植酸酶对异育银鲫生产性能及鱼体成分的影响

选用360尾体重为(12.0±0.2)g的异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)鱼种,随机分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ四个组,每组设置3个重复,其中Ⅰ为对照组,饲喂基础日粮,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ为试验组,分别在基础日粮中添加500 U/kg、1000 U/kg、1500 U/kg的植酸酶。饲喂60 d,试验结果表明:(1)与对照组比较,添加1000 U/kg植酸酶的试验组鱼增重率提高8.8个百分点,饲料系数下降0.18,植酸磷利用率提高20.6个百分点,说明在异育银鲫鱼种配合饲料中添加适宜的植酸酶能促进鱼的生长,提高植酸磷的利用;(2)添加植酸酶各组异育银鲫鱼种的鱼体成分中,粗灰分、粗蛋白、钙、磷及部分矿物质元素(铁、铜、镍)含量显著提高,表明植酸酶能释放植酸的螯合物,促进矿物质元素在动物体内的沉积。     

植酸酶对金鳟体成分及金鳟椎骨中钙、磷含量的影响

采用喷涂法和预处理两种方法,在豆粕型金鳟饲料中添加不同浓度的植酸酶,通过90 d的饲喂试验,研究植酸酶对金鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum)体成分及其椎骨中钙、磷含量的影响。结果显示:喷涂法和预处理法添加植酸酶的处理组与对照组相比,粗蛋白、粗脂肪的含量均有所下降;喷涂法添加植酸酶的处理组的鱼体粗灰分、磷和钙含量均高于对照组,其中,喷涂法添加1500 U/Kg植酸酶组鱼体磷含量、灰分含量和钙含量显著高于对照组(P(0.05),且此组鱼体磷高于其它试验组;喷涂法各组椎骨中粗灰分、磷含量较对照组提高显著(P(0.05),2500 U/kg植酸酶组椎骨磷含量最高,椎骨中钙含量除D1和D8组外,添加植酸酶的处理组均较对照组提高显著(P(0.05)。预处理法添加植酸酶的处理组与对照组相比,鱼体和椎骨中粗灰分、磷和钙含量均有显著提高(P(0.05),但植酸酶试验组间椎骨中粗灰分、磷含量和钙含量差异均不显著(P(0.05)。结果表明,金鳟饲料喷涂法添加植酸酶1500~2500 U/kg浓度最适,预处理法添加植酸酶500 U/kg浓度较为宜。     

植酸酶对金鳟粪磷及水环境中磷含量的影响

通过喷涂和预处理两种方法将不同浓度植酸酶添加到豆粕型金鳟(Oncorhynchus mykissW albaum)饲料中,研究了植酸酶对金鳟粪磷及养殖水环境中磷含量的影响。金鳟粪磷分析结果显示,喷涂法添加植酸酶,对照组中粪磷含量最高,其他各试验组较对照组差异显著(P<0.05),但500~2000 U/kg组中粪磷含量差异显著(P<0.05),2500~6000 U/kg组中粪磷含量无显著差异(P(0.05);预处理法添加植酸酶,对照组粪磷含量最高,其他各试验组粪磷含量较对照组降低显著(P<0.05),但添加植酸酶的各试验组之间差异不显著(P(0.05)。通过水中磷含量试分析结果显示,无论是喷涂法添加植酸酶还是预处理法添加植酸酶,各试验组水体总磷含量分别较其对照组差异不显著(P(0.05),各试验组的活性磷含量均未检出。实验结果表明,金鳟饲料中添加植酸酶可以降低粪磷含量,对养殖生产过程中控制磷的排放,减少磷污染具有重要的意义。     

植酸酶对鲤鱼生长及磷利用率的影响

选用300尾体重为50 g左右的鲤鱼鱼种,随机分为5组:对照组、Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组和Ⅳ组。对照组饲喂基础饲料,Ⅰ组饲喂每千克添加1500 U植酸酶的基础饲料,Ⅱ组饲喂每千克添加3000 U植酸酶的基础饲料,Ⅲ组饲喂每千克添加4.5 g Ca(H2PO4)2的基础饲料,Ⅳ组饲喂每千克添加8.9 g Ca(H2PO4)2的基础饲料。结果显示:饲料中添加3000 U/kg和1500 U/kg植酸酶显著地促进了鲤鱼生长,降低了饲料系数,提高了饲料中磷的利用率。与对照组相比,3000 U/kg和1500 U/kg植酸酶组鲤鱼的增重率分别提高61.06%和52.81%,鲤鱼对饲料中磷的表观消化率分别提高65.63%和61.65%,粪磷含量分别下降24.58%和22.88%。本试验表明:植酸酶可以显著地促进鲤鱼的生长和提高磷的利用率。     

植酸酶对黄河鲤鱼生长性能及植酸磷代谢的影响

选用120尾当年鱼种,体重50.10±1.43g,随机分为四组:对照组、Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组,每组 30尾、对照组饲喂基础日粮,Ⅰ组饲喂基础日粮+500U植酸酶,Ⅱ组饲喂基础日粮+1000U植酸酶, Ⅲ组饲喂基础日粮+1500U植酸酶。结果表明:与对照组相比,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组鲤鱼的平均日增重、平均日 采食量都有升高,而饵料系数、死亡率都降低了。而且,饲料中添加植酸酶,提高了植酸磷的利用率, 减少饲料中无机磷的添加量,减少植酸磷对养殖水体的污染。本试验证实:在黄河鲤鱼的饲料中添加 植酸酶可促进鲤鱼的生长和提高植酸磷的利用率。     

饲料中添加植酸酶对南美白对虾生长及磷利用率的影响

在半精制饲料中分别添加1000IU／kg、2000IU／kg、3000IU／kg的植酸酶以及2％Ca(H2PO4)2，以不添加外源磷及植酸酶组为对照，研究以植物蛋白为主要蛋白源的饲料中添加植酸酶对南美白对虾生长和磷消化率的影响。40天的养殖实验结果表明，饲料中添加2％Ca(H2PO4)2，能提高南美白对虾的增重率，但与对照组无显著差异。饲料中添加1000IU／kg植酸酶组的南美白对虾增重率达到最高，但与其它各组没有显著差异。饲料的磷消化率在2％Ca(H2PO4)2组达到最高，蛋白质消化率在各组之间没有明显差异。综上所述，饲料中添加1000IU／kg植酸酶即能有效改善南美白对虾的生长和磷利用率，降低磷排泄。     

有效磷与植酸酶对鸡蛋蛋品质的简单效应分析

选择72周龄的来航蛋鸡144只进行试验,研究在不同有效磷(AP)水平蛋鸡日粮中添加植酸酶,以观察对鸡蛋蛋品质的影响。结果表明:在有效磷为0.14%水平下添加300FTU/kg植酸酶对蛋形指数影响显著(p<0.05),在有效磷为0.22%水平下添加300FTU/kg植酸酶,可使蛋壳厚度明显增加(p<0.05);日粮中添加300FTU/kg植酸酶各组中,有效磷为0.40%组分别与有效磷为0.14%和0.22%组相比,蛋壳厚度明显降低(p<0.05)。     

植酸酶对异育银鲫鱼种增重及植酸磷利用的影响

植物性饲料中，磷主要是以植酸及其盐的形式存在。而植酸、植酸盐被公认为是饲料中的抗营养因子，植酸酶可以解除植酸的抗营养作用，使无机磷的用量大幅度降低，降低鱼体粪便排泄物中磷的含量，提高鱼类增重率，改善动物生产性能。由于鱼体内缺乏分解植酸的植酸酶，大量未被鱼体利用的植酸磷随着粪便排出体外，造成磷资源的浪费和环境的污染，从而使水中溶氧含量起伏变化、水质恶化、鱼体生病或鱼肉带异味，造成巨大的经济损失。本试验初步探讨植酸酶对异育银鲫生长及植酸磷降解的影响，从而为植酸酶和无机盐在鱼类配合饲料中的合理应用提供理论和试验依据。     

植酸酶在虹鳟饲料中应用的研究进展

近年来，随着水产养殖业的快速发展，水产饲料行业也迅猛的发展起来，对植酸酶在虹鳟饲料中的作用也有了新的认识。植酸酶能水解植酸最终释放出无机磷，日粮中添加植酸酶可以提高水产动物对植物原料中磷的利用率并减少粪便中磷的含量。植酸在中性pH值条件下，具有极强的螯合能力，     

饲料中植酸的影响及植酸酶的应用

<正>畜禽日粮以植物性饲料原料为主,饲料中磷的含量可达0.26%～1.37%,但其中60%～85%以植酸磷形式存在。单胃动物体内缺乏内源性植酸酶,对植酸磷的利用率很低,这样不     

Effects of Fungal Phytase on Utilization of Dietary Protein and Minerals, and Dephosphorylation of Phytic Acid in the Alimentary Tract of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Fed an All-Plant-Protein Diet

A feeding trial was conducted to quantify the effects of phytase at levels of 0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 units (U) per kg diet on utilization of dietary protein and minerals by fingerling (12 g) channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus fed an all‐plant‐protein diet composed of soybean meal, corn, and wheat middlings. The effects of phytase on dephosphorylation of phytic acid (phytate) in the alimentary tract of catfish also were determined. After 14 wk, mean weight gains (30.2–43.9 g/fish), feed conversion ratios (2.27–2.40 g feed consumed/g weight gain), protein efficiency ratios (1.47–1.61 g weight gaid/g protein consumed), and dietary protein retentions (23.8–26.7%) did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among treatment groups. A digestibility trial conducted after the feeding trial showed no difference (P > 0.05) in mean digestibility of diet dry matter (49.0–58.3%) or crude protein (85.4‐88.5%) among treatment groups. Concentrations of ash (46.7–48.6%), calcium (Ca, 17.9–18.5%), phosphorus (P, 9.1–9.5%), and manganese (Mn, 65.5–74.1 mg/kg) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in bone of fish fed ≥ 500 U/kg than in bone of fish fed 0 U/kg (ash, 43.5%; Ca, 16.4%; P, 8.4%; and Mn, 49.0 ma/kg), but concentrations of these minerals did not differ (P > 0.05) in bone of fish fed ≥ 500 Uk/g. The magnesium (Mg) content of bone did not differ (P > 0.05) between fish fed 0 U/kg (0.29%) or 500 U/kg (0.34%), but was significantly lower in fish fed 0 U/kg than in fish fed ≥ 1,000 U/kg (0.35–37%). Bone Mg levels did not differ (P > 0.05) among fish fed ≥ 500 U/kg. The amount of zinc (Zn) in bone of fish fed 8,000 U/kg (153.3 mg/kg) was significantly higher than that in fish fed 0 U/kg (115.7 mg/kg) or 500 U/kg (130.3 mg/ kg), but did not differ from Zn levels in bone of fish fed 1,000–4,000 U/kg (134.5–135.8 mg/ kg). Dephosphorylation of phytate occurred primarily in the stomach within 2–8 h after diet ingestion, depending on the level of phytase supplementation. Initial levels of total phytate in the diet decreased 32–94% in stomach contents of fish fed l,000–8,000 U/kg within 2 h after feeding. Eight hours after feeding, stomach contents of fish fed ≥ 1,000 U/kg contained less than 6% of initial total dietary phytate. Stomach contents of fish fed 500 U/kg retained 92% of initial total dietary phytate 2 h after feeding and 15% of total dietary phytate 8 h after feeding. Results of this study indicate that phytase supplementation at levels up to 8,000 U/kg diet did not increase weight gain or improve dietary protein utilization of channel catfish fed an all‐plant‐protein diet. Addition of phytase at a level of 1,000 U/kg diet was sufficient to significantly increase the Ca, P, Mg, and Mn content of bone, relative to fish fed an unsupplemented diet, and significantly decrease the quantity of total phytate in feces. A phytase level of 8,000 U/kg diet significantly increased the bioavailability of naturally occurring Zn in feed ingredients and increased the rate of phytate dephosphorylation in the stomach, compared with a diet containing no added phytase. Increased utilization of naturally occurring minerals in feed ingredients reduces the need for mineral supplements in diets and results in decreased elimination of minerals in feces. Thus, use of phytase in catfish feeds can be expected to provide both economic and environmental benefits.     

Apparent digestibility of protein, energy, and amino acids in some selected feed ingredients for pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus

The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of amino acids (AA), protein, and energy in six feed ingredients (Brazilian fish meal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, alcoholic yeast, corn, and wheat bran) we evaluated for pacu juveniles. In general, all ingredients showed high digestibility values for all AA, and differences among ADCs of individual amino acid were detected ( P  < 0.01). Corn gluten, soybean, and fish meals had the highest ADCs of AA. The ADCs of protein in fish meal, yeast, and corn gluten meal should not be used as AA digestibility indicators, because those showed differences up to 6.7% between the ADCs of protein and AA. All ingredients had lower ADCs of energy than corn gluten meal ( P  < 0.01). Lysine was the first limiting amino acid in fish meal, corn gluten meal, wheat bran, and corn, and the second limiting amino acid in soybean meal, as methionine was the first limiting amino acid in soybean meal and yeast. However, the soybean meal was the best quality protein source, as it had the highest digestible essential amino acid index. This demonstrated that digestible amino acid values can be used to formulate practical diets for pacu, preventing potential deficiencies or excess that might cause environmental and economic losses.     

Dietary plant protein utilization in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L.

The present trials aimed to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with plant proteins in diets for cod, using a regression design where fish meal constituted the control. The plant protein diets were formulated to meet the amino acid requirements according to NRC (1993) and contained corn gluten meal, soybean meal, a mixture of these, or a mixture of wheat gluten meal and soybean concentrate. The plant protein fraction constituted up to 440 g kg⁻¹ of the extruded diet. Two feeding experiments were conducted, one at high (11 °C) and one at low (6.5 °C) temperature. High growth and feed utilization were obtained in all diet groups at both temperatures. However, only in Exp.1 (11 °C), growth and feed utilization were linearly reduced by increases in dietary soybean and corn gluten meal, while no such effect was detected in Exp.2 (6.5 °C). Reductions in protein retention were seen at both temperatures with use of all evaluated plant protein sources. Due to large amounts of plant protein ingredients in diet, differences in diet amino acid composition were seen. These were partly reflected in the muscle free amino acid pool. Dietary plant ingredients did not affect whole body, liver or muscle proximate compositions, or liver indices. In both experiments, blood parameters were within the range of earlier reported normal values and indicated, together with low mortality, good fish health status. The results show that there is high potential to use protein‐rich plant ingredients in diets for Atlantic cod.     

Dietary microbial phytase increased the phosphorus digestibility in juvenile Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli fed diets containing soybean meal

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary microbial phytase supplementation on nutrient digestibility, growth performance and body composition in juvenile Korean rockfish fed soybean meal-based diets.Nine experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric to contain 48.6% crude protein (CP) and 15.9 kJ of available energy/g with or without dietary phytase (Natuphos-5000™, BASF, NJ, USA) supplementation. White fish meal (FM) provided 89.1% of the total protein in the basal diet (S₀), in the other eight diets, 30 or 40% FM protein was replaced by soybean meal: 70% FM+30% soybean meal (S₃₀); 70% FM+30% 1000 U phytase pretreated SM (S₃₀PP₁₀₀₀); 70% FM+30% SM+1000 U phytase/kg diet (S₃₀P₁₀₀₀); 70% FM+30% SM+2000 U phytase/kg diet (S₃₀P₂₀₀₀); 60% FM+40% SM (S₄₀); 60% FM+40% 1000 U P_tre SM (S₄₀PP₁₀₀₀); 60% FM+40% SM+1000 U phytase/kg diet (S₄₀P₁₀₀₀); and 60% FM+40% SM+2000 U phytase/kg diet (S₄₀P₂₀₀₀). After 2 weeks of the adaptation, triplicate groups of 20 fish initially averaging 7.25±0.04 g (mean±S.D.) were randomly distributed into the aquarium and were fed one of the experimental diets for 8 weeks.By the end of the 8-week feeding trial, supplementation of phytase significantly improved the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of phosphorus in rockfish diets (P<0.05) containing 30% and 40% soybean meal regardless of the level and method of phytase supplementation. Supplementation of phytase significantly increased the ADC of dry matter in diets containing 30% soybean meal (P<0.05). However, phytase had no influence on growth performance and whole body composition of fish. The pretreatment of soybean meal with 1000 U phytase improved weight gain (WG) when 30% fish meal protein was replaced by soybean meal. Based on the experimental results, we conclude that supplementation of phytase can improve the apparent digestibility coefficient of phosphorus in Korean rockfish.     

Apparent digestibility coefficients of selected feed ingredients for juvenile snakehead,Ophiocephalus argus

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein, crude lipid, gross energy, phosphorus and amino acids in Peruvian fish meal, poultry by‐product meal, meat and bone meal, spray‐dried blood meal, hydrolysed feather meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, peanut meal, cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal were determined for juvenile snakehead (Ophiocephalus argus) with initial mean body weight of 78.1 g. A reference diet and test diets that consisted of a 70 : 30 mixture of the reference diet to test ingredient were used with 5 g kg^?1 Cr₂O₃ as an external indicator. Fish meal, poultry by‐product meal and corn gluten meal had higher ADCs of dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy among ingredients tested. Dry matter ADCs ranged 61.9–81.5% for animal ingredients and corn gluten meal and ranged 52.2–68.0% for soybean meal, peanut meal, cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal. Energy ADCs of ingredients followed similar trends to differences in dry matter digestibility. Protein ADCs of animal and plant ingredients ranged 73.6–92.8% and 75.3–85.6%, respectively. Amino acid ADCs generally reflected protein digestibility. Lipid ADCs were relatively high for the ingredients tested. Phosphorus ADCs of animal and plant ingredients ranged 39.5–65.2% and 38.7–57.1%, respectively.     

Apparent digestibility of selected ingredients in diets for white shrimp Penaeus setiferus L.

A study was conducted to determine apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter (ADMD), crude protein (ACPD) and gross energy (AED) of selected ingredients in diets for juvenile Penaeus setiferus . Ingredients tested were corn grain, cottonseed meal, crab meal, grain sorghum, meat and bone meal, menhaden fish meal, rice bran, rice grain, shrimp meal, soybean meal, squid liver powder, wheat flour, wheat gluten, wheat middlings and wheat shorts. ADMD coefficients of test ingredients ranged from 22% to 100% and appeared to be related to the fibre, ash and starch content of the ingredient. ACPD coefficients ranged from 58% to 100%. Plant protein supplements (soybean meal and cottonseed meal) were utilized as efficiently as, or better than, animal protein supplements (squid liver powder, menhaden fish meal, meat and bone meal, shrimp meal and crab meal). ACPD coefficients for meat and bone meal, shrimp meal and crab meal (58–59%) were significantly lower than those for menhaden fish meal (76%) and squid liver powder (82%). AED coefficients (44–100%) varied significantly among plant products of similar proximate composition. Corn grain and wheat flour were better utilized by P. setiferus than other high-starch energy supplements. Wheat gluten exhibited the highest ADMD, ACPD and AED coefficients of all ingredients tested.     

Apparent protein and energy digestibility of common and alternative feed ingredients by Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua (Linnaeus, 1758)

Studies were conducted with Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua (L.), to determine the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of protein and energy and the digestible energy (DE) content in feed ingredients widely available in Canada. We also tested the assumption of “independency” used in digestibility studies. The feed ingredients included two fish meals (herring, anchovy), three crustacean by-product meals (whole krill, crab, shrimp), two animal by-product meals (poultry by-product, hydrolyzed feather), six oilseed meals (soybean, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, canola, canola protein concentrate, flaxseed), two pulse meals (white lupin, pea protein concentrate) and two cereal grain meals (corn gluten, wheat gluten). Protein ADCs were high for wheat gluten meal (99.9%), soy protein concentrate (98.6%), soy protein isolate (97.4%), whole krill meal (96.3%), herring meal (93.3%), soybean meal (92.3%), anchovy meal (92.2%), pea protein concentrate (89.8%), white lupin meal (89.7%), crab meal (89.4%), canola protein concentrate (88.8%) and corn gluten meal (86.3%); mid-range for poultry by-product meal (80.2%) and canola meal (76.0%); and low for shrimp meal (66.7%), hydrolyzed feather meal (62.4%) and flaxseed meal (50.2-55.0%). Energy ADC was high for whole krill meal (96.3%), wheat gluten meal (95.4%), soy protein concentrate (94.9%), herring meal (92.8%), soy protein isolate (92.1%), soybean meal (88.1%) and anchovy meal (86.4%); mid-range for canola protein concentrate (83.3%), corn gluten meal (82.7%), crab meal (82.4%), pea protein concentrate (76.7%) and white lupin meal (75.3%); and low for poultry by-product meal (71.0%), canola meal (60.6%), hydrolyzed feather meal (58.9%), shrimp meal (41.4%) and flaxseed meal (21.2-37.4%). From the protein ADC data, results clearly showed that the basal diet and test feed ingredients were digested independently of one another in nearly all cases, the only exceptions being for those diets containing test ingredients of very high (> 99%, wheat gluten) or very low (< 67%, hydrolyzed feather and flaxseed) protein ADCs. In the case of DE, the basal diet and test feed ingredients were digested independently in all test diets without exception.     

Apparent Digestibility of Different Ingredients in Diets for Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Tadpoles

The objective of this study was to determine apparent digestibility of protein and energy of ingredients commonly present in rations fed to bullfrog tadpoles Rana catesbeiana such as corn, soybean meal, wheat meal, rice bran, poultry by-product meal, blood meal, fish meal, corn starch and soybean oil.
A completely randomized design was used to test ten experimental diets with four replicates. About 30% of the reference diet was replaced by the test ingredients, except for soybean oil that was used at 10% ratio and 0.5% of chromium oxide as inert marker. The values of apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein (ADC_CP) and gross energy (ADC_GE) of the protein ingredients were, respectively: fish meal, 81 and 95%; poultry byproduct meal, 82 and 87%; blood meal, 64 and 53%; and soybean meal, 93 and 90%. While for the energetic ingredients, ADC_CP and ADC_GE, were, respectively: wheat meal, 100 and 72%; rice bran, 57 and 24%; and corn, 84 and 92%. Soybean oil and cornstarch ADC_GE values were 70 and 96%, respectively; cornstarch digestibility is highly dependent on feed processing technique.
The results showed that the ingredients of plant origin, except for rice bran, had good digestibility, thus indicating that tadpoles can effectively use plant protein. In this trial, the least digestible ingredients were blood meal and rice bran, thus indicating that the use of such ingredients in bullfrog tadpole diets should be limited.     

Digestibility of nutrients and energy in ingredients for bullfrogs during different phases of development

The ability of frogs to digest dietary nutrients changes with growth, with the animals becoming more or less demanding. The objective of this study was to determine the apparent digestibility coefficients of protein, energy and ether extract of 14 ingredients used in bullfrog diets (spray‐dried blood meal, hydrolysed feather meal, poultry by‐product meal, red blood cell concentrate, tilapia by‐product meal, sardine fishmeal, salmon fishmeal, meat and bone meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, corn, wheat bran, soy protein concentrate and soybean oil). A total of 2,325 bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) in different phases of development were used: early phase (mean weight of 30–50 g), growth phase (80–110 g) and finishing phase (150–200 g). Faeces were collected using the method of dissection. Marked differences in digestibility of the ingredients were observed between the different phases of frog development. Among the ingredients studied, salmon fishmeal and corn gluten meal showed good utilization of the protein (78.9% and 86.7%, respectively) and energy fraction (89.4% and 83.3%, respectively). The salmon fishmeal, poultry by‐product meal, sardine fishmeal, soy protein concentrate, wheat bran and soybean oil exhibited good ether extract utilization (81.2%–92.8%), recommending their use in bullfrog diets.     

Balance trials with African catfish Clarias gariepinus fed phytase-treated soybean meal-based diets

Balance trials were conducted with African catfish Clarias gariepinus to assess the effect of phytase treatment of soybean meal-based diets on growth, feed utilization and nutrient budgets. Isocaloric (20–22 kJ g⁻¹) and isonitrogenous (47–50% protein) diets were tested. In a first experiment the control diet (58% fish meal and 18% soybean meal) was compared with two diets containing 6% fish meal and 69% soybean meal, and two diets containing 29% fish meal and 41% soybean meal. One of each of these two diets had been pretreated with phytase (1000 units per kg dry diet). In the second experiment, the control diet (6% fish meal and 69% soybean meal, pretreated with 1000 units phytase kg⁻¹ dry diet) was compared with four diets that were similar in composition but supplemented with increasing amounts of phytase (15, 380, 750, 1000 units kg⁻¹ dry diet). Replacement of fish meal by soybean meal in the first experiment led to a depression in growth rate and feed utilization parameters. Results of both experiments clearly indicated a positive effect of phytase treatment, particularly on phosphorus digestibility and retention, and consequently the phosphorus conversion efficiency and the phosphorus budget. No differences in these parameters were found between addition of equal amounts of phytase by pretreatment or supplementation.