Suppression of Stress Responses in Siberian Sturgeon,Acipenser baeri,Juveniles by the Dietary Administration of Bovine Lactoferrin

A study was performed to investigate the influence of dietary lactoferrin (LF) on growth and stress responses of juvenile Siberian sturgeon. Fish were fed six experimental diets (0, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mg LF/kg diet) for 10 wk. At the end of the experiment, fish were exposed to an acute stressor of 2‐min air exposure. The levels of cortisol, glucose, and lactate were measured before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h after stress. LF supplementation did not influence the fish growth. Cortisol and lactate, but not glucose level, were significantly affected by dietary LF. Cortisol levels in the control group rose twofold 1 h after stress and were significantly higher than that in LF groups. Moreover, the lowest level of cortisol at all sampling times (prestress and poststress) was observed in fish fed 400 mg LF/kg diet. Lactate concentrations in sturgeon fed 400 mg LF/kg markedly rose 1 h after stress, albeit changes in other LF groups were not significant. Results of this study show that dietary LF can suppress the stress responses in Siberian sturgeon, while 400 mg LF/kg diet appears to be an effective dietary level for this species to reduce stress.     

饲料中添加谷胱甘肽对草鱼生长、生理指标和抗病力的影响

选用初始体质量约8.50 g的草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella),在56 d的饲养期中分别投喂添加5种不同剂量谷胱甘肽(GSH)(添加量分别为0 mg/kg、100 mg/kg、200 mg/kg、300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg)的试验饲料,观察GSH对草鱼生长、生理指标和抗病力的影响。结果表明,饲料中添加GSH能够提高草鱼特定生长率、存活率和饲料效率。其中,300 mg/kg GSH组草鱼的特定生长率和400 mg/kg GSH组草鱼的存活率显著高于对照组;添加GSH各组草鱼的饲料效率均显著高于对照组,当添加量为200 mg/kg时草鱼饲料效率达到最高。与对照组相比,饲料中添加GSH的各组草鱼肝胰指数明显升高,其中200 mg/kg组达到显著水平。饲料中添加GSH能够提高血清IGF-1水平,其中300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg组显著高于对照组。与对照组相比,各实验组草鱼血液白细胞数目有不同程度升高,其中300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg组均达到显著水平。饲料中添加GSH可以提高草鱼对嗜水气单胞菌的抵抗能力,其中200 mg/kg GSH组草鱼攻毒后存活率达到最高。以特定生长率为判定指标,GSH在草鱼饲料中的适宜添加量为350 mg/kg。     

Effect of dietary oxidized fish oil and vitamin C supplementation on growth performance and reduction of oxidative stress in Red Sea Bream Pagrus major

A 50‐day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary oxidized fish oil (OFO) and vitamin C (VC) on growth and oxidative stress in juvenile red sea bream. Test diets were formulated with 2 degrees of peroxide value (23 and 29 meq kg^?1) combined with 3 levels of VC (0, 400 and 800 ppm). No significant difference was found on growth performance between fish fed OFO with 400 or 800 mg VC and the control group that fed a diet with fresh fish oil after 50 days. However, fish fed OFO without VC supplement indicated significantly poor growth than the control group. Liver and muscle thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were reduced by increased VC intake of fish. Fish fed diets containing low OFO with 400 and 800 mg VC, high OFO with 800 mg VC, and fresh fish oil are allocated in the zone of high resistance against oxidative stress together with low oxidative stress condition. On the other hand, no VC supplemented group was under the highest oxidative stress condition. In conclusion, dietary oxidized lipid increased the oxidative stress condition of fish, but more than 400 mg VC kg^?1 of dietary supplement improved growth and health of juvenile red sea bream.     

Influence of Dietary Levels of Magnesium on Growth, Tissue Mineral Content, and Resistance of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Challenged with Edwardsiella ictaluri

Juvenile channel catfish were fed purified diets supplemented with magnesium (Mg) from Mg sulfate at levels of 0, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1,000 mg/kg and 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg in two separate feeding studies. In study I, the effect of dietary levels of Mg on growth response, vertebral mineral content, and macrophage chemotaxis were evaluated. Study II had similar objectives except that whole body mineral content was measured, and resistance of channel catfish to Edwardsiella ictaluri challenge was also determined. Fish with an average weight of 10.89 g were stocked at a rate of 50 fish/110‐L aquarium (study I). In study II, fish with an average weight of 4.14 g were stocked at rates of 40 fish/110‐L aquarium. Prior to stocking, each batch of fish was acclimated to laboratory conditions and fed the basal diet for 2 wk. The concentration of Mg in rearing water was 1.8 mg/L. Each diet was fed to fish in quadruplicate and triplicate aquaria to apparent satiation for 10 wk for studies I and II, respectively. Fish fed the basal diet started to die as early as 3 d after the study began (17 d of feeding the diet without Mg supplementation). In both studies, weight gain, survival, and feed efficiency were lowest for fish fed the basal diet but increased with increasing dietary levels of Mg. However, the differences between the values of each of these parameters for fish fed diets containing supplemental Mg were not always significant. Magnesium‐deficiency signs observed were anorexia, sluggishness, convulsions, deformed snout, vertebral curvature, muscle flaccidity, and high mortality. Vertebral and whole body ash concentrations were high, but Mg content was low for fish fed the basal and the 200‐mg Mg diets. Bone Ca content did not differ among fish fed different diets (study I), but whole body Ca tended to increase for fish fed the basal diet, suggesting the possibility of calcification of soft tissues. Macrophage chemotaxis in the presence of exoantigen was highest for fish fed diets supplemented with Mg at 400 and 200 mgkg for studies I and II, respectively. When expressed in terms of chemotaxis index, however, maximum or near maximum value was observed at a dietary Mg level of 400 mg/kg. Thus, a dietary level of Mg of 400 mg/kg from Mg sulfate was required for optimum growth and survival, maintaining high tissue levels of Mg, prevention of muscle flaccidity and skeletal deformity, and stimulating macrophage chemotaxis. Dietary levels of Mg had no effect on the resistance of juvenile channel catfish to Edwarsiella. ictaluri challenge.     

Effects of dietary chlorogenic acid on growth,flesh quality and serum biochemical indices of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

The study was to investigate effects of dietary chlorogenic acid (CGA) on growth performance, flesh quality and serum biochemical indices of grass carp (95.1 ± 0.3 g) (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed seven different diets, including control diet, Eucommia ulmoides (EU)‐supplemented diet (20 g kg^–1) and CGA‐supplemented diets containing 100, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg CGA. Contents of collagen and alkaline‐insoluble collagen in muscle and skin were significantly increased by dietary CGA and EU (p < .05). Total essential amino acids (TEAA) and total amino acids (TAA) in muscle of grass carp fed EU diet or 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg CGA diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed control diet and 100 and 200 mg/kg CGA diet (p < .05). Fish fed 200–800 mg/kg CGA showed significantly lower muscle crude lipid content than EU, control and 100 mg/kg CGA groups (p < .05). Fish fed CGA‐supplemented diets (100–800 mg/kg) had significantly higher muscle fibre density and lower muscle fibre diameter than control group (p < .05). In conclusion, supplementation of CGA improved flesh quality of grass carp, and supplemental level of CGA for improving flesh quality and growth was estimated to be 400 mg/kg diet.     

The effects of a dietary protease‐complex on performance,digestive and immune enzyme activity,and disease resistance of Litopenaeus vannamei fed high plant protein diets

The effects of a dietary protease‐complex on growth performance, body composition, digestive and immune enzyme activity of Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance to a pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus were assessed in a 9‐week trial. A high fish meal diet (HF) containing 200 g kg^?1 fish meal and a low fish meal diet (LF) containing 100 g kg^?1 fish meal were designed as a positive and negative control respectively. Three other diets (LF+125P, LF+150P, and LF+175P) were manufactured by supplementing graded level of a protease‐complex (125, 150 and 175 mg kg^?1, respectively) to the LF diet. All diets were formulated to be iso‐proteic and iso‐energetic. Most performance indices of shrimp fed the LF+175P diets were similar to the HF diet. Among the digestive enzymes, trypsin, lipase and amylase activity in hepatopancreas of shrimp fed LF+175P diets (4576 U mg^?1 protein and 16, 32 U g^?1 protein, respectively) were higher than those fed the LF diets but lower than the HF diets (P < 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase and polyphenol oxidase contents in both serum and hepatopancreas were higher and serum malondialdehyde content and the cumulative mortality during disease challenge tests were lower for the diets containing the protease‐complex than those fed the LF diets (P < 0.05) with no difference with those fed the HF diets.     

Effect of dietary bovine lactoferrin on growth,haematology and non‐specific immune response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary lactoferrin (Lf) on growth, haematology and non‐specific immune response of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). Fish were fed an experimental diet containing 0 (as control), 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg Lf kg^?1 diet twice daily for 8 weeks and sampled at 2, 4, 6 (immune function and growth), and 8 weeks (immune function, haematology and growth). Statistical analyses revealed no significant effects of dietary Lf on growth performance (specific growth rate, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, feed intake and condition factor) or haematological parameters (red and white blood cell count, haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum iron and total iron binding capacity [TIBC]). Among the serum non‐specific immune parameters, lysozyme activity increased significantly in fish fed 100, 200, or 400 mg Lf kg^?1 feed for 8 weeks, whereas haemolytic complement activity increased in fish fed 100 and 400 mg Lf kg^?1 diet after 6 weeks. The antiprotease activity increased in groups fed 100, 200 or 400 mg Lf kg^?1 diet after 8 weeks. However, no significant effect was observed on serum peroxidase level. It can be concluded that feeding of rainbow trout on the diet supplemented with 100 mg kg^?1 or higher for 8 weeks enhances the non‐specific immune response.     

Effects of Dietary Geniposide on Growth,Flesh Quality,and Lipid Metabolism of Grass Carp,Ctenopharyngodon idella

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of dietary geniposide (GP) on growth performance, flesh quality, and lipid metabolism of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (95.2 ± 0.6 g), fed seven different diets, including a control diet; Eucommia ulmoides (EU)–supplemented diet (20 g/kg); and GP‐supplemented diets containing 100, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg GP, respectively. Weight gain rate was significantly improved (P < 0.05) and feed conversation ratio was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) by supplementation of EU. Grass carp fed 100–800 mg/kg GP‐supplemented diets showed significantly higher total collagen and alkaline‐insoluble collagen content in muscle than control (P < 0.05). Contents of total collagen and the alkaline‐insoluble collagen content in the skin of grass carp were significantly increased by dietary 600–800 mg/kg GP and EU (P < 0.05). Fish fed diets containing 600–800 mg/kg GP showed significantly lower muscle crude lipid content than the EU, control, and 100–400 mg/kg GP groups (P < 0.05). Fish fed 400–800 mg/kg GP diets had significantly higher muscle fiber density and lower muscle fiber diameter and serum triglyceride level than the control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of GP could improve flesh quality, but not growth of grass carp. The supplemental level of GP for improving flesh quality was estimated to be a 400–600 mg/kg diet.     

Effect of Dietary Astaxanthin on Growth,Survival, and Stress Tolerance of Postlarval Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

The effect of dietary astaxanthin on growth, survival, and stress tolerance was determined in postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei. An experiment was performed with postlarval shrimp (mean initial wet weight 1.2 mg) fed four isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets containing four supplemented levels of astaxanthin (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diet, respectively). Shrimp fed diets containing 100, 200, and 400 mg astaxanthin/kg diet for 30 d showed higher weight gain (WG, %) and survival compared to the control (without supplementation of astaxanthin). Specific growth rate (SGR, %/day) 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 fed the diets with astaxanthin supplementation at the termination of feeding trial. Survival of shrimp in the control and 100 mg/kg diet treatments was significantly lower than that of shrimp in the treatments with 200 and 400 mg/kg diet. After 9 d of a stress tolerance test, survival of shrimp in the 200 and 400 mg astaxanthin/kg treatments was significantly higher than that of shrimp in the 0 and 100 mg astaxanthin/kg treatments (P < 0.05). We concluded from this experiment that astaxanthin was a necessary ingredient for the development of larval L. vannamei. Considering the effect of astaxanthin on both, growth performance and survival of postlarval L. vannamei, the level of astaxanthin supplemented in the diet should be between 100 mg and 200 mg/kg of diet.     

The role of dietary L‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate on the growth and physiological functions of beluga,Huso huso (Linnaeus, 1758)

Effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation were carried out on growth performance and physiological indices in juvenile beluga Huso huso fed different levels of dietary L‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate as AA source consisting of 0 (control), 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg AA kg^?1 diet for 16 weeks. No significant differences were found in growth performances between treated groups except for condition factor. Using AA caused significant differences in haemoglobin, number of red blood cells, white blood cells, aspartate aminotranspherase and lactate dehydrogenase, while no significant difference was found in haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, differential white blood cells count and alkaline phosphatase activity at the end of the experiment. Lysozyme activity after 8 weeks was significantly affected by dietary treatments with the lowest value in fish fed control diet, but not at completion of 16‐week feeding trial. Liver AA concentration showed a significant increase in correlation with dietary AA increase. Air exposure stress test showed significant differences among the treatments in case of cortisol and glucose concentrations. Also between pre‐ and post stress, significant changes were observed in some of treatments. The lowest and highest levels of cortisol were 9.2 ± 3 (in 200 mg kg^?1) and 16.8 ± 5.1 ng mL^?1 (in control), 6 h post stress (P < 0.05) respectively. Also, the lowest and highest levels of glucose were measured in fish fed 200 and 800 mg AA kg^?1 respectively. The obtained results showed that most growth parameters were not affected by dietary AA, but some physiological and immunological parameters of this species were influenced by this vitamin. We suggest that under rearing conditions, AA should be added to the diet especially during early life stages for improving health status and resistance to stressors.     

Effect of Dietary Vitamin C on Weight Gain,Tissue Ascorbate Concentration,Stress Response,and Disease Resistance of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus1

Juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (average initial weight, 6.5 g/fish) were fed twice daily to apparent satiation with practical-type diets containing 0, 50, 150, or 250 mg supplemental vitamin C/kg from L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate for 10 wk under laboratory conditions. At the end of the feeding period, one half of the fish were stressed for 2 h by confinement and both stressed and nonstressed fish were exposed to a virulent strain of Edwardsiella ictaluri. Weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were lower for fish fed the basal diet than those fed diets containing supplemental vitamin C. No differences were observed in weight gain and feed conversion among fish fed diets containing supplemental vitamin C. There were no differences in feed consumption and survival (prior to experimental infection) among treatments. No vitamin C deficiency signs except reduced weight gain were observed in fish fed the basal diet. Serum cortisol concentrations were higher in stressed fish than in non-stressed fish. Dietary vitamin C level had no effect on serum cortisol concentration. As dietary vitamin C increased, ascorbate concentration in serum and liver increased. Confinement stress had no effect on serum and liver ascorbate concentrations. Cumulative mortality of channel catfish 21 d subsequent to experimental infection with E. ictaluri was higher for stressed fish than for nonstressed fish. Regardless of stress or nonstress, overall mortality for fish fed the basal diet was lower than the fish fed diets containing supplemental vitamin C. There were no differences in post-infection antibody levels among treatments or between stressed and nonstressed fish. Results from this study indicate that channel catfish require no more than 50 mg/kg dietary vitamin C for normal growth, stress response, and disease resistance.     

An estimation of dietary iron requirement of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr

A study was conducted to determine the dietary iron requirement of fingerling Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. During the first 4 weeks of the experiment, fish with an initial weight of 5 g were fed a casein–gelatine-based purified diet which contained 11 mg iron kg^?1. Thereafter duplicate tanks (200 fish in each) were fed the casein–gelatine purified diets containing supplemental iron levels of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 100, 200 or 400 mg iron kg^?1 (added as FeSO_?4* 7H₂O) for 12 weeks. Weight gain, body length and mortality were monitored. Liver iron and ascorbic acid concentration were analysed in addition to whole-body iron, manganese and zinc concentration. Several haematological parameters were also measured. There were no significant differences in weight gain and survival of salmon fed diets containing different iron levels. Haematological values, hepatic and whole-body iron concentrations were, however, significantly affected by the dietary iron content. Liver vitamin C concentration decreased with increasing dietary iron levels. Dietary supplementation with iron significantly reduced whole-body manganese, but no effect of dietary iron on whole-body zinc was found. Based on haematology and hepatic iron concentration, the iron requirement of Atlantic salmon was determined to be between 60 and 100 mg iron kg¹.     

Effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on survival,growth and stress resistance in larval and post‐larval kuruma shrimp,Marsupenaeus japonicus

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of chemically synthesized astaxanthin (Ax) on growth performance, survival, and stress resistance in larval and post‐larval kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus). Six dietary levels of Ax (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg diet) were added to a baseline diet. As a first study, an 8‐day feeding trial was conducted on larval kuruma shrimp, with results showing that larvae‐fed diets supplemented with different Ax levels exhibited better performance during developmental and metamorphosis to postlarvae. Broken‐line regression analysis indicated that the optimal levels for growth and stress resistance of larvae were 168.9 mg/kg and 82.1 mg/kg diet, respectively. Second, a 30‐day feeding trial was conducted on post‐larval shrimp. Supplementation with 100 and 200 mg/kg Ax yielded significantly higher final body weight, body weight gain and specific growth rate than that in a control group. A cumulative mortality index for osmotic stress revealed significantly better performance in a group fed 200 mg/kg supplementation than in controls. Broken‐line regression analysis indicated that the optimal levels for growth and stress resistance of postlarvae were 108.7 mg/kg and 178.1 mg/kg diet, respectively. Based on these results, we suggest that carefully dosed Ax supplementation is a beneficial nutritional strategy for the early developmental stages of kuruma shrimp.     

饲料中添加叔丁基氢醌对大菱鲆生长、血液生化指标、非特异性免疫及肠道组织结构的影响

为研究饲料中添加不同含量叔丁基氢醌(TBHQ)对大菱鲆幼鱼生长、血液生化指标、非特异性免疫及肠道组织结构的影响,在饲料中分别添加0、150、450和750 mg/kg的叔丁基氢醌,配制成4种等氮等脂实验饲料,选择初始体质量(8.31±0.04)g大菱鲆幼鱼,随机分成4组,每组6个重复,每个重复30尾,采用饱饲投喂方式,每天投喂2次,饲养周期为12 W。结果显示,与对照组相比,450和750 mg/kg TBHQ添加组大菱鲆的增重率、特定生长率均显著降低;450 mg/kg TBHQ添加组实验鱼血清碱性磷酸酶活力显著高于150 mg/kg TBHQ添加组;150 mg/kg TBHQ添加组实验鱼血清白蛋白和高密度脂蛋白含量显著低于对照组和450 mg/kg添加组;450 mg/kg TBHQ添加组鱼的血清肌酐含量显著高于对照组;150 mg/kg TBHQ添加组鱼的血清总蛋白含量显著低于对照组;饲料中添加高剂量的TBHQ能够显著升高血清中CAT、溶菌酶活力(450和750 mg/kg)及头肾吞噬细胞呼吸爆发活力(750 mg/kg);饲料中TBHQ添加量为750 mg/kg时,血清SOD活力显著降低;与对照组相比,饲料中添加450和750 mg/kg TBHQ能够显著降低中肠肠道绒毛长度与肠道直径比,而添加750 mg/kg TBHQ时中肠肠道做绒毛长度与肠道直径的比值显著降低。研究表明,饲料中TBHQ的添加量为150 mg/kg时,对大菱鲆幼鱼生长及生理生化指标无显著影响,而饲料中添加450 mg/kg以上的TBHQ则会对大菱鲆幼鱼的生长及生理状况产生一定负面作用。     

Effect of dietary iron supplement on growth, haematology and microelements of juvenile grouper, Epinephelus coioides

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary iron supplement on growth, haematology and microelements of juvenile grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Casein–gelatine‐based diets supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg kg⁻¹ iron from ferrous sulphate were fed to grouper (mean initial weight: 21.0 ± 0.2 g) for 8 weeks. Weight gain was highest in fish fed the diet supplemented with 100 mg kg⁻¹ iron, intermediate in fish fed diets with 50, 150, 200 and 250 mg kg⁻¹ iron and lowest in fish fed the basal diet. Feed efficiency followed a similar trend except that the lowest value was in fish fed the basal diet and the diet supplemented with 250 mg kg⁻¹ iron. Hepatic iron was highest in fish fed diets supplemented with iron ≥100 mg kg⁻¹, followed by fish fed diet with 50 mg kg⁻¹ iron and lowest in fish fed the basal diet. The whole‐body iron was lowest in fish fed the basal diet but not significantly different from other groups, as judged by anova . Iron supplement to the basal diet had no significant effect on haematological parameters (red blood cell count, haematocrit and haemoglobin), hepatic copper concentration or manganese, zinc concentration in liver and whole body. Broken‐line analysis of hepatic iron indicated that iron supplementation of 100 mg kg⁻¹ satisfied the hepatic iron storage and that further supplementation did not expand the iron status.     

Dietary myo‐inositol requirement for Olive flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminch et Schlegel)

This study was aimed at examining the essentiality and requirement of inositol for Olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Six casein–gelatin‐based semi‐purified diets were formulated to contain five different levels of myo‐inositol (MI) (designated as M0, M0+, M200, M400, M800 and M1600 for 0, 0+antibiotic, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg kg^?1 respectively). After 20 weeks of a long‐term feeding trial, fish (initial body weight, 10 g) fed the M800 diet showed significantly increased growth performances and survival. Liver lipid concentration tended to decrease as the dietary MI increased, although there was no significant difference among all treatments. Polyunsaturated fatty acid in the liver of the fish fed the diets containing high levels (M1600) of MI was significantly increased. Hepatic inositol concentration of the fish was significantly increased by dietary MI supplementation. The intestinal biosynthesis of inositol by microflora seemed to be insufficient to prevent growth retardation in juvenile Olive flounder. The optimum level of dietary MI for juvenile Olive flounder was found to be 617 mg kg^?1 based on weight gain in a broken‐line regression model. This finding indicates that MI supplementation is required at a concentration of at least 617 mg kg^?1 to maximize the growth performances and to prevent abnormal lipid metabolism.     

Influence of dietary protein level on growth performance,digestibility and activity of immunity‐related enzymes of leopard coral grouper,Plectropomus leopardus (Lacépède, 1802)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess the interaction between dietary protein levels and fish growth, digestibility and activity of immunity‐related enzymes of Plectropomus leopardus. Five diets with different protein levels (400 g/kg, 450 g/kg, 500 g/kg, 550 g/kg and 600 g/kg protein) were designed. P. leopardus fed with 500 g/kg, 550 g/kg and 600 g/kg dietary protein, showed higher weight gain rates than fish fed 400 g/kg and 450 g/kg dietary protein. Ingestion rate in fish fed with 500 g/kg dietary protein was significantly higher than those with other diets. P. leopardus fed with 500 g/kg, 550 g/kg and 600 g/kg dietary protein, showed that feed coefficients were significantly lower than those fed with 400 g/kg and 450 g/kg dietary protein. Net protein utilization was significantly lower in fish fed with 400 g/kg diet than those with other diets. Fish fed with 400 g/kg and 450 g/kg dietary protein had an apparent feed digestibility coefficient for dry matter that was significantly lower than that with other diets. Protease activity was highest in fish fed on 500 g/kg dietary protein. Fish fed with 500 g/kg dietary protein, had the highest superoxide dismutase activity. Fish fed with 600 g/kg dietary protein, had the highest alkaline phosphatase activity. Thus, a diet containing 500 g/kg protein is recommended for P. leopardus aquaculture.     

Dietary vitamin E requirement, fish performance and carcass composition of rohu (Labeo rohita) fry

A 90-day feeding experiment was conducted using flow through system to evaluate the requirement of vitamin E for rohu fry in relation to growth performance and to assess the relationship between the dietary vitamin E levels and carcass composition. Five semi-purified diets supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mg vitamin E/kg dry diet as --tocopheryl acetate were fed to rohu fry (av. wt.±S.E.=0.58±0.01 g) in triplicate groups. At the end of the experiment, growth and dietary performance were evaluated and vitamin E deposition in the tissue, erythrocyte fragility, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) were analyzed. The average net weight gains were 6.82±0.09, 7.38±0.03, 8.20±0.03, 8.07±0.09 and 8.12±0.08 (g/90 days), respectively, for fish fed diets 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mg vitamin E/kg. The fish fed diets containing less than 100 mg supplemental vitamin E/kg had significantly (P<0.05) reduced weight gain, feed efficiency and other nutritional indices compared to those fed diets supplemented with vitamin E at 100–200 mg/kg. With the increasing level of vitamin E, both TBARs and erythrocyte fragility values were reduced. Regression analysis of weight gain data using broken-line model indicated a minimum vitamin E requirement of 131.91 mg/kg dry diet. The erythrocyte fragility and TBARs were maximum in fish fed the vitamin E-deficient diet. From the present experiment, it may be concluded that the vitamin E requirement of Labeo rohita fry for optimum growth and other dietary performances is 131.91 mg/kg of dry diet.     

Thiamin Requirement of Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, were fed to apparent satiation twice daily with purified diets containing 0, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, and 16.0 mg/kg and 0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 16.0, and 32.0 mg/kg of thiamin in separate 14‐ and 8‐wk trials (Experiments 1 and 2, respectively). Fish fed the diet devoid of thiamin developed neurological disorders, anorexia, reduced growth, and feed efficiency and increased mortality (Experiment 2 only) within 4–6 and 8–10 wk for Experiments 2 and 1, respectively. Low red blood cell count (RBC) and hematocrit (Ht) were observed in fish fed the thiamin‐deficient diet. Serum pyruvate was elevated in fish fed the thiamin unsupplemented diet. Serum lactate was not affected by dietary thiamin levels. Whole body protein was unaffected by dietary levels of thiamin. Body moisture and ash increased whereas body lipid decreased in fish fed the thiamin unsupplemented diets. None of these abnormalities were observed in fish fed the thiamin‐supplemented diets. Using the response curves determined by PROC NLMIXED to estimate dietary thiamin levels required for various response variables, a dietary thiamin level of 3.5 mg/kg diet was adequate for optimum growth, feed intake and efficiency, survival, prevention of neurological symptoms, and maintaining normal levels of RBC, Ht, serum pyruvate, and proximate body composition.     

大口黑鲈幼鱼对饲料中锌的需求量

为确定大口黑鲈幼鱼对饲料锌的适宜需求量,以酪蛋白、明胶和鱼粉为主要蛋白质源,以ZnSO_4·H_2O为锌源制作半精制基础饲料,分别向基础饲料中添加0、25、50、100和200 mg/kg锌,制成5种含不同锌水平饲料(24.8、48.8、78.9、126.1和223.6 mg/kg干物质)(命名为Zn-25、Zn-49、Zn-79、Zn-126和Zn-224),投喂初始体质量为(10.99±0.07) g的大口黑鲈幼鱼8周。结果显示,饲料中补充25 mg/kg锌(Zn-49)显著提高了大口黑鲈增重率,降低了饲料系数,进一步提高锌的添加量后,各组增重率和饲料系数趋于稳定。当饲料锌含量为25～49 mg/kg时,T-SOD和CuZn-SOD活性增加,锌含量达到49 mg/kg后,其活性保持基本稳定,而AKP活性在Zn-79组最高。大口黑鲈全鱼和脊椎骨中的锌含量随饲料中锌含量的增加而上升,当饲料锌含量达到126 mg/kg (Zn-126)后,全鱼和脊椎骨中的锌含量不再显著增加,而全鱼铁、骨铁、骨锰含量和全鱼铁、锌沉积率则随饲料锌含量的增加而下降。研究表明,在半精制饲料中补充锌可以显著改善大口黑鲈的生长和饲料利用,提高血清免疫能力、全鱼锌和骨锌的沉积,以增重率、饲料系数、全鱼锌和骨锌为指标,基于折线模型确定大口黑鲈幼鱼对饲料中锌的需求量分别为45.5、44.6、121.8和130.5 mg/kg干物质。