Effect of dietary protein content on growth rate,survival and body composition of juvenile cauque river prawn,Macrobrachium americanum (Bate 1868)

We determined the effect of four concentrations of dietary crude protein, 30.7, 37.2, 41.8 and 46.8% on growth rate, survival and body composition of the juvenile cauque river prawn (Macrobrachium americanum). The prawns were hatched in the laboratory from the spawn of one wild ovigerous female. Prawns consuming 37.2% crude protein reached a final weight of 0.58 g (feed conversion ratio of 2.15), which was significantly better than the other treatments. Survival was 100% in all treatments. Protein content in the diets had no significant effect on whole body proximate composition and amino acid profile. Juveniles consuming the 37.2% crude protein diet grew faster than those fed the other diets. Specific growth rate was adjusted to the two‐slope broken‐line regression analysis model to estimate the optimal protein requirement. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the 37.2% protein level diet is optimal for juvenile cauque river prawn M. americanum in the experimental conditions of this study.     

Growth and economic analysis of freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), produced with feeds substituting sunflower cake for fish meal,soya bean meal and mustard oil cake

A feeding trial with Macrobrachium rosenbergii was carried out to test the effectiveness of sunflower cake (SFC) as a replacement for conventional protein sources. Four isonitrogenous (~30% crude protein) and isocaloric (388–402 kcal) diets were formulated. Diet‐1 was a control made with conventional ingredients including fish meal, soya bean meal and mustard oil cake. Diet‐2, Diet‐3 and Diet‐4 were made with 30%, 40% and 50% SFC, respectively, replacing the usual protein sources used in Diet‐1. After 100 days, diets with SFC inclusion showed favourable growth and economic performance trends compared to control diet‐1, but without significant differences (p > .05). Better production (572.89 ± 62.99 kg/ha) was observed with Diet‐4 followed by Diet‐2, Diet‐3 and Diet‐1. Diet‐4 revealed the best feed conversion ratio (2.56 ± 0.24), specific growth rate (1.18 ± 0.05) and protein efficiency ratio (1.14 ± 0.10) among these diets. Whole carcass composition analysis revealed highest crude protein (18.19%) and lipid (4.43%) content in prawns fed Diet‐3 followed by Diet‐4. Highest total income, gross margin and benefit cost ratio (BCR) per hectare from prawns were US$5,759, US$2,623 and 1.84, respectively, found in Diet‐4. This study demonstrates that 30%–50% inclusion of SFC has favourable impacts on productivity and profitability compared with controls, with 50% SFC inclusion as the most cost‐effective diet for prawns without apparent compromise in growth, flesh quality or economics. The performances of the diets suggest that SFC may be a suitable substitute for fishmeal, soya bean meal and mustard oil cake in prawn feed. The effectiveness of higher SFC concentrations should also be investigated.     

Understanding farmers’ potato production practices and use of improved varieties in Chencha,Ethiopia

This study was carried out to better understand non-adoption of improved varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum) and associated technologies by smallholder farmers in Chencha, Ethiopia. Data were collected through a survey (n = 47) and in-depth interviews (n = 20). It shows how wealth status was a factor of major importance. Most wealthy and some medium-wealthy farmers adopted improved potato varieties and many of the improved production practices; they had access to seed, associated knowledge and support, and sufficient resources that were necessary to apply the improved practices. Non-adoption was common among many medium-wealthy and most poor farmers: they lacked—next to access to the technologies and knowledge—cash, land, and labor. Results indicated the need to rethink research and intervention efforts. Next to paying attention to differences in the access to technology and the related knowledge, there is a need to consider the variation in technology needs, supporting microcredit services, and room to experiment. As a result, different combinations of improved production practices may be adopted.     

水流作用下一种养殖金属网衣水阻力特性的数值模拟研究

为保障深远海金属网箱养殖系统的结构安全,进行网箱结构的水动力学研究是一项重要的工作。构成金属网箱主要组成部分的金属网衣是一种小直径多孔的网状结构,在波浪和水流作用下的水动力学特性与一般的海洋工程结构物有显著不同。本文基于有限元基本原理,采用梁单元模拟金属网线结构,采用连接单元模拟网线接触部位的相互作用,并运用ABAQUS软件进行数值计算,在试验验证的基础上,分析了在水流作用下一种金属菱形链网衣在不同网目尺寸、不同网线直径情况下的水阻力变化情况。数值模拟结果表明在各种工况下,当网目尺寸由25 mm增加到35 mm、45 mm时,网衣受力增加幅度的平均值分别为14.71%和38.07%;当网线直径由2.5 mm增加到3.2 mm、4.0 mm时,各工况下网衣受力增加幅度的平均值分别为25.05%和45.06%。研究结果可以为进一步开展深海养殖金属网箱水动力特性研究提供积极的基础。     

High dietary energy level stimulates growth hormone receptor and feed utilization in large Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) under hypoxic conditions

This study examines how appetite and growth regulation of Atlantic salmon are affected by low dissolved oxygen (LO) and dietary digestible energy levels (DE: high [HE] vs. low [LE]). Long‐term exposure to LO resulted in a reduced feed intake, growth, digestible protein and fat retention efficiencies and increased feed conversation ratio and plasma ghrelin concentrations (p < .05) compared to high dissolved oxygen (HO). Pair‐feeding of rations based on the feed intake of the LO groups, but fed at HO, resulted in a 50% growth improvement in HE diet groups. This suggests that the poor growth under LO was not entirely caused by the reduced feed intake. Salmon adapted to LO by increased haemoglobin concentrations, while osmoregulation was affected by increased plasma chloride concentrations (p < .05). Plasma ghrelin concentration was unaffected by DE (p > .05). Growth regulation was affected by the HE diet, with increased liver and muscle growth hormone receptor ghr1 mRNA (p < .05), regardless of oxygen level. The growth depression due to low oxygen appears to be related to higher metabolic costs, while higher DE upregulates the GH‐IGF system at the ghr1 level and found to be beneficial for growth, feed intake, oxyregulation and osmoregulation under hypoxia.     

Effects of Panax ginseng extract in practical diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on growth performance,immune response and resistance to Yersinia ruckeri

In a preliminary in vitro study, a Panax ginseng extract exhibited an evident antibacterial activity against Yersinia ruckeri and Lactococcus garvieae and affected the respiratory burst and proliferation of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss leukocytes. Subsequently, the effects of a dietary ginseng extract supplementation on growth, blood biochemical profile, innate immune response and resistance against Y. ruckeri infection were investigated in vivo in rainbow trout juveniles. Four experimental diets were obtained by adding 0.0%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03% of ginseng ethanolic extract to a commercial feed. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish (mean body weight 30.5 ± 0.15 g) at 1% of body weight day^?1 for 10 weeks. The dietary supplementation with ginseng extract did not affect growth performance, feed utilization, biometric traits and fish whole body composition (P > 0.05). No major changes due to graded levels of ginseng extract in the diet were observed in blood biochemical parameters except for increasing plasma triglycerides and non‐esterified fatty acids in fish fed diets including 0.01% and 0.02% of extract (P < 0.05). The innate immune response was barely modulated by the dietary addition of ginseng extract. Serum lysozyme and leukocytes respiratory burst activities were just slightly increased in fish fed all the ginseng extract‐supplemented diets compared with controls, whereas serum antiproteases and leukocyte MPO were not affected (P > 0.05). The dietary administration of ginseng extract induced a reduction in mortality of rainbow trout infected with Y. ruckeri, although no significant differences between treated and control groups were observed (P > 0.05).     

靖粳26号的特征特性及高产栽培技术

靖粳26号系由云南省曲靖市农业科学院选育的优质粳稻新品种,具有良好的丰产性和优异的抗逆性,是一个适应性较广的优质、高产、耐寒、多抗粳稻新品种。     

Effect of dietary phosphorus levels on growth and body composition of crucian carp,Carassius auratus under indoor and outdoor experiments

Indoor and outdoor experiments were carried out simultaneously to evaluate the effects of dietary phosphorus levels on growth performance and body composition of crucian carp. Monocalcium was used to formulate extruded feed containing available phosphorus (AP) of 1.5 (D1), 4.7 (D2), 6.3 (D3) and 9.0 (D4) g kg^?1. Twelve 500‐L recirculating tanks were assigned to four triplicate groups with each tank stocked with 15 juveniles (39.88 ± 0.14 g) for indoor experiment. Twelve polyethylene enclosures were assigned to four groups with each one stocked with 120 juveniles (44.08 ± 1.36 g). After 8 weeks of feeding, survival ranged from 96% to 100%. Weight gain, special growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion rate did not show significant differences among dietary treatments in both experiments. Fish cultured in the enclosures grew better, although D1 and D2 treatments did not reach significant level. Crude protein and phosphorus content of the fish were not significantly affected by dietary phosphorus level. Moisture, crude lipid, crude ash and vertebrae phosphorus were significantly affected by different phosphorus levels. Based on vertebrae phosphorus, crucian carp cultured in the tanks and in the enclosures showed phosphorus deficiency under 4.7 g kg^?1 and 6.3 g kg^?1 AP, respectively.     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels with different protein‐to‐energy ratios on growth performance,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile red‐spotted grouper,Epinephelus akaara

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile red‐spotted grouper (7.85 ± 0.03 g fish^?1). Nine semi‐purified diets were formulated containing varying protein levels (440–520 g kg^?1, dry matter) and lipid levels (60–120 g kg^?1, dry matter). The weight gain of juvenile Epinephelus akaara was affected by dietary protein (p = .005) and its interaction with dietary lipid (p = .020). Viscerosomatic index, intraperitoneal fat ratio and whole‐body lipid level increased with increasing dietary lipid level (p < .001). Nitrogen retention was not affected by dietary protein and lipid, while lipid retention decreased with increasing dietary lipid level (p < .001). The plasma blood urea nitrogen increased with increasing dietary protein level (p = .003). This study showed that diet with 520 g kg^?1 protein and 60 g kg^?1 lipid with 30.58 mg kJ^?1 P:E provided a maximal growth for this species. Moreover, an increase in dietary lipid levels (from 60 to 90 g kg^?1) could reduce the protein requirement (from 520 to 480 g kg^?1) without affecting the growth performance, while higher fat deposition was observed in fish fed high‐lipid diets.     

饲料脂肪水平对俄罗斯鲟幼鱼生长、血液生化指标及抗氧化性能的影响

以鱼油、豆油、亚麻籽油等比例混合,配成脂肪含量分别为5.45%(L1)、7.00%(L2)、10.44%(L3)、14.37%(L4)、16.34%(L5)、18.91%(L6)及20.15%(L7)的等氮饲料,饲喂俄罗斯鲟(Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)幼鱼[(6.20±0.02)g]8周。实验结果表明,L3组的终末体质量、增重率最大,但与L2组间无显著差异(P0.05),L3组的蛋白质效率显著高于其它组(P0.05),且饲料系数最低。L6和L7组终末体质量、增重率和蛋白质效率显著低于L2和L3组(P0.05)。将幼鱼的增重率与饲料脂肪水平进行回归分析,得出俄罗斯鲟幼鱼在饲料脂肪水平为10.69%时生长最佳。随着饲料脂肪水平的升高,各组鱼的肝体比和体粗脂肪有上升趋势,其中肝体比在饲料脂肪含量大于14.37%时显著增大(P0.05)。血清中的甘油三酯、胆固醇含量也随脂肪水平升高而显著提高(P0.05),提示脂肪过高会影响俄罗斯鲟幼鱼的生长,降低蛋白质效率,导致脂肪在体内的过量积蓄。L7组鱼血清中高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量最高,而L1组鱼的低密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量最高。肝脏脂蛋白酯酶活性随饲料脂肪水平的提高而升高,脂肪酸合成酶活性则随脂肪水平升高而降低,提示饲料脂肪水平的提高会促进鱼体脂肪的分解代谢。肝脏丙二醛含量和超氧化物歧化酶活性均随着饲料脂肪水平的提高显著升高(P0.05),表明脂肪含量过高会导致脂质过氧化,引发机体抗氧化酶活性的升高。综合俄罗斯鲟幼鱼的生长、血液指标及抗氧化性能,建议生产中将幼鱼的饲料脂肪水平控制在7.00%~10.69%。