Embodied Resources in Fish and Shrimp Feeds

Global averages were obtained for amounts of energy, land, water, wildfish, nitrogen, and phosphorus embodied in aquaculture feed ingredients. These data allowed amounts of these embodied resources to be calculated for typical feed formulations for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; hybrid catfish, I. punctatus♀ × I. furcatus♂; Vietnamese catfish, Pangasius spp.; Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar; rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss; tilapia, Oreochromis spp.; whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei; and black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Embodied resource use per m.t. of feed varied among species: energy, 4.90–12.48 GJ/m.t.; land, 0.082–0.312 ha/m.t.; water, 502–1227 m³/m.t.; wildfish, 0–2880 kg/m.t.; nitrogen, 3.08–8.63 kg/m.t.; phosphorus, 1.16–5.62 kg/m.t. These calculations did not account for variations in site‐specific factors related to embodied resources and feed composition and use. But they suggest that reducing feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 0.1 unit for the seven species (species groups) could potentially reduce feed use by around 1.1 million tonne (Mt) while conserving 9.8 million GJ of energy, 270,000 ha of agricultural land, 1.4 billion m³ of freshwater, and 1.24 Mt of wildfish. Reduction of the FCR is a powerful means of lessening farm‐level production costs and negative impacts of feed production and use.     

Investigating external effects of shrimp farming on rice farming in southern Thailand: a technical efficiency approach

Rice and shrimp farming are two important economic activities in rural southern Thailand that compete each other in land allocation leading to land use conflicts. Moreover, it can be observed that the conversion of rice fields to shrimp farms is already extended from coastal areas to the inlands. These conversions are making more area be saline which is essential condition for shrimp cultivation but deleterious for rice farming. We are looking at the unidirectional externalities originating from the conversion which brings the productivity of adjacent rice fields further down. This study attempts to quantify the external effects on rice yield and efficiency of rice farming by constructing three models. Model I, we assess the rice yield function by using the multiple linear regression while in Model II, we attempt to delineate the technical efficient frontier of rice farms by using an input oriented non-parametric approach, so called data envelopment analysis. Model III, we probe into the factors influencing technical efficiency scores using the Tobit regression. Database of the study is constituted by primary survey data from 120 rice farms in Songkhla province for the crop year 2004/2005. The 30 out of 120 sample farms have been affected by externality of shrimp farming. The empirical results of all three models show that shrimp farming externalities caused a production drop of 467–515 kg paddy rice per ha and significantly affect the technical efficiency of rice farms. The measures of internalizing this externality are discussed.     

Evaluations of lactic acid bacteria as probiotics for juvenile seabass Lates calcarifer

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from adult, wild‐caught and farmed seabass (Lates calcarifer) intestines for evaluation as possible probiotics using the well agar diffusion method. Five LAB isolates (designated as LAB‐1–5) were found to inhibit Aeromonas hydrophila, a known seabass pathogen. Median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) of A. hydrophila on juvenile seabass were measured in aquaria. Median lethal concentration values of 7.76, 7.47 and 7.26 log₁₀ CFU mL^?1 for 72, 96 and 120 h, respectively, were found. Juvenile seabass (0.6±0.2 g) were cultured in aquaria and fed individual LAB‐1–5 fortified feeds with 7 log₁₀ CFU g^?1 LAB. Seabass fed LAB‐4 fortified feed had significantly greater growth (P<0.05) than fish fed other feeds. Seabass fed LAB‐4 also had greater survival, but this was non‐significant (P<0.05). Challenge tests of LAB‐4 fed seabass with A. hydrophila at ～7 log₁₀CFU mL^?1 yielded significantly greater survival compared with control seabass (P<0.05). Aeromonas hydrophila infections in seabass were confirmed by observing disease manifestation and by immunohistochemistry techniques. LAB‐4 was preliminarily identified using lactic acid analysis, biochemical and physical characteristics. It was further identified using 16S rDNA sequencing. LAB‐4 was identified as Weissella confusa (identity of 99%). GenBank accession number for the 16S rDNA sequence for LAB‐4 was AB023241.     

Effect of maropitant,a neurokinin‐1 receptor antagonist,on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane during stimulation of the ovarian ligament in cats

ObjectiveDetermine if maropitant decreases the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane during stimulation of the ovarian ligament in cats.Study designProspective study.AnimalsFifteen, female cats weighing 2.5 ± 0.6kg (mean ± SD).MethodsAnesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane. The right ovary was accessed via laparoscopy. A suture around the ovary and ovarian ligament was exteriorized through the abdominal wall for stimulation. A stimulus–response curve was created to identify the optimal force for MAC comparisons. In 10 cats, MAC was determined with only sevoflurane (baseline) then after 1 and 5 mg kg^?1 intravenous maropitant administration. The stimulation tension force used was 4.9 N. Repeated measures anova was used to compare the groups. MAC was defined as the average of the cross‐over concentrations and reported MAC is adjusted to sea‐level and depicted as mean ± SD.ResultsThe stimulus‐response curve was hyperbolic and plateaued at 4.3 ± 3 N. The optimal tension force chosen to compare MAC was 4.9 N. The baseline sevoflurane MAC was 2.96 ± 0.3%. Maropitant, 1 mg kg^?1, decreased the MAC to 2.51 ± 0.3% (15%, p < 0.01). The higher maropitant dose of 5 mg kg^?1 did not change MAC further when compared to the low dose (2.46 ± 0.4%, p = 0.33).Conclusion and clinical relevanceThe ovarian ligament stimulation model is suitable to determine MAC during visceral stimulation in cats. Maropitant decreased the anesthetic requirements during visceral ovarian and ovarian ligament stimulation in cats. Maropitant (1 mg kg^?1) decreases MAC by 15%; a higher dose had no additional effect.     

Cardiovascular,respiratory, electrolyte and acid–base balance during continuous dexmedetomidine infusion in anesthetized dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cardiovascular, respiratory, electrolyte and acid–base effects of a continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine during propofol–isoflurane anesthesia following premedication with dexmedetomidine.Study designProspective experimental study.AnimalsFive adult male Walker Hound dogs 1–2 years of age averaging 25.4 ± 3.6 kg.MethodsDogs were sedated with dexmedetomidine 10 μg kg^?1 IM, 78 ± 2.3 minutes (mean ± SD) before general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (2.5 ± 0.5 mg kg^?1) IV and maintained with 1.5% isoflurane. Thirty minutes later dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg kg^?1 IV was administered over 5 minutes followed by an infusion of 0.5 μg kg^?1 hour^?1. Cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), ECG, direct blood pressure, body temperature, respiratory parameters, acid–base and arterial blood gases and electrolytes were measured 30 and 60 minutes after the infusion started. Data were analyzed via multiple linear regression modeling of individual variables over time, compared to anesthetized baseline values. Data are presented as mean ± SD.ResultsNo statistical difference from baseline for any parameter was measured at any time point. Baseline CO, HR and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) before infusion were 3.11 ± 0.9 L minute^?1, 78 ± 18 beats minute^?1 and 96 ± 10 mmHg, respectively. During infusion CO, HR and MAP were 3.20 ± 0.83 L minute^?1, 78 ± 14 beats minute^?1 and 89 ± 16 mmHg, respectively. No differences were found in respiratory rates, PaO₂, PaCO₂, pH, base excess, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium or lactate measurements before or during infusion.Conclusions and clinical relevanceDexmedetomidine infusion using a loading dose of 0.5 μg kg^?1 IV followed by a constant rate infusion of 0.5 μg kg^?1 hour^?1 does not cause any significant changes beyond those associated with an IM premedication dose of 10 μg kg^?1, in propofol–isoflurane anesthetized dogs. IM dexmedetomidine given 108 ± 2 minutes before onset of infusion showed typical significant effects on cardiovascular parameters.     

Effects of continuous intravenous infusion of morphine and morphine‐tramadol on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane and electroencephalographic entropy indices in dogs

ObjectiveTo compare the effects of continuous rate infusions (CRIs) of intravenous (IV) morphine and morphine-tramadol on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane, and on electroencephalographic entropy indices in dogs.DesignProspective study.AnimalsEight young, healthy German shepherds, weighing 26.3 ± 3.1 kg (mean ± SD).MethodsAnaesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane. A standard tail-clamp technique was used for MAC determination. Within one anaesthetic period, MAC was first determined during sevoflurane anaesthesia alone (MAC_B); then during morphine infusion (MAC_M), (loading dose 0.5 mg kg⁻¹IM; CRI, 0.2 mg kg⁻¹hour⁻¹⁾ then finally during morphine-tramadol infusion (tramadol loading dose 1.5 mg kg⁻¹IV; CRI, 2.6 mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹) (MAC_MT). At each change, periods of 45 minutes were allowed for equilibration. Stated entropy (SE), response entropy (RE), and RE-SE differences were measured five minutes prior to and during tail clamping.ResultsThe MAC_B was 2.1 ± 0.3vol%. The morphine and morphine-tramadol infusions reduced MAC to 1.6 ± 0.3vol% and 1.3 ± 0.3vol%, respectively. MAC was decreased below baseline more during morphine-tramadol than during morphine alone (39 ± 9% versus 25 ± 6%, respectively; p = 0.003). All SE and RE and most RE-SE differences were increased significantly (p < 0.05) over pre-stimulation in all groups when the dogs responded purposefully to noxious stimulation. When no response to noxious stimulation occurred, the entropy indices did not change.Conclusion and clinical relevanceIn dogs, combined morphine-tramadol CRI decreased sevoflurane MAC more than morphine CRI alone. Entropy indices changed during nociceptive responses in anaesthetized animals, suggesting that entropy measurements may be useful in determining anaesthetic depth in dogs.     

Tomato necrotic ring virus (TNRV), a recently described tospovirus species infecting tomato and pepper in Thailand

Two tospovirus isolates collected from tomato and bell pepper in Thailand were studied. The isolates induced severe necrotic mottling and/or necrotic spots and rings on the leaves and fruits of the respective plants as confirmed by back-inoculation. A polyclonal antiserum raised against its nucleocapsid (N) protein reacted only with an extract from plants infected with the homologous virus. Analysis of the nucleocapsid (N) gene sequence and its deduced amino acid sequence (Mw ∼31 kDa) showed 99% amino acid sequence homology with that of Tomato necrotic ring virus (TNRV). The nucleotide sequence of the 5΄ untranslated region and intergenic region flanking the N gene revealed typical features of the S RNA segment of tospoviruses. Mechanical inoculation of the virus on some plant species showed that most of the tested solanaceous species were susceptible to this virus. The biological, serological and molecular data presented here indicate that both isolates are identical to TNRV, a recently described tospovirus species in Thailand.     

Nitrogen,Phosphorus, and Carbon Concentrations in Some Common Aquaculture Feeds

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon concentrations were measured from 203 samples of starter, fingerling, and grower aquaculture feeds from several countries and for several common species. The feed protein concentrations reported by manufacturers often were slightly greater than the measured crude protein concentrations. The correlation coefficients (R²) between feed nitrogen and carbon concentrations were less than 0.50, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in feed were not correlated. There were considerable differences in elemental concentrations among feeds, but the overall averages for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations, respectively, were as follows: starter feed 41.36, 7.78, and 1.57%; fingerling feed 39.75, 5.95, and 1.36%; grower feed 39.97, 5.36, and 1.22%. Concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in feeds are required in estimating the pollution potential of aquaculture facilities. The crude protein concentration – if provided by the manufacturer – can be used to estimate nitrogen concentration in feed, but carbon and phosphorus concentrations should be measured.