Effect of cultivated copepods (Acartia tonsa) in first‐feeding of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) larvae

The aim of this study was to compare the nutritional composition and effects of short periods with cultivated copepod nauplii versus rotifers in first‐feeding. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) larvae were given four different dietary regimes in the earliest start‐feeding period. One group was fed the copepod Acartia tonsa nauplii (Cop), a second fed enriched rotifers (RotMG), a third fed unenriched rotifers (RotChl) and a fourth copepods for the seven first days of feeding and enriched rotifers the rest of the period (Cop7). Cod larvae were fed Artemia sp. between 20 and 40 dph (days posthatching), and ballan wrasse between 36 and 40 dph, with weaning to a formulated diet thereafter. In addition to assessing growth and survival, response to handling stress was measured. This study showed that even short periods of feeding with cultivated copepod nauplii (7 days) had positive long‐term effects on the growth and viability of the fish larvae. At the end of both studies (60 days posthatching), fish larvae fed copepods showed higher survival, better growth and viability than larvae fed rotifers. This underlines the importance of early larval nutrition.     

Diet,size and location as determinants of n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content in farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

We explored how currently manufactured feeds, under real‐world conditions and across geographically distinct locations, promoted flesh n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC‐PUFA, i.e. 20:5n‐3 + 22:6n‐3) levels in various life stages of farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar). Potential effects on flesh LC‐PUFA included: (1) diet and fish weight at one Canadian east coast farm, (2) diet and farm location across six east coast farms, and (3) diet and farm location between east and west coast farms. For objectives 1 and 2, salmon were fed a currently manufactured feed (labelled as feeds A, B or C) and harvested at 1, 3 and 5 kg. LC‐PUFA levels in 5 kg (harvest size) fish were then compared to previously published values for west coast farmed Atlantic Salmon (Obj. 3). Combined results revealed that variability in LC‐PUFA levels was better explained by diet than by fish weight or farm location. Fish size, however, was also important for two reasons. First, feeding a high LC‐PUFA diet early in life appeared important for ensuring high LC‐PUFA levels at harvest size. Second, salmon flesh LC‐PUFA levels increased with fish size, but only when dietary LC‐PUFA was provided above an apparent threshold value (~3000 mg per 100 g or 10% of total fatty acids) that likely promoted LC‐PUFA incorporation and storage. Overall, our comparison makes new recommendations for feed manufacturers and demonstrates that farmed Atlantic Salmon reared under real‐world conditions on currently available salmon feeds were good sources of n‐3 LC‐PUFA to consumers.     

Effects of supplementary feeds with different protein levels on growth and economic performances of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in a rain-fed rice–fish ecosystem

This study investigated the effects of supplementary feeds with different crude protein (CP) levels on the growth and economic performances of sex-reversed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in a rain-fed rice–fish ecosystem for a period of 120 days. There were four treatments—namely, traditional feed (21% CP), formulated feed (26% CP), commercial feed (30% CP), and control (no feed was used)—with three replicates per treatment. Fish (30.04 g) were stocked in ditches at a rate of 0.5 fish m^?2 considering the total area and fed one of the tested feeds twice daily at the rate of 2%–5% of body weight. Water-quality parameters of the ditches were monitored fortnightly, and these parameters were found suitable for fish farming. Organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorous in soil were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the feed treatments after fish cultivation. Highly significant weight gain and SGR were observed with fish fed the commercial feed as compared with other treatments. The highest benefit-cost ratio (2.15) was found in the control, followed by formulated feed (1.90), but in the case of numerical net return, it was the opposite. However, commercial feed showed the lowest benefit-cost ratio (1.67) due to higher feed cost than other supplementary feeds. Therefore, this study suggests that fish fed with a formulated feed (26% CP) produced significantly higher net economic return in the rice–fish farming system.     

Comparative effects of Shirazi thyme and vitamin E on some growth and plasma biochemical changes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during cadmium exposure

Phytobiotics include a large number of active components which potentially have a growth‐promoting effects and antioxidant properties. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of Shirazi thyme and vitamin E on growth and plasma biochemical parameters of common carp exposed to cadmium. Fish (34 ± 3 g) were divided into four groups and fed four distinct diets including commercial diet without any additive (for control and metal only group) and supplemented with either 1% ground Shirazi thyme or 100 mg kg^?1 vitamin E for 45 days. At the end of the feeding trial, all treatments except control group were exposed to sub‐lethal concentration of waterborne cadmium for 15 days and sampling was done on days 0, 7 and 15 after the metal exposure. According to the results, dietary inclusion of thyme prevented the harmful effects of cadmium and also improved fish growth and nutritional indices including weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and condition factor. Results also revealed that Shirazi thyme was more effective than vitamin E. Similarly, no changes in the hepatosomatic, viscerosomatic and bile somatic indices were observed. Plasma enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH) and metabolites were not altered due to thyme supplementation compared to the control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 1% ground Shiraz thyme improved the growth and health status of fish and showed better hepatorenoprotective properties than vitamin E during waterborne cadmium exposure in common carp juveniles. It might be conceivable to consider Shirazi thyme as a potential phytobiotic for incorporation in fish diet.     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

Impacts of diet on hindgut microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Diet is known to influence intestinal microbiota in fish, but the specifics of these impacts are still poorly understood. Different protein/fibre ratio diets may result in differing structures and activities of gut microbiota. We examined the hindgut microbiome of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fed three different diets: fish meal (FM, high protein – low fibre), Sudan grass (SG, high fibre – low protein) and compound feed (CF, intermediate). Microbial profiles of fish fed on FM were significantly different from profiles of fish fed CF and SG (F = 18.85, p < .01). Cetobacterium, known to be positively associated with protein digestion, was the dominant microbial group in FM samples (approximately 75.7%), while Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, thought to be involved in fermentation of plant polysaccharides, were dominant in CF and SG samples (46.8% and 42.9% respectively). Network analyses indicated that the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae was in a significantly positive correlation (r = .895, p = .001). Short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels may indicate that the digestibility of diet by microbiota in the grass carp gut decreased from FM to SG (FM>CF>SG). Overall low SCFA levels indicate that hindgut fermentation probably provides a low proportion of energy requirements in grass carp.     

饲料中无机元素分析方法研究进展

饲料中所含的无机元素对动物生长具有重要意义。在饲料中过量添加无机元素会导致环境污染问题,也会通过食物链最终危害消费者的身体健康,因此,对饲料产品中的无机元素进行检测和动态监控尤为重要。综述了近年来饲料中无机元素含量检测主要应用的前处理方法及其含量检测技术,分析了不同前处理方法和含量检测技术的优点和不足,以期为饲料中无机元素分析方法的科学、合理应用提供参考。     

明胶骨原料碳、氮稳定同位素的地域性差异研究

为探讨不同地域来源的明胶骨原料中碳、氮稳定同位素的分布特征及其相关性,本试验采用元素分析-稳定同位素比率质谱仪测定了广西、内蒙古和山东3个主产区的牛骨样品及当地牧草饲料样品中的¹³C和¹⁵N同位素组成,并结合线性回归讨论了牛骨样品中δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N值的相关性与牛食谱组成的关系。结果表明,广西地区骨样品中δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N值的相关性较好(R²=0.401 8),而内蒙古和山东地区骨样品中δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N值的相关性较差(R²<0.1),反映了3地牛食物的来源稳定性及主要成分存在明显差异,对各地牛食谱结构推测的结果与实际牧草饲料样品中δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N值的地区分布规律也较为一致。本研究初步揭示了明胶骨原料中碳、氮稳定同位素产生地域性差异的原因,不仅为动物生态学研究提供了有益信息,更为动物制品产地溯源研究提供了新思路。     

夏休闲期复种饲料油菜提升后作冬小麦产量品质、土壤肥力及周年经济效益研究

为明确晋中麦区夏休闲期复种饲料油菜的可行性,试验于2015-2016年采用大田试验法,研究了夏休闲期复种饲料油菜对后作冬小麦生长、麦田土壤养分及周年经济效益的影响。前茬小麦收获后复种油菜,供试油菜和小麦品种分别为华油杂62和CA0547,设置3个处理:以不种油菜的休闲田作为对照(CK₀),油菜地上部被收获为CK₁,油菜被全量还田为T。结果表明,与CK₀和CK₁相比,T有利于增加后作冬小麦抽穗前单株绿叶数,提高生育中后期植株干物质及N、P积累,保持灌浆期旗叶面积,进而增加穗粒数,提高籽粒产量,提高籽粒蛋白质及醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白含量;同时T有利于提高后作冬小麦020 cm土层土壤有机质含量、040 cm土层土壤脲酶和蔗糖酶活性。此外,从油菜-小麦周年经济效益来看,CK₁较CK₀和T分别高出128.9%和260.0%。综合分析可知,夏休闲期复种饲料油菜并且全量还田可以提高小麦产量,提升籽粒品质,改良土壤有机质含量和土壤酶活性;夏休期复种饲料油菜并收获可以获得更高的周年经济效益。本研究结果为合理利用夏休闲期以提升小麦产量与品质、改良土壤、提高年经济效益提供了理论依据。