 500 g kg^?1 protein and 80 g kg^?1 lipid had the highest growth and feed efficiency. However, fish fed the diet with 450 g kg^?1 protein and 160 g kg^?1 lipid showed comparable growth to that of the fish fed diet 5 (500/80) and had higher protein efficiency ratio (PER), nitrogen retention (NR) and energy retention (ER) than other groups (P < 0.05). Growth, PER, NR and ER of fish fed the 160 g kg^?1 lipid diet was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of fish fed the 80 g kg^?1 lipid diet at 400 and 450 g kg^?1 protein diet, whereas these values showed an opposite trend at 500 and 550 g kg^?1 protein diet, and the lowest PER, NR and ER was found by fish fed the 400 g kg^?1 protein diet with 80 g kg^?1 lipid. Fish fed diets with 400 g kg^?1 protein had lower feed intake (FI) than that of other groups. Feed intake of fish fed 80 g kg^?1 lipid level was significantly lower than that of fish fed 160 g kg^?1 lipid diet at 400 g kg^?1 protein (P < 0.05), while no significant differences were observed at 450, 500 and 550 g kg^?1 protein‐based diets. Contrary to moisture content, lipid content of whole body and muscle increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing lipid levels. The results of this study indicated that the diet containing 450 g kg^?1 protein and 160 g kg^?1 lipid, with a P/E ratio of 23.68 g protein MJ^?1 would be suitable for better growth and feed utilization of juvenile Manchurian trout under the experimental conditions and design level used in this study.     

Effects of temperature and feed processing on protease activity and dietary protease on growths of white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,and tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus

Effects of temperature and processing on the stability of a commercial protease were assessed in an in vitro trial followed by growth trials with white shrimp and tilapia. Results showed that the protease has a high heat stability against pelleting, and it could hydrolyse dietary proteins during feed processing. In Exp. 2, white shrimp (3.3 g) fed low fish meal (FM) diet (LFD) with protease addition had similar growth to that fed high fish meal diet, and both had higher weight gain (WG) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than that fed LFD without protease addition (P < 0.05). In Exp. 3, compressed (CD) or extruded (ED) diets containing 30 g kg^?1 or 90 g kg^?1 FM were supplemented with or without protease and then fed to tilapia (1.7 g) for 8 weeks. WG was improved and FCR decreased (P < 0.05) by the supplementation of protease in 30 g kg^?1 FMCD, but not in 90 g kg^?1 FMCD and ED diets when compared to those diets without protease supplementation. The digestibility trial with CD indicated the improved apparent digestibilities of dry matter and crude protein by dietary protease in 30 g kg^?1 FMCD, but not in 90 g kg^?1 FMCD. Results above showed that the protease has a high heat stability and the supplementation of protease in CD with low FM level can improve the growth of shrimp and tilapia.     

The positive contributions of PowerLac™ supplementation to the production performance,feed utilization and disease resistance of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

The objective of this research was to determine the optimum dietary supplementation level of a probiotic (PowerLac^?), for improving Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus growth performance and feed utilization, as well as enhanced protection against disease. For laboratory experimentation, a completely randomized experimental design, consisting of four treatments of a dietary probiotic (PowerLac^?, containing Lactobacillus lactis D1813) supplementation at different levels (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g kg^?1), against a control (0 g kg^?1), was performed for 8 weeks (of culture period). For field experiments, three treatments of different dietary probiotic supplementation levels (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g kg^?1), plus a control, were employed for 22 weeks (of culture period). Under controlled experimental conditions, in the first experiment, significantly higher fish final body weight, growth and lower food conversion ratio (FCR) were achieved by treatments with dietary probiotic supplementations of 0.25 and 0.5 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05). In strong partial support of this, at field experimentation level, a dietary PowerLac^? supplementation of 0.5 g kg^?1 showed the most pronounced results, as indicated by the higher growth, and protein and lipid retention, as well as lower FCR, and reduced mortality following the Aeromonas hydrophila challenge test (P < 0.05).     

Dietary methionine requirement of juvenile blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) at a constant dietary cystine level

A 9‐week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the dietary methionine requirement of juvenile Megalobrama amblycephala at a constant dietary cystine level. Six semipurified diets were formulated to contain graded dietary methionine levels from 3.9 to 15.4 g kg^?1 in about 2.5 g kg^?1 increments in the presence of 2.2 g kg^?1 cystine. Results showed that specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) significantly increased with increasing dietary methionine levels from 3.9 to 12.4 g kg^?1 and thereafter kept stable. Maximum protein productive value (PPV), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE) and liver weight were observed in 8.5 g methionine kg^?1 diet. Protein contents in whole fish body were positively correlated with dietary methionine level, while lipid contents were negatively correlated with it. Morphological index and hepatic glutamate‐pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activities were independent of dietary methionine levels. However, dietary methionine supplementation significantly improved haematological parameters, plasma methionine and total essential amino acid contents and hepatic glutamate‐oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activities. Analysis of dose response using broken‐line regression on the basis of SGR and PPV versus dietary methionine level estimated the optimum dietary methionine requirements of juvenile M. amblycephala to be between 8.5 and 8.4 g kg^?1 of diet (25.0 and 24.7 g kg^?1 of protein) in the presence of 2.2 g kg^?1 cystine, respectively. Hence, the corresponding total sulphur amino acids requirements of this species were calculated to be 10.7 and 10.6 g kg^?1 of diet (31.5 and 31.2 g kg^?1 of dietary protein).     

Effects of oxidized fish oil intake on tissue lipid metabolism and fatty acid composition of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Recent studies in terrestrial animals have shown that feeding the oxidized lipids led to a reduction in triacylglycerols (TAG) and total cholesterol (TC) in liver and plasma. However, limited information is available on the effect of oxidized lipids on lipid metabolism in fish. In this study, four diets containing 0 g kg^?1 (control: fresh fish oil), 30 g kg^?1 (low‐oxidized oil, LOO), 60 g kg^?1 (medium‐oxidized oil, MOO) and 90 g kg^?1 (high‐oxidized oil, HOO) graded oxidized oil levels with the same dietary lipid level were fed to channel catfish for 86 days. The tissue lipid metabolism and fatty acid composition of the fish were investigated after this period. The results showed that plasma and liver concentrations of TAG and TC decreased with increasing dietary oxidized oil level (P < 0.05). Decreasing liver lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activities were observed with increasing dietary oxidized fish oil inclusion (P < 0.05). The liver C22:6n?3 concentrations significantly decreased with increasing dietary oxidized oil level (P < 0.05), while muscle lipid had a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It suggests that the adverse effects of dietary oxidized oil may be induced by inhibiting lipid metabolism enzymes and, consequently, inhibition of cholesterol homoeostasis and fatty acid synthesis.     

Effects of dietary manganese source and supplemental levels on growth performance,antioxidant enzymes activities,tissue Mn concentrations and cytosolic manganese superoxide dismutase (cMnSOD) mRNA expression level of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of different forms and levels of manganese (Mn) on the growth performance, antioxidant activities, tissue Mn content and cytosolic manganese superoxide dismutase (cMnSOD) gene expression of Litopenaeus vannamei. Treatments consisted of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 mg Mn kg^?1 from manganese sulphate (Mn‐S) and manganese methionine (Mn‐Met), providing the actual dietary value of 5.17, 15.62, 25.55, 34.22, 44.48 and 67.90 mg Mn kg^?1 Mn‐S, and 5.17, 15.71, 25.36, 35.86, 45.16 and 65.06 mg Mn kg^?1 Mn‐Met, respectively. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of L. vannamei (initial body weight: 1.925 ± 0.002 g) in a recirculated fresh water rearing system for 8 weeks. Weight gain rate (WGR) increased in prawns provided with from 25.55 to 44.48 mg Mn kg^?1 Mn‐S and 15.71 to 45.16 mg Mn kg^?1 Mn‐Met and then declined above these levels. The lowest protein efficiency ratio (PER) and the highest feed conversion rate (FCR) were observed in prawns fed the control diet (P < 0.05) and showed no significant differences among other treatments (P > 0.05). Survival rate (SR) was not affected by the dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Total SOD and Mn‐SOD activities were higher in the hepatopancreas of prawns fed with Mn‐supplemented diets from 15.71 to 44.48 mg Mn kg^?1 (P < 0.05). On the contrary, malondialdehyde (MDA) content was lower in the hepatopancreas of prawns fed the basal diet (P < 0.05). Mn concentrations in the hepatopancreas and muscles increased with increasing levels of dietary Mn supplementation. Moreover, Mn accumulation was lower in the muscle than in the hepatopancreas of the prawns. The mRNA expression of cMnSOD gene in the hepatopancreas of prawns was upregulated with increasing dietary Mn levels of Mn‐S from 25.55 to 44.48 mg Mn kg^?1, Mn‐Met from 15.71 to 45.16 mg Mn kg^?1 and then plateaued above these levels. Broken‐line regression analysis of WGR indicated that the optimal dietary Mn requirements for juvenile L. vannamei were 32.26 mg Mn kg^?1 Mn‐S and 23.90 mg Mn kg^?1 Mn‐Met, respectively.     

The effects of Spirulina platensis meal on proximate composition,fatty acid profile and lipid peroxidation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) muscle

This study evaluated the effects of diets containing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 g kg^?1 Spirulina platensis on proximate composition, fatty acid profile and lipid peroxidation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Supplementation of S. platensis did not change moisture and protein contents, but fish fed 50 and 100 g kg^?1 S. platensis had lower muscle lipid content than those fed control diet (P < 0.05). Fish fed 100 g kg^?1 of S. platensis contained lower percentages of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid and a higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acid than those fed control diet (P < 0.05). The n‐3/n‐6 ratio of the fatty acid increased and muscle atherogenic and thrombogenic indices were significantly decreased as the dietary supplement of S. platensis increased. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation of the fillet significantly decreased with increasing dietary S. platensis at 4 °C and at ?20 °C (P < 0.05). The results of this study show that supplementation of S. platensis to the diet improves muscle quality of the rainbow trout.     

Growth,body composition,intestinal enzyme activities and microflora of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian) fed graded levels of dietary valine

This study investigated the effects of valine on growth, intestinal enzyme activities and microflora in juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). A total of 1200 fish with an average initial weight of 9.67 ± 0.03 g were fed diets containing 5.3 (unsupplemented control), 8.7, 11.8, 14.9, 18.7 and 20.1 g valine kg^?1 diet for 60 days. Results indicated that the specific growth rate, feed efficiency, body protein and lipid content of fish were significantly improved by the dietary valine (P < 0.05). The hepatopancreas weight and activities of trypsin, amylase, lipase, chymotrypsin, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) took the similar trends. Similarly, the optimum levels of dietary valine induced increases in the intestinal length, weight, folds height and activities of alkaline phosphatase, gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase and creatine kinase. In contrast, the trends of muscle GOT activity and plasma ammonia content were opposite. Intestinal Aeromonas, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus and Bacillus were changed by dietary valine supplementations. The dietary valine requirement for Jian carp (9.67–76.4 g) based on SGR was 13.7 g valine kg^?1 diet (4.0 g valine 100 g^?1 CP). Together, these results indicated that valine improved fish growth, digestive and absorptive ability.     

Improvement in lipid metabolism and stress tolerance of juvenile giant grouper,Epinephelus lanceolatus (Bloch), fed supplemental choline

Six fish meal basal diets supplied with 0 (control), 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 5 g kg^?1 of choline chloride, resulting in choline levels of 2.57, 2.67, 2.94, 3.84, 4.99 and 7.71 g kg^?1, respectively, were fed to giant grouper, Epinephelus lanceolatus, for 56 and 30 days to evaluate the growth and lipid metabolism, and stress tolerance respectively. In the first trial, fish fed different levels of choline‐containing diets for 56 days had no significant difference in weight gain, survival and feeding efficiency. Fish fed increased levels of dietary choline, however, tended to have decreases in the hepatic somatic index; lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol in liver; and triglycerides and cholesterol in serum. A decrease of lipid content in dorsal muscle was recorded in fish fed the diets containing choline >2.94 g kg^?1. Additionally, dietary choline improved the reactions of fish to ammonia stress, including survival and behavioural responses, in fish fed diets containing choline levels >2.94 g kg^?1. These findings indicate that choline plays important roles in lipid metabolism and stress tolerance in giant grouper.     

Effect of dietary protein reduction with lysine and methionnine supplementation on growth performance,body composition and total ammonia nitrogen excretion of juvenile grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idella

A 63‐day growth trial was undertaken to estimate the effects of supplemented lysine and methionine with different dietary protein levels on growth performance and feed utilization in Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Six plant‐based practical diets were prepared, and 32CP, 30CP and 28CP diets were formulated to contain 320 g kg^?1, 300 g kg^?1 and 280 g kg^?1 crude protein without lysine and methionine supplementation. In the supplementary group, lysine and methionine were added to formulate 32AA, 30AA and 28AA diets with 320 g kg^?1, 300 g kg^?1 and 280 g kg^?1 dietary crude protein, respectively, according to the whole body amino acid composition of Grass Carp. In the groups without lysine and methionine supplementation, weight gain (WG, %) and specific growth rate (SGR, % day^?1) of the fish fed 32CP diet were significantly higher than that of fish fed 30CP and 28CP diets, but no significant differences were found between 30CP‐ and 28CP‐diet treatments. WG and SGR of the fish fed 32AA and 30AA diets were significantly higher than that of fish fed 28AA diets, and the performance of grass carp was also significantly improved when fed diets with lysine and methionine supplementation (P < 0.05), and the interaction between dietary protein level and amino acid supplementation was noted between WG and SGR (P < 0.05). Feed intake (FI) was significantly increased with the increase in dietary protein level and the supplementation of lysine and methionine (P < 0.05), but feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a significant decreasing trend (P < 0.05). Two days after total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration test, the values of TAN discharged by the fish 8 h after feeding were 207.1, 187.5, 170.6, 157.3, 141.3 and 128.9 mg kg^?1 body weight for fish fed 32CP, 32AA, 30CP, 30AA, 28CP and 28AA diets, respectively. TAN excretion by grass carp was reduced in plant‐based practical diets with the increase in dietary protein level and the supplementation of lysine and methionine (P < 0.05). The results indicated that lysine and methionine supplementation to the plant protein sources‐based practical diets can improve growth performance and feed utilization of grass carp, and the dietary crude protein can be reduced from 320 g kg^?1 to 300 g kg^?1 through balancing amino acids profile. The positive effect was not observed at 280 g kg^?1 crude protein level.     

Evaluation of dietary inclusion of housefly maggot (Musca domestica) meal on growth,fillet composition and physiological responses for barramundi,Lates calcarifer

The study was to evaluate the effects of dietary fish meal (FM) partially replaced by housefly maggot meal (HMM) on growth, fillet composition and physiological responses of juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifera. HMM at 100, 150, 200 and 300 g kg^?1 was supplemented in the basal diet to replace dietary FM protein. Basal diet without HMM supplementation was used as control. Total of five experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of juvenile barramundi (initial weight: 9.66 ± 0.22 g) in a flow‐through rearing system for 8 weeks. Fish fed all experimental diets showed no effects (P > 0.05) on weight gain and whole body protein, lipid and moisture content. Fish fed control diet and 100 g kg^?1 HMM diet had the highest (P < 0.05) hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, followed by 150 g kg^?1 HMM group, the lowest in 200 and 200 g kg^?1 HMM groups. Hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) value was the highest in fish fed 150–300 g kg^?1 HMM diets, followed by 100 g kg^?1 HMM group and the lowest in fish fed the control diet. Fish fed the 300 g kg^?1 HMM diet had lower plasma lysozyme activity than fish fed other diets. The results indicated that up to 300 g kg^?1 HMM can be used to substitute dietary FM protein without negative effect on growth. Although physiological responses were also considered, up to 100 g kg^?1 HMM in barramundi diet was recommended.     

Effects of extruded and pelleted diets with differing lipid levels on growth,nutrient retention and serum biochemical indices of tilapia (Oreochromis aureus × Tilapia nilotica)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of extruded diets and pelleted diets with varying dietary lipid levels on growth performance and nutrient utilization of tilapia. Six diets, containing three levels of lipid at 40, 60 or 80 g kg^?1 (with the supplemental lipid of 0, 20 or 40 g kg^?1, respectively), were prepared by extruding or pelleting and then fed to tilapia juveniles (8.0 ± 0.1 g) in cages (in indoor pools) for 8 weeks. The results indicated that the fish that were fed the diet with 60 g kg^?1 of lipid had a higher weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), lipid retention (LRE), energy retention (ERE), apparent protein digestibility, apparent dry matter digestibility and a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed the diet with 40 g kg^?1 lipid in both the extruded diet and pelleted diet (P < 0.05). As the dietary lipid level increased from 60 to 80 g kg^?1, these parameters were not further improved, even digestibilities of the crude protein and dry matter decreased (P < 0.05). With the dietary lipid level increased, whole‐body lipid content significantly increased (P < 0.05), serum aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) tended to increase (P > 0.05), whereas whole‐body protein content, serum triglyceride (TG), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and HDL‐C/LDL‐C tended to decrease (P > 0.05). Fish fed with the extruded diets had a higher WG, SGR, hepatosomatic index (HSI), PER, protein retention (PRE), LRE, ERE, TG, apparent digestibility of protein and dry matter, as well as a lower FCR, than those fed with the pelleted diets at the same dietary lipid level (P < 0.05). These results suggested that tilapia fed with the extruded diets had a better growth and higher nutrient utilization than fish fed with the pelleted diets, when dietary lipid level ranged from 40 to 80 g kg^?1 and at dietary crude protein level was 280 g kg^?1. The optimum dietary lipid level was 60 g kg^?1 in both the pelleted and extruded diets, and extrusion did not affect dietary lipid requirement of the tilapia.     

Effect of dietary selenium level on growth performance,body composition and hepatic glutathione peroxidase activities of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoide

An 8‐week growth trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary selenium (Se) level on growth performance, body composition and hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities of largemouth bass. Sodium selenite was added to the fish meal basal diet at 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mg kg^?1 Se providing 0.97, 1.17, 1.42, 1.60, 1.85 and 2.06 mg Se kg^?1 diet respectively. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish (initial mean body weight: 4.95 ± 0.03 g) in a closed indoor recirculating system. The Se concentration in the rearing water was not detectable during the whole experimental period. The highest weight gain was obtained in fish fed diets with 1.60 mg Se kg^?1, which was significant higher (P < 0.05) than the basal diet with 0.97 mg Se kg^?1 and did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) with the other treatments. Feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value, apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and muscle composition were not significantly impacted (P > 0.05) by dietary treatments. Fish fed diets with ≥1.42 mg Se kg^?1 obtained higher liver lipid contents than treatments with lower dietary Se levels. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) was unchanged (P > 0.05) in relation to dietary Se concentration. Hepatic GPx and glutathione reductase (GR) activities markedly increased and decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary Se concentration, respectively, and both reached a plateau with ≥1.85 mg Se kg^?1. Based on growth performance, hepatic MDA and enzymatic responses of GPx and GR, the highest Se concentration (2.06 mg kg^?1) employed in our study was not harmful for largemouth bass, and the optimal dietary level should be 1.60–1.85 mg Se kg^?1 from sodium selenite, at a dietary vitamin E level of 400 IU kg^?1.     

Quantifying the dietary potassium requirement of subadult grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

A growth trial lasting for 12 weeks was conducted in 21 net cages to determine the dietary potassium (K) requirement of subadult grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) (Average weight: 331.3 g). Seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic semi‐purified diets were compounded with different dietary K level. The specific growth rate (SGR) of fish was significantly (P < 0.05) improved by dietary K supplementation, SGR and the gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity increased first and then decreased (P < 0.05) as dietary K level increased. The highest SGR and gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity values were both observed at 6.38 g kg^?1 group. Dietary K level showed significant (P < 0.05) effect on serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glucose (GLU), the maximum values of SOD and GLU were in 8.42 and 6.38 g kg^?1 group, respectively. The body lipid content of the 6.38 g kg^?1 group was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control. However, the ash content in the 8.42 g kg^?1 group was significantly higher than those in the 1.21, 2.21, 4.41 and 6.38 g kg^?1 group. When dietary protein was 320 g kg^?1 and the waterborne potassium ranged from 6.86 to 9.10 mg L^?1, the dietary K requirement for subadult grass carp judged from SGR and gill Na⁺‐K⁺ ATPase activity is 5.38 and 7.41 g kg^?1 diet, respectively.     

Growth,digestive and absorptive abilities and antioxidative capacity in the hepatopancreas and intestine of young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus Val.) fed graded levels of dietary manganese

To study the effects of manganese on growth performance, digestive and absorptive abilities, as well as the antioxidative capacity in the hepatopancreas and intestine, young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus Val.) (264 ± 1 g) were fed diets containing graded levels of manganese at 3.65 (control), 8.62, 13.48, 18.24, 22.97 and 27.86 mg kg^?1 diet for 8 weeks. Per cent weight gain (PWG) and feed intake were the poorest in fish fed the basal diet (P < 0.05). The activities of trypsin, lipase and alkaline phosphatase in the intestine were significantly enhanced with dietary manganese level at 13.48 mg kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). Additionally, in the hepatopancreas and intestine, the protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde contents were the lowest in fish fed the diet with dietary manganese level at 13.48 mg kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05), while the anti‐hydroxyl radical capacities, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione‐S‐transferase activities were significantly enhanced with dietary manganese level at 13.48 mg kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). Moreover, the catalase activity and glutathione content in the intestine were the highest in fish fed the diet with dietary manganese level at 18.24 mg kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). These results indicated that optimum dietary manganese promoted growth, enhanced the digestive and absorptive abilities, and improved the antioxidative capacity in young grass carp. Based on the quadratic regression analysis for PWG and intestinal MnSOD activity, the manganese requirements for young grass carp with the initial body weight of 264 g were 16.91 and 18.21 mg kg^?1 diet respectively.