Dietary vitamin E requirement of hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops female × M. saxatilis male)

This study was conducted to determine the dietary vitamin E requirement of juvenile hybrid striped bass ( Morone chrysops female ×  Morone saxatilis male). Semi-purified diets supplemented with 0.2 mg Se kg⁻¹ from Na₂SeO₃ and either 0 (basal), 10, 20, 40, 60, or 80 mg vitamin E kg⁻¹ as  DL -α-tocopheryl acetate were fed to hybrid striped bass initially averaging 1.8 ± 0.1 g (mean ± SD) for 12 weeks. Fish fed the basal diet, which contained 5.8 mg α-tocopherol kg⁻¹ dry weight, were darker in colour and had reduced weight gain, as well as generally reduced haematocrit values compared with fish fed diets supplemented with vitamin E. In addition, fish fed diets containing less than 20 mg supplemental vitamin E kg⁻¹ had significantly ( P  < 0.05) reduced weight gain and feed efficiency compared with those fed diets supplemented with vitamin E at 20–80 mg kg⁻¹. Dietary supplementation of vitamin E caused incremental increases in the concentration of α-tocopherol in both plasma and liver tissues. However, hybrid striped bass fed graded levels of vitamin E did not exhibit a dose response in terms of ascorbic acid-stimulated lipid peroxidation of hepatic microsomes. Regression analysis of weight gain data using the broken-line model indicated a minimum vitamin E requirement ( ±  SE) of 28 ( ±  3) mg kg⁻¹ dry diet. Based on these data, the dietary vitamin E requirement of hybrid striped bass appears to be similar to that determined for other fish species.     

Interaction between dietary levels of vitamins C and E on growth and immune responses in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary levels of vitamins C (0, 100 and 2000 mg kg⁻¹), E (0, 50 and 500 mg kg⁻¹) and their interaction on the growth performance, liver contents of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol, haematology and immune response of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus . Each diet was fed to catfish in triplicate aquaria to apparent satiation twice daily for 12 weeks. The results indicate that the amount of vitamin E contained in the basal diet (23.1 mg kg⁻¹) was sufficient to promote good growth, feed efficiency and survival, but its supplementation was needed to maintain high haematological values and liver vitamin E. Supplementation of vitamin C (100 mg kg⁻¹) to the basal diet containing 10.5 mg kg⁻¹ was required for good growth, feed efficiency, survival and prevention of vertebral deformity and optimum haematological indices. Liver storage of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol increased with increasing dietary levels of each vitamin. Dietary vitamin E levels had no effect on liver ascorbic acid content, but increasing dietary vitamin C increased liver α-tocopherol. Some measured immune parameters (serum protein and superoxide anion production) were enhanced by supplementation of vitamin C or E. Chemotaxis ratio and phagocytosis were not affected by treatments.     

Re-evaluation of vitamin E supplementation of practical diets for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, production

A 10-month feeding trial was performed with channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , to re-evaluate the minimum level of dietary vitamin E supplementation required under conditions of commercial production. Four levels (0, 15, 30 and 60 mg kg⁻¹ diet) of supplemental vitamin E were added as DL -α-tocopherol acetate to a typical commercial catfish diet. Sixteen 0.04-ha ponds were stocked in July, at a rate of 25 000 fish ha⁻¹, with two size classes (averaging 18 and 265 g fish⁻¹) of fingerling channel catfish, and each diet was fed to fish in four replicate ponds once daily to satiation. After 10 months of feeding, a total harvest was performed to obtain final production data, and samples were obtained from fish in all ponds. Liver and plasma samples were obtained for α-tocopherol determination, and liver, heart and muscle samples were processed for histological evaluation.
No discernible differences occurred among fish fed the different diets with respect to weight gain or survival. Mean production rate was 9734 kg ha⁻¹, with a final average fish weight of 0.53 kg. A significant ( P < 0.05) effect of diet was noted in plasma and liver α-tocopherol levels, which increased with dietary supplementation. An effect of size also was apparent, with plasma and liver α-tocopherol levels being higher in larger fish compared with smaller fish within a dietary treatment. Histological evaluation revealed no differences among fish fed the different dietary treatments. Based on the lack of overt histological signs of deficiency, it appears that the current level of vitamin E supplementation of commercial catfish diets may be reduced considerably with no detriment to channel catfish health or production.     

Dietary vitamin E requirement of the red drum Sciaenops ocellatus

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to establish the minimum dietary vitamin E requirement of juvenile red drum by broken-line regression analysis. The semi-purified basal diet was supplemented with 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 or 80 IU vitamin E kg⁻¹ as all-rac -α-tocopheryl acetate. Juvenile red drum were conditioned by feeding the basal diet for 8 weeks prior to the feeding trial to reduce whole-body vitamin E levels. Then, fish initially averaging 12.2 ± 0.4 g fish⁻¹ (mean ± SD) were fed the experimental diets at a rate approaching apparent satiation for 12 weeks. Weight gain and feed efficiency responses of fish fed diets were significantly ( P  < 0.01) altered by the level of vitamin E supplementation but not strictly in a dose-dependent manner. Vitamin E concentrations in liver and plasma also were significantly ( P  < 0.001) influenced by dietary vitamin E level. Plasma ascorbic acid in fish fed the basal diet tended ( P  = 0.066) to be lower than in fish fed diets containing the various levels of vitamin E. In addition, fish fed the basal diet showed edema in the heart, while fish fed all other diets were normal. Fish fed 60 or 80 IU all-rac -α-tocopheryl acetate kg⁻¹ diet had significantly higher respiratory burst of head kidney macrophages than fish fed all other diets, although dietary effects on hematocrit and neutrophil oxidative radical production were not significant. The minimum dietary vitamin E requirement of juvenile red drum was established based on broken-line regression of liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances to be 31 mg all-rac -α-tocopheryl acetate kg⁻¹ diet.     

Antioxidant status and immunity in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., fed semi-purified diets with and without astaxanthin supplementation

Abstract. Parr of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were fed semi-purified diets supplemented with 60 mg astaxanthin kg⁻¹ and without astaxanthin supplementation for 10.5 months. The astaxanthin concentration in the non-supplemented diet was analysed to be 6–0 mg kg⁻¹ The growth of the fish was significantly affected by the dietary treatment. The mean daily weight gain in the groups fed the supplemented diets was 0.39% throughout the period, whereas the groups fed the non-supplemented diet had a mean daily weight gain of 0.18%. The dry matter and fat content were significantly higher in fish fed the supplemented diet. The astaxanthin concentration in the muscle of fish fed the astaxanthin-supplemented diet was 2–7 mg kg⁻¹ versus 0–3 mg kg⁻¹ in the non-supplemented fish. Antioxidant vitamins in the muscle (retinol, α-tocopherol) and liver (retinol, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid) were two to 20 times higher in the fish in the supplemented group, suggesting antioxidant sparing effects. Blood haemoglobin and immunological parameters tended to be higher in fish fed the low astaxanthin diet although the difference was not significant. However, the resistance to challenge with Aeromonas salmonicida was higher in fish fed the astaxanthin supplemented diet. This may be due to a difference in weight at the time of the challenge which, in turn, may have influenced the body composition and smoltification of the fish. A relationship between dietary astaxanthin concentration and antioxidant status in both liver and muscle was observed, and this may also have had an influence on the observed differences in blood parameters and disease resistance.     

Influence of α-tocopherol acetate on the short- and long-term storage properties of fillets from Atlantic salmon Salmo salar fed a high lipid diet

During refrigeration, lipid oxidation is a major factor contributing to post-mortem deterioration of flesh quality. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially n -3 PUFA, are present in high concentration in fish tissues, and in oils used in diets, and are readily susceptible to peroxidation. α-Tocopherol (AT) can reduce tissue lipid peroxidation in vivo and post mortem. The effect of increasing the tissue level of AT by dietary supplementation of α-tocopherol acetate (ATA) was therefore investigated. Commercial salmon diets C, M and H, high in lipids, containing 184, 573 and 865 mg ATA kg⁻¹ diet DM (dry matter) were fed to 18 fish per treatment. Dietary AT: PUFA ratios were 2.0, 6.3, and 9.5 mg g⁻¹ for diets C, M and H, respectively. Fish (mean initial live weight 630 g) were slaughtered after 50 and 78 days of feeding. Fillet samples were analysed fresh or after storage at 4 °C for 12 days and –20 °C for 12 months. Lipid oxidation was measured using the thiobarbituric acid test. Colour score, but not carotenoid content, of fillets was significantly higher between 6 and 12 days of fresh storage in fish fed diets M and H compared with those fed diet C. Colour score, carotenoid content and ΑΤ content decreased and the content of lipid oxidation products increased following storage of fillets at –20 °C for up to 12 months, although lipid oxidation was always significantly lower in fish fed diets M and H.     

Modulation of tissue α-tocopherol in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), fed oxidized oils, and the compensatory effect of supplemental dietary vitamin E

Juvenile African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), of mean initial weight 15 g, were fed practical diets containing fresh or rancid oil (1:1 cod liver:corn oil) supplemented with either 20 or 100 mg all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate per kg dry diet, at 0.03 × body weight per day for 8 weeks. After this time, catfish had grown by at least four times in body weight. Significant ( P < 0.05) inter-treatment differences in final body weight were noted. Clarias fed low-tocopherol: oxidized-oil diets performed least well with regard to growth, though elevated dietary vitamin E partially abrogated this effect. Growth of fish fed fresh-oil diets did not benefit from increased dietary α-tocopherol content. Muscle, liver, plasma, heart and spleen all responded significantly ( P < 0.05) to dietary vitamin E dose. Inclusion of oxidized oil in catfish diets decreased tissue α-tocopherol concentration. Hepatic α-tocopherol concentration (μg α-tocopherol per g liver) was observed to be lowered by 90% by the rancid oil diets. When fish previously fed fresh-oil diets were switched to oxidized: low-tocopherol diets, hepatic α-tocopherol concentration was significantly ( P < 0.05) lowered within 2 weeks. The results highlight the importance of dietary oil quality in modulating tissue α-tocopherol concentrations in African catfish.     

Effects of dietary protein to metabolizable energy ratios and total protein concentrations on the performance of yellow perch Perca flavescens

Juvenile yellow perch Perca flavescens were fed semipurified diets with varying protein to metabolizable energy ratios (PME, g protein MJ⁻¹ metabolizable energy) and nutrient densities in three experiments to determine recommended dietary protein and energy concentrations. Experiment 1 fish (18.6 g) were fed diets containing 450 g crude protein kg⁻¹ dry diet and 14.5–18.8 MJ ME kg⁻¹ dry diet for 10 weeks. No differences were found in the growth of experiment 1 fish fed the different diets. Experiment 2 fish (21.9 g) were fed diets containing 15.7 MJ ME kg⁻¹ dry diet and 210–420 g crude protein kg⁻¹ dry diet for 8 weeks. Fish fed the diet containing 340 g kg⁻¹ protein (diet PME = 22) exhibited the greatest weight gain. Experiment 3 fish (27.1 g) were fed diets with a PME of 22 and varying nutrient density (yielding 205–380 g crude protein kg⁻¹ dry diet) for 8 weeks. No differences were found in the growth of experiment 3 fish. Yellow perch fed the semipurified diets exhibited increased liver fat content, liver size and degree of liver discoloration compared with fish fed a commercial fish meal-based diet. Liver changes may have resulted from high dietary carbohydrate levels. We conclude that a protein level of 210–270 g kg⁻¹ dry diet is suitable for juvenile yellow perch provided that the dietary amino acid profile and carbohydrate content are appropriate for yellow perch.     

Growth and digestibility effects of soya lecithin and choline chloride on juvenile Atlantic salmon

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., fingerlings with a mean weight of 1.5 g were fed one of four casein-gelatine-based purified diets supplemented with soya lecithin (LC) and choline chloride (CH) for 84 days. The diets were supplemented with either: 0 g kg⁻¹ CH and 0 g kg⁻¹ LC, 0 g kg⁻¹ CH and 30 g kg⁻¹ LC, or 5 g kg⁻¹ CH and 0 g kg⁻¹ LC, or 5 g kg⁻¹ CH and 30 g kg⁻¹ LC. The same diets were also fed to 100-g salmon to assess the effects of LC and CH supplementation on digestibility. Fingerlings fed the diet with neither LC nor CH (0 g kg⁻¹ LC and 0 g kg⁻¹ CH) grew at a significantly slower rate than fish fed the supplemented diets. There were significant effects on growth of supplementation of both LC and CH. The results indicate that the choline requirement of Atlantic salmon fingerlings is satisfied by 4 g kg⁻¹ inclusion in a gelatine-casein-based diet, and that dietary soya lecithin can fully replace choline chloride. The digestibility study with the larger fish indicated a beneficial effect of lecithin on the digestibility of both protein and energy.     

Use of full-fat winged bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus seed meal as a protein feedstuff in fish-meal free diets for African catfish Clarias gariepinus

Mature winged bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus seeds were quick-cooked and the full-fat meal derived was used to completely replace menhaden fish meal as a dietary protein source for the African catfish Clarias gariepinus . Five dry practical diets (400 g crude protein kg⁻¹ and 17.5 kJ gross energy g⁻¹ dry diet) containing menhaden fish meal (diet 1) or winged bean meal with or without graded levels of supplemental L -methionine (diets 2, 3, 4 and 5; 0, 5, 10 and 15 g kg⁻¹, respectively) were fed to catfish fingerlings (5.8  +  1.2 g) for 70 days. Weight gain, growth rate, feed conversion and protein utilization by catfish fed a winged bean meal diet without L -methionine supplementation (diet 2) was inferior ( P  > 0.05) to that in catfish fed the other diets, where performance differed nonsignificantly. Carcass protein of catfish was lower ( P  < 0.05) while liver protein was higher ( P  < 0.05) in catfish fed the winged bean meal diet without methionine supplementation. Results suggest that winged bean meal cannot replace fish meal as a protein source in catfish diets except with a minimum supplementation with 5 g L -methionine kg⁻¹ diet.     

Effect of dietary lysine and methionine supplementation on growth, nutrient utilization, carcass compositions and haemato-biochemical status in Indian Major Carp, Rohu (Labeo rohita H.) fed soy protein-based diet

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted in flow through system to examine the effects of dietary supplementation of lysine and methionine on growth, nutrient utilization, haemato-biochemical status and carcass compositions in Indian major carp, rohu, Labeo rohita fingerlings (average weight 6.32 ± 0.06 g). Four experimental soy protein-based diets D ₀ (without lysine or methionine supplementation), D ₁ (lysine supplementation alone), D ₂ (methionine supplementation alone) and D₃ (both lysine and methionine supplementation) were fed to triplicate groups. l -Lysine and dl -methionine were added to the diets containing 550 g kg⁻¹ soybean meals at 4 and 7 g kg⁻¹ of dry diet respectively. Significant higher weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), dry matter retention, nitrogen retention, total ash retention, whole carcass protein, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit value, total erythrocytic count, total leucocytic count, plasma glucose and plasma total protein and lower FCR, per cent lipid retention and whole body moisture content were observed in fish fed soya protein-based diet supplemented with both lysine and methionine than that of fish of other dietary groups at the end of 8 weeks feeding trial. Although fish fed diet supplemented with either methionine or lysine did not show any significant differences of growth performances, feed utilization, carcass composition and haemato-biochemical status, fish of both of these dietary groups showed significantly better growth performances, feed utilization, carcass composition and haemato-biochemical status than that of fish fed diet without lysine and methionine supplementation.     

Supplemental citric acid and particle size of fish bone-meal influence the availability of minerals in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) were fed six low-phosphorus (P) diets supplemented with two different sizes of ground fish bone-meals (fine, 68 μm or less; coarse, 250–425 μm) and a coarse bone-meal diet containing four levels of citric acid (0, 4, 8 or 16 g kg⁻¹ diet) to investigate the effects of pH and bone particle size on P bioavailability. The basal diet provided 3.4 g P   kg⁻¹ and bone-meal increased P contents to 5.4–6.0 g P   kg⁻¹. Coarse bone-meal diets supplemented with 0, 4, 8 or 16 g kg⁻¹ of citric acid had pH values of 6.0, 5.7, 5.4 and 5.0, respectively. Weight gain and whole-body water, protein and lipid contents were not influenced by bone-meal supplementation. Supplementing the basal diet with both coarse and fine bone-meal significantly increased whole-body ash content. Fish fed no bone-meal were hypophosphataemic compared with fish fed with either fine or coarse bone-meals. Phosphorus in fine bone-meal had higher availability than P in coarse bone-meal. Bone-meal supplementation significantly decreased whole-body manganese content from 8.9 μg g⁻¹ in fish fed no bone-meal to 2.3 and 4.5 μg g⁻¹ in fish fed with fine and coarse bone-meals, respectively. The concentration of magnesium increased but zinc concentration was not affected by bone-meal supplements. Citric acid increased whole-body ash content but the influence of citric acid on the body P content was not significant ( P  = 0.07). Dietary acidification by citric acid significantly increased whole-body iron in a linear fashion. The bioavailability of dietary P can be improved by fine grinding the bone in fish meals.     

Total sulphur amino acid requirement of the Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

The quantitative dietary sulphur amino acid requirement of the Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), was determined by conducting a growth study. The experimental diets contained 400 g crude protein kg⁻¹ from casein, gelatine and supplemental crystalline amino acids. Diets containing six graded levels of methionine (3.2, 6.5, 9.0, 11.5, 14 and 16.5 g kg⁻¹) with a constant level of cystine (1.4 g kg⁻¹) were formulated and fed to triplicate groups of Labeo rohita fingerlings twice a day to satiation for 60 days. The optimum dietary requirement for methionine was estimated using the break-point regression analysis at 11.5 g kg⁻¹ of diet or 28.8 g kg⁻¹ of dietary protein. Thus the total sulphur amino acid (Met + Cys) requirement was determined to be 12.9 g kg⁻¹ of diet or 32.3 g kg⁻¹ of protein. Higher survival, specific growth rate and food conversion efficiency values were observed for fish fed the diet containing optimum levels of sulphur amino acids.     

The influence of dietary phospholipid level on the performances of juvenile amberjack, Seriola dumerili, fed non-fishmeal diets

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary phospholipid (PL) level on growth and feed intake of juvenile amberjack ( Seriola dumerili ) fed non-fishmeal (non-FM) diet containing alternative protein sources; soybean protein isolate, tuna muscle by-product powder and krill meal. Three non-FM diets were prepared to contain three levels (14, 37 and 54 g kg⁻¹ dry diet) of PL (soybean lecithin acetone insoluble, 886 g kg⁻¹) and growth performance was monitored in a 30-day growth trial by using 2.6 g of fish. The results indicated that final body weight, weight gain and feed intake significantly increased with increasing dietary PL level. At the highest dietary PL level (54 g kg⁻¹ dry diet), the fish consumed 14.8% and 10.2% as much feed as those fish fed diets containing 14 g kg⁻¹ dry diet and 37 g kg⁻¹ dry diet PL, respectively. An increasing tendency with increasing dietary PL level on feed efficiency was observed. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that dietary PL supplementation could increase feed intake, and improve the growth of juvenile S. dumerili fed non-FM diets. Therefore, purified PL might be a good candidate to stimulate the growth of fish through enhancing the feed intake when they are fed diets containing alternative protein sources.     

Nutrient values of dietary ascorbic acid (l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate) on growth, survival and stress tolerance of larval shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

l -ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (ApP) was used as a vitamin C source to investigate the ascorbic acid (AsA) requirements on growth performance and stress resistance of the larval white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei . Five isoenergetic and isonitrogenous fish meal-fish protein hydrolysate-based diets with five levels of ApP, AsA equivalent to 91.8, 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg kg⁻¹ diet were fed to triplicate groups of L. vannamei (mean initial wet weight 1 mg) for 32 days. The diet with AsA 91.8 mg kg⁻¹ showed high cumulative mortality after 10 days of feeding. After the 32-day trial, the shrimp that fed the diet had significantly lower survival and weight gain (WG, %) than those that fed 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg AsA kg⁻¹ diets. Specific growth rate (SGR, % day⁻¹) and final body wet weight (FBW, mg) showed the same pattern as WG (%). There were no significant differences in growth performance (FBW, WG and SGR) among the groups that fed 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg kg⁻¹ of AsA at the termination of feeding trial. Broken-line regression analysis on WG indicated that 191 mg AsA kg⁻¹ in the diet was the optimum for larval L. vannamei . On the contrary, dietary level of more than 360 mg AsA kg⁻¹ was needed to ensure high resistance to stressful conditions such as low dissolved oxygen stressors.     

Urea in feeds for sea water farmed Atlantic salmon: effect on growth, carcass quality and outbreaks of winter ulcer

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate whether dietary supplementation of urea might reduce the incidence of winter ulcer in sea water-farmed Atlantic salmon. Salmon destined to be S0 smolt were fed with a urea-supplemented diet (0 or 20 g kg⁻¹ urea) over an 8-week period prior to sea water transfer and were then fed supplemented diet (0, 5, 10 or 20 g kg⁻¹ urea) during the first and second winters in the sea. During the first winter positive relationships between dietary urea and plasma urea and between plasma urea and plasma osmolality were observed. Further, plasma osmolality displayed a negative relationship to mortality. Of the salmon that died during the first winter in the sea 90% had one or more skin ulcers. Both during the first and second winter there were fewer salmon with ulcer among fish fed with the diets supplemented with urea. Salmon fed with 20 g kg⁻¹ urea tended to have higher percentage water in the muscle. Mortality and incidence of salmon with ulcer seemed to relate to plasma osmolality amongst fish fed on diets that differed in levels of urea supplementation, suggesting that an osmotic imbalance may contribute to the development of winter ulcer in farmed salmon. Salmon fed with 20 g kg⁻¹ urea showed significantly greater body weight during the second winter in sea. Fish killed without prior starvation had significantly higher level of muscle urea in the 20 g kg⁻¹ urea group compared with fish fed with the unsupplemented diet. However, a 13-day starvation period reduced urea content in the muscle to the level of the control. No effects of dietary urea supplementation on the sensory quality of market size Atlantic salmon were observed.     

Dietary threonine requirement of juvenile hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops♀×M. saxatilis♂)

Two growth studies were conducted to determine the dietary threonine requirement of reciprocal cross hybrid striped (sunshine) bass. Semipurified diets were prepared with crystalline amino acids and lyophilized fish muscle to supply 350 g crude protein kg⁻¹ diet. The basal diet contained 4.9 g threonine kg⁻¹ from fish muscle, and test diets were supplemented with graded levels of L-threonine. In the first experiment, fish initially averaging ≊ 9.8 g each were fed diets containing threonine levels of 4.9, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0 and 17.5 g kg⁻¹ dry diet for 7 weeks. Weight gain, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly ( P < 0.01) influenced by dietary threonine level. Based on weight-gain responses, a threonine requirement (± SE) of 8.4 (± 0.8) g kg⁻¹ dry diet was determined, and dietary threonine levels of 10.0 g kg⁻¹ diet or greater resulted in the highest levels of free threonine in plasma.
Based on the results of the first experiment, a second feeding trial was conducted with diets containing threonine levels of 4.9, 6.5, 8.0, 9.5, 11.0 and 12.5 g kg⁻¹ dry diet. Fish initially averaging ≊ 3.0 g each were fed each diet for 8 weeks. Weight gain, feed efficiency and PER values of fish were markedly improved, with increases in dietary threonine up to 8.0 g kg⁻¹ dry diet. Regression analysis of weight gain, feed efficiency and PER data using the broken-line model resulted in threonine requirement estimates of 9.7, 8.5 and 8.6 g kg⁻¹ dry diet, respectively. Based on these data, the threonine requirement of juvenile sunshine bass was determined to be ≊ 9.0 g kg⁻¹ dry diet or 26 g kg⁻¹ of dietary protein.     

Effect of oxidized fish oil, vitamin E and ethoxyquin on the histopathology and haematology of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Abstract. Rainbow trout were fed for 24 weeks on practical diets containing varying concentrations of oxidized fish oil, with or without supplementation of vitamin E and ethoxyquin. Serum biochemistry, haematology and histopathology were investigated to measure the relative protection offered by vitamin E (DL–α–toco–pherol acetate) and/or a synthetic substitute (ethoxyquin), against highly or extremely oxidized oil with peroxide values of 120 or 314mEq/kg oil respectively. Groups fed highly or extremely oxidized oils without DL–α–tocopherol acetate supplementation, and with or without supplemental ethoxyquin, exhibited lower red blood cell numbers, haemoglobin content, haematocrit, and increased haemolysis. In addition, fish from these groups had increased, abnormally developing polychromatocytes, splenic haemosiderosis and hepatic ceroidosis. The results indicate that vitamin E protects better and at lower concentrations than does ethoxyquin, and that supplementation with 33 mg of DL–α–tocopherol acetate/kg is adequate to prevent vitamin E deficiency signs when feeding practical diets containing 7.5 % of a highly oxidized oil. Supplementation with ethoxyquin alone to diets containing highly oxidized oil appeared to exert partial protection, but did not increase the level of protection when added simultaneously with DL–α–tocopherol acetate. The data support the theory of a general antioxidant function for vitamin E, and suggest that mortalities ensuing from vitamin E deficiency are due to the cumulative effects of liver dysfunction and anaemia.     

Effects of dietary oxidized oil and vitamin E on the growth,blood parameters and body composition of juvenile Atlantic cod Gadus morhua (Linnaeus 1758)

The effects of oxidized dietary lipid and the role of vitamin E on the growth performance, blood parameters and body composition of juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were evaluated over a 9‐week feeding period. Four isonitrogenous experimental diets containing fresh or oxidized fish oil with or without added vitamin E (α‐tocopherol or mixed tocopherols) were fed to juvenile cod. The oxidized lipid used had a peroxide value of 94 mEq kg^?1 oil. No significant (P>0.05) differences in growth performance (weight gain and specific growth rate) or feed utilization (feed consumption and feed efficiency ratio) were observed when oxidized dietary lipid was used. The hepatosomatic index (HSI), viscerosomatic index (VSI) and haematocrit did not show any significant (P>0.05) differences among the treatments. However, erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF), referred to as susceptibility to haemolysis, of fish fed oxidized oil without added vitamin E was high in comparison with those fed unoxidized oil. Supplementation with α‐tocopherol appeared to decrease haemolysis, but mixed tocopherols had no significant (P>0.05) effect on EOF. The proximate composition of fish whole body was also affected by diet treatment. Fatty acid composition of liver total lipid reflected that of dietary lipid. Variations in tissue (liver and muscle) fatty acid composition among the treatments followed the same trend as those of the dietary fatty acids. Fish fed fresh oil had a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in muscle and liver lipid than those fed oxidized oil. The results suggest that oxidized dietary oil affected juvenile Atlantic cod in certain tissues and that these effects could be alleviated by supplementation of sufficient amounts of vitamin E in the diet.     

Selenium nutrition of hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis) bioavailability, toxicity and interaction with vitamin E

Two concurrent 12-week feeding trials were conducted to evaluate the bioavailability of inorganic sodium selenite and organic seleno-DL-methionine and to investigate the potential interaction between selenium and vitamin E in juvenile hybrid striped bass. In experiment 1, purified diets utilizing casein, gelatin and an amino acid premix as protein sources with a basal selenium concentration of 0.11 mg Se   kg⁻¹ were supplemented with either Na₂SeO₃ to provide selenium concentrations of 1.19, 2.00, 5.17 and 21.23 mg Se kg⁻¹ or with seleno-DL-methionine to provide 0.90, 1.26 and 2.55 mg Se kg⁻¹ and fed to juvenile hybrid striped bass in aquaria. A second experiment evaluated potential interactions by feeding these purified diets with or without supplemental vitamin E or sodium selenite, singularly or in combination. No overt selenium deficiency signs were exhibited by fish in either of the experiments; however, signs of selenium toxicity including retarded weight gain (WG), reduced feed intake and feed efficiency ratio (FER) as well as increased mortality, were observed in fish fed the diet containing more than 20 mg Se kg⁻¹. Whole-body selenium and whole-body selenium retention were linearly influenced by sodium selenite and selenomethionine. However, there was no significant effect of dietary selenium, vitamin E or their interaction on WG, FER and survival. Slope-ratio analysis showed that bioavailability of seleno-DL-methionine as a selenium source for juvenile hybrid striped bass was significantly ( P  < 0.01) higher (3.3-fold) than sodium selenite.