Growth, haematological parameters and tissue lipid peroxidation of soft-shelled turtles, Pelodiscus sinensis, fed diets supplemented with different levels of ferrous sulphate

Soft-shelled turtles, Pelodiscus sinensis , with an average weight of 5.55 g, were fed diets supplemented with eight levels of ferrous sulphate for 8 weeks. The analysed iron content ranged from 50.8 to 482.9 mg kg⁻¹. Growth rate of turtles fed the control diet with no iron supplementation was the lowest among all dietary groups. Haematological parameters including red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration of the turtles fed the control diet were also significantly ( P  < 0.05) lower relative to the other groups. Thus, dietary iron at 50.8 mg kg⁻¹ (no supplemented iron) was deemed deficient for growth and ineffective at preventing anaemia in juvenile soft-shelled turtle. Whereas, a supplementation of 50 mg kg⁻¹ ferrous sulphate (a total dietary iron of 91.8 mg kg⁻¹) was enough to normalize the haematological values of soft-shelled turtles to the level similar to other iron supplement-fed groups. Within the tested dietary iron range, liver iron content curve-linearly ( r ² = 0.99) increased with increasing dietary iron level. Furthermore, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in liver tissues of the turtles have also increased when liver iron content increased. The dietary iron requirement of soft-shelled turtle is 120–198 mg kg⁻¹ when ferrous sulphate is used as the source of iron.     

Interaction between dietary levels of vitamins C and E on growth and immune responses in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary levels of vitamins C (0, 100 and 2000 mg kg⁻¹), E (0, 50 and 500 mg kg⁻¹) and their interaction on the growth performance, liver contents of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol, haematology and immune response of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus . Each diet was fed to catfish in triplicate aquaria to apparent satiation twice daily for 12 weeks. The results indicate that the amount of vitamin E contained in the basal diet (23.1 mg kg⁻¹) was sufficient to promote good growth, feed efficiency and survival, but its supplementation was needed to maintain high haematological values and liver vitamin E. Supplementation of vitamin C (100 mg kg⁻¹) to the basal diet containing 10.5 mg kg⁻¹ was required for good growth, feed efficiency, survival and prevention of vertebral deformity and optimum haematological indices. Liver storage of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol increased with increasing dietary levels of each vitamin. Dietary vitamin E levels had no effect on liver ascorbic acid content, but increasing dietary vitamin C increased liver α-tocopherol. Some measured immune parameters (serum protein and superoxide anion production) were enhanced by supplementation of vitamin C or E. Chemotaxis ratio and phagocytosis were not affected by treatments.     

Short-term dietary supplementation with the microalga Parietochloris incisa enhances stress resistance in guppies Poecilia reticulata

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of dietary enrichments with the microalga Parietochloris incisa , rich in arachidonic acid (ARA), on stress resistance in guppies Poecilia reticulata . The microalga was added to commercial diets as a neutral lipid (NL) extract and its fractions or as broken cells. Experimental diets were applied for a period of 14 days. In trial 1, commercial diets were supplemented with NL (containing 25 mg ARA and 0.11 mg β-carotene g⁻¹ feed), its triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction (containing 25 mg ARA g⁻¹ feed and no β-carotene) and the β-carotene fraction (containing 0.11 mg carotenoid g⁻¹ feed and minute amounts of ARA). Neutral lipid-fed fish demonstrated the highest resistance ( P <0.05) to osmotic stress (32-ppt NaCl), followed by fish fed with diets supplemented with TAG and β-carotene alone, which were more resistant than control ( P <0.05). In trial 2, fish fed diets supplemented with higher levels of broken alga (26.1 mg ARA g⁻¹ feed) were more resistant ( P <0.05) to stress as compared with fish fed lower ARA (16.3 mg g g⁻¹) or an unsupplemented control diet. We suggest a dietary supplementation with broken P. incisa cells to enhance stress resistance in guppies before a stressful event.     

Nutrient values of dietary ascorbic acid (l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate) on growth, survival and stress tolerance of larval shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

l -ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (ApP) was used as a vitamin C source to investigate the ascorbic acid (AsA) requirements on growth performance and stress resistance of the larval white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei . Five isoenergetic and isonitrogenous fish meal-fish protein hydrolysate-based diets with five levels of ApP, AsA equivalent to 91.8, 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg kg⁻¹ diet were fed to triplicate groups of L. vannamei (mean initial wet weight 1 mg) for 32 days. The diet with AsA 91.8 mg kg⁻¹ showed high cumulative mortality after 10 days of feeding. After the 32-day trial, the shrimp that fed the diet had significantly lower survival and weight gain (WG, %) than those that fed 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg AsA kg⁻¹ diets. Specific growth rate (SGR, % day⁻¹) 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 that fed 188, 271, 360 and 436 mg kg⁻¹ of AsA at the termination of feeding trial. Broken-line regression analysis on WG indicated that 191 mg AsA kg⁻¹ in the diet was the optimum for larval L. vannamei . On the contrary, dietary level of more than 360 mg AsA kg⁻¹ was needed to ensure high resistance to stressful conditions such as low dissolved oxygen stressors.     

Dietary vitamin E requirement of hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops female × M. saxatilis male)

This study was conducted to determine the dietary vitamin E requirement of juvenile hybrid striped bass ( Morone chrysops female ×  Morone saxatilis male). Semi-purified diets supplemented with 0.2 mg Se kg⁻¹ from Na₂SeO₃ and either 0 (basal), 10, 20, 40, 60, or 80 mg vitamin E kg⁻¹ as  DL -α-tocopheryl acetate were fed to hybrid striped bass initially averaging 1.8 ± 0.1 g (mean ± SD) for 12 weeks. Fish fed the basal diet, which contained 5.8 mg α-tocopherol kg⁻¹ dry weight, were darker in colour and had reduced weight gain, as well as generally reduced haematocrit values compared with fish fed diets supplemented with vitamin E. In addition, fish fed diets containing less than 20 mg supplemental vitamin E kg⁻¹ had significantly ( P  < 0.05) reduced weight gain and feed efficiency compared with those fed diets supplemented with vitamin E at 20–80 mg kg⁻¹. Dietary supplementation of vitamin E caused incremental increases in the concentration of α-tocopherol in both plasma and liver tissues. However, hybrid striped bass fed graded levels of vitamin E did not exhibit a dose response in terms of ascorbic acid-stimulated lipid peroxidation of hepatic microsomes. Regression analysis of weight gain data using the broken-line model indicated a minimum vitamin E requirement ( ±  SE) of 28 ( ±  3) mg kg⁻¹ dry diet. Based on these data, the dietary vitamin E requirement of hybrid striped bass appears to be similar to that determined for other fish species.     

Zinc gluconate and zinc sulphate as dietary zinc sources for Atlantic salmon

Different chemical forms of essential minerals and trace elements supplemented to feed may show different bioavailability in fish. The present experiment was performed to compare an organic zinc form (Zn-gluconate) with zinc sulphate as dietary zinc sources for Atlantic salmon. Triplicate groups of fish were fed commercial fish meal based diets supplemented with either a low zinc level (50 mg Zn kg⁻¹) or medium zinc level (180 mg Zn kg⁻¹) as zinc gluconate or zinc sulphate for 6 months. Growth, mortality and feed conversion were recorded through the experiment. Fish were sampled initially and every month for zinc status analyses measured as whole-body zinc concentration. After 4 and 6 months, vertebral zinc concentration was measured and serum zinc was analysed at the end of the experiment. There were no differences in growth or mortality during the experiment. The results showed a significant effect of dietary zinc supplementation level on zinc status in fish for both zinc forms. However, there were no differences in zinc status between groups given different zinc forms. In conclusion, the present experiment showed that zinc sulphate and zinc gluconate are equally efficient as zinc supplements in salmon feeds within the concentrations normally found in salmon feed.     

Effect of methionine on intestinal enzymes activities, microflora and humoral immune of juvenile Jian carp (cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary methionine supplementation on intestinal microflora and humoral immune of juvenile Jian carp (initial weight of 9.9 ± 0.0 g) reared in indoor flow-through and aerated aquaria. Eight amino acid test diets (350 g kg⁻¹ crude protein, CP), using fish meal, soybean-condensed protein and gelatin as intact protein sources supplemented with crystalline amino acids, were formulated to contain graded levels of methionine (0.6–22.0%) at a constant dietary cystine level of 3 g kg⁻¹. Each diet was randomly assigned to three aquaria. Growth performance and feed utilization were significantly influenced by the dietary methionine levels ( P  < 0.05). Maximum weight gain, feed intake occurred at 12 g kg⁻¹ dietary methionine ( P  < 0.05). Methionine supplementation improved hepatopancreas and intestine weight, hepatosomatic and intestine index, intestinal γ-glutamyltransferase and creatine kinase activity, Lactobacillus count, Bacillus count, lysozyme activities, lectin potency, sim-immunoglobulin M content, addiment C3,C4 contents and serum total iron-binding capacity and declined Escherichia coli and Aeromonas counts. Quadratic regression analysis of weight gain against dietary methionine levels indicated that the optimal dietary methionine requirement for maximum growth of juvenile Jian carp is 12 g kg⁻¹ of the dry diet in the presence of 3 g kg⁻¹ cystine.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of alga Haematococcus pluvialis (Flotow), synthetic astaxanthin and β-carotene on survival, growth, and pigment distribution of red devil, Cichlasoma citrinellum (Günther)

Dietary carotenoids of various types and concentration can affect the pigmentation efficiency in an ornamental fish red devil, Cichlasoma citrinellum . Astaxanthin (AX) containing alga Haematococcus pluvialis , a synthetic AX, and a synthetic β-carotene (BC) were supplemented in formulated diets at two concentrations, 80 and 160 mg kg⁻¹, resulting in six pigmented diets. Formulated diet without carotenoids supplementation served as a control. These diets were fed to the fish, for 8 weeks. Astaxanthin dominated in body carotenoids deposition. Dietary BC hardly had contribution to body AX. Control fish had much lower AX content in skin, fin and muscle than fish fed pigmented diets, but had equal AX content in liver, intestine and gonad as those fish. Dietary synthetic AX had equal efficiency in depositing AX in skin and fin as natural AX but higher efficiency in gonad than natural AX. Fish fed AX supplemented at 160 mg kg⁻¹, either natural or synthetic AX, had higher AX content in skin than fish at 80 mg kg⁻¹ but had equal AX content in fin as fish at 80 mg kg⁻¹. Disregarding the treatment effects, the overall average AX content in tissue in descending order was gonad>fin≧(intestine=skin)>liver>muscle.     

Dietary pyridoxine requirement of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

In a 80-day feeding trial, a total of 1050 juvenile Jian carp ( Cyprinus carpio var. Jian) with an average initial weight of 10.71 ± 0.05 g were fed semi-purified diets containing seven graded levels of pyridoxine (0.20, 1.71, 3.23, 4.96, 6.32, 8.58 and 12.39 mg pyridoxine kg⁻¹ diet). Results indicated that with increasing dietary pyridoxine levels up to 4.96 mg kg⁻¹ diet, percent weight gain (PWG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were improved, and no differences were found with further increase of pyridoxine levels. Feed intake also followed the similar pattern to that observed with PWG and SGR when dietary pyridoxine levels were ≤6.32 mg kg⁻¹ diet. But feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were not affected by pyridoxine levels. Crude protein of carcass, productive protein value and plasma ammonia concentration were improved with increasing dietary pyridoxine levels up to 4.96 mg kg⁻¹ diet. Amylase activities in the intestine were improved with increasing dietary pyridoxine levels up to 4.96 mg kg⁻¹ diet, but protease and lipase activities in the intestine were not affected by pyridoxine levels. Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities in proximal intestine, mid intestine (MI) and distal intestine (DI) were lowest when fed the diet containing 1.71 mg pyridoxine kg⁻¹ diet. The alkaline phosphatase activities in MI and DI followed the same pattern. The dietary pyridoxine requirement of juvenile Jian carp based on PWG estimated by broken line model was 6.07 mg pyridoxine kg⁻¹ diet.     

The influence of dietary phospholipid level on the performances of juvenile amberjack, Seriola dumerili, fed non-fishmeal diets

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary phospholipid (PL) level on growth and feed intake of juvenile amberjack ( Seriola dumerili ) fed non-fishmeal (non-FM) diet containing alternative protein sources; soybean protein isolate, tuna muscle by-product powder and krill meal. Three non-FM diets were prepared to contain three levels (14, 37 and 54 g kg⁻¹ dry diet) of PL (soybean lecithin acetone insoluble, 886 g kg⁻¹) and growth performance was monitored in a 30-day growth trial by using 2.6 g of fish. The results indicated that final body weight, weight gain and feed intake significantly increased with increasing dietary PL level. At the highest dietary PL level (54 g kg⁻¹ dry diet), the fish consumed 14.8% and 10.2% as much feed as those fish fed diets containing 14 g kg⁻¹ dry diet and 37 g kg⁻¹ dry diet PL, respectively. An increasing tendency with increasing dietary PL level on feed efficiency was observed. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that dietary PL supplementation could increase feed intake, and improve the growth of juvenile S. dumerili fed non-FM diets. Therefore, purified PL might be a good candidate to stimulate the growth of fish through enhancing the feed intake when they are fed diets containing alternative protein sources.     

Myo-inositol prevents oxidative damage, inhibits oxygen radical generation and increases antioxidant enzyme activities of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary myo -inositol (MI) on the antioxidant status of juvenile Jian carp ( Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). A total of 1050 Jian carp (22.28±0.07 g) were randomly distributed into seven groups of three replicates each, feeding diets containing graded levels of MI (163.5, 232.7, 384.2, 535.8, 687.3, 838.8 and 990.3 mg kg⁻¹ diet) for 60 days. Results indicated that the malondialdehyde content was the lowest for fish fed diets containing ≥384.2 mg MI kg⁻¹, and the highest for fish fed the MI-unsupplemented basal diet ( P <0.05). The protein carbonyl content was decreased with increasing dietary MI levels up to 535.8 mg kg⁻¹ diet, and no differences were found with a further increase in the MI concentration. The anti-superoxide anion capacity (ASA) and anti-hydroxyl radical capacity (AHR) were increased with increasing MI levels up to 535.8 mg kg⁻¹ diet, and plateaued thereafter. The superoxide dismutase and glutathione- S -transferase activities showed the same tendency with the ASA capacity. Catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reducase activities were improved with increasing MI levels up to 838.8, 384.2 and 687.3 mg kg⁻¹ diet, respectively, and remained nearly constant thereafter. These results suggested that MI could inhibit oxygen radical generation, increase enzymatic antioxidant capacity and prevent oxidative damage of carp. Dietary MI requirements for ASA and AHR activities of juvenile Jian carp were 567.94 and 517.22 mg MI kg⁻¹ diet respectively.     

Supplementation of ascorbic acid 2-monophosphate during the early postlarval stages of the shrimp Penaeus vannamei

A culture trial was performed using five levels of ascorbic acid 2-monophosphate (AmP at 0, 10, 100, 1000 and 2000 mg kg⁻¹ diet, expressed as active ascorbic acid, AA) in a semipurified diet for early postlarval Penaeus vannamei. The experiment started 10 days after metamorphosis of the mysid larvae into postlarvae (=PL10). Each treatment was run in four replicates. P. vannamei postlarvae showed significantly better growth according to dietary AA level after 25 days of feeding, i.e. at PL36 stage. Whereas the dry weight of PL36 in the control treatment (0 mg AA kg⁻¹ diet) was only 2 mg, supplementation of 1000 mg AA kg⁻¹ increased the shrimp dry weight up to 18 mg. However, the growth in the other treatments was not significantly different from the control. Fitting a broken-line regression to the biomass yield demonstrated an optimal dietary level of 130 mg AA kg⁻¹ diet. There were no differences observed among the treatments in stress resistance of postlarval P. vannamei to a salinity shock.     

Effects of processing on physical characteristics of diets with distinct levels of carbohydrates and lipids: the outcomes on the growth of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

The use efficiency and feed conversion of extruded and pelletized diets were compared. Eight isoproteic diets (220 g kg⁻¹ digestible protein) were assayed for 90 days in a 2 × 2 × 2 multifactorial design with two carbohydrate levels (400 and 500 g kg⁻¹), two lipids levels (40 and 80 g kg⁻¹) and two diet processing (pelletization and extrusion) with three repetitions. The growth of Piaractus mesopotamicus fed with these diets and the quality control indices of diets were gauged. The density of extruded diets was lower as carbohydrate level was 400 g kg⁻¹ and lipid 40 g kg⁻¹. The interaction carbohydrate and diet processing presented higher leaching value for low carbohydrate level in extruded diet. Fish fed with extruded diets presented the best feed conversion and protein efficiency ratio. When high levels of carbohydrate and lipid are combined, the weight gain is impaired. The interaction between diet processing diet and lipid levels resulted in the best fish performance when pelletized diets with 40 g kg⁻¹ lipid or extruded diets with 80 g kg⁻¹ lipid were considered. The protein efficiency ratio increased with the increment of carbohydrates in the pelletized diets. The fish show low tolerance to lipids and a preference for carbohydrate when the lipid productive values are taken into account.     

Effect of fermentation on the nutritive value of sesame seed meal in the diets for rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

Six isonitrogenous (350 g kg⁻¹ crude protein) and isoenergetic (17573 kJ kg⁻¹) experimental diets incorporating raw and fermented sesame ( Seasamum indicum ) seed meal at 200, 300, and 400 g kg⁻¹ into a fishmeal based diet were fed to rohu Labeo rohita fingerlings for 60 days and the growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of the fish was studied. The antinutritional factor phytic acid, from raw sesame seed meal, could be reduced below detection limit by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria ( Lactobacillus acidophilus ). Fermentation of the oilseed meal resulted in reduction of the tannin content from 20 to 10 g kg⁻¹. In terms of growth response, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, a diet containing 400 g kg⁻¹ fermented sesame seed meal resulted in a significantly ( P  < 0.01) best fish performance. In general, growth and feed utilization efficiencies of fish fed fermented sesame seed meal diets were superior to those fed raw oilseed meal diets. Apparent protein digestibility (APD) values decreased with increasing levels of raw oilseed meal. APD was, however, significantly ( P  < 0.01) higher at all levels of incorporation of fermented sesame seed meal, while diets containing raw oilseed meal resulted in poor protein and lipid digestibility. Carcass protein and lipid contents of fish fed fermented sesame seed meal diets increased with increasing level of incorporation, being highest with 400 g kg⁻¹ fermented oilseed meal-containing diet. The results showed that sesame seed meal may be incorporated in carp diets up to 200 g kg⁻¹ and 400 g kg⁻¹ in raw and treated (fermented) forms respectively.     

Use of full-fat winged bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus seed meal as a protein feedstuff in fish-meal free diets for African catfish Clarias gariepinus

Mature winged bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus seeds were quick-cooked and the full-fat meal derived was used to completely replace menhaden fish meal as a dietary protein source for the African catfish Clarias gariepinus . Five dry practical diets (400 g crude protein kg⁻¹ and 17.5 kJ gross energy g⁻¹ dry diet) containing menhaden fish meal (diet 1) or winged bean meal with or without graded levels of supplemental L -methionine (diets 2, 3, 4 and 5; 0, 5, 10 and 15 g kg⁻¹, respectively) were fed to catfish fingerlings (5.8  +  1.2 g) for 70 days. Weight gain, growth rate, feed conversion and protein utilization by catfish fed a winged bean meal diet without L -methionine supplementation (diet 2) was inferior ( P  > 0.05) to that in catfish fed the other diets, where performance differed nonsignificantly. Carcass protein of catfish was lower ( P  < 0.05) while liver protein was higher ( P  < 0.05) in catfish fed the winged bean meal diet without methionine supplementation. Results suggest that winged bean meal cannot replace fish meal as a protein source in catfish diets except with a minimum supplementation with 5 g L -methionine kg⁻¹ diet.     

The synthetic antioxidant, ethoxyquin, adversely affects immunity in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Ethoxyquin (EQ) has been used as an antioxidant in livestock, aquaculture and pet foods. Animal food safety law has established the upper limit of EQ in animal feed at 150 mg kg⁻¹. However, the risk of EQ at the approved level for aquaculture feed (150 mg kg⁻¹) to fish health is unknown. Here, we examine the effect of EQ on the immunity of tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ). EQ concentration in the blood reached 0.16 mg L⁻¹ in fish fed EQ at the approved level. This level of EQ inhibited phagocytic activity of leucocytes in vitro and antibacterial activity of whole blood in vivo . Furthermore, pyknosis in the liver was observed throughout the duration of feeding. However, after 30 days of experimental challenge with feed containing 150 mg kg⁻¹ of EQ, no significant difference was observed in mortality. Although EQ at the approved level in feed causes immunosuppression in fish, the severity of immunosuppression does not lead to a lowering of disease resistance for short feeding periods.     

Effects of sulfamerazine on selected haematological and immunological parameters in rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum, 1792)

In the present study, effects of sulfamerazine on some haematological and immunological parameters of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) were examined. Four groups of rainbow trout were fed experimental diets containing either no sulfamerazine (control) or supplemented with sulfamerazine at 100 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-A), 200 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-B) or 400 mg kg⁻¹ (Exp-C) for 21 days. Blood samples were taken for the haematological and immunological parameters from fish on the third, seventh, 14th and 21st days of feeding. Haematological parameters [haematocrit, leucocrit, numbers of erythrocytes (RBC) and leucocytes (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean haemoglobin concentration (MHC) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)] and immunological parameters [phagocytic ratio (PR) and index (PI), glass-adherent NBT-positive cell activation, total plasma protein and total immunoglobulin (Ig)] were evaluated during the experimental trial. It has been observed that MCV ( P <0.05), PR and PI ( P >0.05) were increased and haematocrit and leucocrit value, numbers of erythrocytes and leucocyte, haemoglobin, MHC and MCHC values and total plasma protein and total Ig levels were decreased in rainbow trout after application of three different doses of sulfamerazine.     

Effects of digestible protein levels in isonitrogenous diets on growth performance and tissue composition of juvenile Atractoscion nobilis

A study was undertaken to estimate the effects of isonitrogenous diets (ca. 604 g kg⁻¹ crude protein) containing formaldehyde-treated (FT) fish meal and graded levels of digestible protein (DP) (541, 491, 372, 347 and 247 g kg⁻¹) on growth performance and tissue composition of juveniles white seabass. Five diets were formulated to contain increasing levels of FT fish meal (from 0 to 384 g kg⁻¹) and decreasing levels of non-treated fish meal (from 480 to 96 g kg⁻¹). Each dietary treatment was fed in triplicate to apparent satiation to groups of 25 fish for 50 days. Significantly higher growth performance and feed conversion ratio were obtained in fish-fed diets containing 491 or 541 g kg⁻¹ DP, compared with all other treatments. Apparent digestibility coefficient of protein in the diets was not significantly affected by the inclusion of treated fish meal in the diets. Estimation of protein requirements using a broken-line regression analysis indicated that maximum weight gain would be obtained with a diet containing 503 ± 23 g kg⁻¹ DP. The results from this study suggest that a single-diet formulation using protein treated with formaldehyde as filler might be useful to estimate the requirement of DP for fish.     

Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on growth performance, lipid peroxidation and tissue fatty acid composition of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) fed oxidized fish oil

A 9-week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on growth, lipid peroxidation and fatty acid composition of black sea bream fed oxidized oil. The FL and OL diets contained fresh fish oil and oxidized oil, respectively, without additional vitamin E supplementation. Another four α-tocopherol levels (150, 250, 450 and 800 mg kg⁻¹ diet) were used within the OL diet, giving a total of six experimental diets. Fish were hand-fed to apparent satiation twice daily. At end of the trial, the weight gain and survival rate of fish were significantly reduced by diets with oxidized oil, whereas hepatosomatic index was remarkably high in fish fed oxidized oil diet. However, vitamin E supplementation to diet significantly improved growth performance and increased vitamin E content in the liver. Although, liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly increased by dietary oxidized oil, their levels were reduced by dietary vitamin E supplementation. Our results indicate that the fish were performing the best at intermediate concentrations of α-tocopherol and a dose of >150 mg α-tocopherol kg⁻¹ diet could reduce lipid peroxidation and improve fish growth performance when oxidized oils exist in diet.     

Dietary methionine requirement of juvenile Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.)

The dietary methionine requirement of juvenile Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.) was assessed by feeding diets supplemented with graded levels of DL-methionine (9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 g kg⁻¹dietary protein) for 16 weeks at 12°C. All diets contained 400 g kg⁻¹ protein, 170 g kg⁻¹ lipid, 66 g kg⁻¹ ash and an estimated 17.5 MJ digestible energy (DE) kg⁻¹. When live-weight gain was examined using quadratic regression, the estimate of methionine requirement for optimal growth was 17.6 g kg⁻¹ of dietary protein (DP) or 7 g kg⁻¹ of the diet. Requirements estimated on the basis of carcass protein and energy gains were 18.8 and 17.9 g kg⁻¹ DP, respectively. Plasma methionine concentrations and ocular focal length variability measurements did not provide a sensitive measure of requirement, because each responded in a linear fashion to increasing dietary methionine levels. Based on the prevalence of cataracts, the methionine level required to prevent lens pathology (26.7 g kg⁻¹ DP) appears to be higher than that required for maximum growth.