Replacing dietary starch with pitted date fruit in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) feed

Four isocaloric-isonitrogenous rations containing various levels (0%, 15%. 30% and 45%) of wasted date as a replacement for starch were fed to three replicate groups of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus) fingerlings with a mean initial weight of 2.5 g. Ten randomly selected fish were tested for 9 weeks in 60-1 circular tanks. Each tank was considered as an experimental unit. The tanks were put together in a flow-through system utilizing filtered and aerated ground or well water (24 ± 3°C). Tilapia weight gain, feed conversion, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio were improved with diets containing date (15%, 30% and 45%) as compared with the starch diet (0% date diet). The diet containing 30% date was superior to all other test diets in terms of all the above growth parameters. Body moisture, crude protein and total ash were gradually increased as the level of date in the feeds was increased, while body fat was reduced.     

Performance of Hybrid Clariid Catfish Fingerlings (Clarias gariepinus ♂ × Heterobranchus bidorsalis ♀) Fed Poultry Layer Waste Diets in Aquaria

Abstract

The performance of poultry layer waste (PLW) meal as a dietry protein inclusion for hybrid clariid catfish (Clarias gariepinus♂ ×Heterobranchus bidorsalis♀) fingerlings (hetero-clarias), cultivated in glass tanks, was evaluated. Four isonitrogenous diets (35% crude protein) were fed to unsexed hetero-clarias fingerlings for 90 days. The inclusion levels of the PLW meal were at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%. Growth performance and nutrient utilization of the fish were based on percentage daily weight gains, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio. There were no significant differences (P> 0.05) in growth performance and nutrient utilization of the fishes fed on diets containing up to 30% PLW inclusion. All fish fed diets containing PLW did better (P> 0.05) than those fed the control diet. The most cost-effective diet in terms of cost-weight gain was diet containing 10% PLW. These results indicate that up to 30% of PLW meal could be included in the diet of hybrid diet catfish.     

Effects of Amylopectin/Amylose Starch Ratio on Growth, Body Composition and Glycemic Response of Sunshine Bass Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis

Manipulation of the ratio of amylopectin (α‐[1,4] and α‐[1,6] linked glucose) to amylose (α‐[1,41 linked glucose) starches in the carbohydrate fraction of the diet has been used to improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in mammalian models. A 10‐wk feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary amylopectin/amylose ratio on growth and composition of growth of advanced sunshine bass (Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis) fingerlings (60 g, initial weight). Fish were fed cold‐pelleted, semipurified, isonitrogenous (35% crude protein), isocaloric (3.6 kcaVg protein), isolipidic (5%) diets containing 25% carbohydrate. The carbohydrate fraction of the diets was composed of either glucose, dextrin, 100% amylopectin/0% amylose, 70% amylopectin/30% amylose, or 30% amylopectin/70% amylose. Diets differing in ratios of amylopectin/amylose were achieved by adjusting the proportion of high‐amylopectin (100% amylopectin) to high‐amylose (70% amylose) corn starch. Diets were fed to fish in quadruplicate 76‐L tanks (seven fish/tank) connected to a brackish water (5‐7%v) recirculating culture system with biofiltration. Weight gain ranged from 195 to 236% of initial weight (60 g) and was significantly greater (P < 0.1) for fish fed diets containing 25% carbohydrate as dextrin or as 70% amylose and significantly lower in fish fed diets in which carbohydrate was composed of 30% amylose, 100% amylopectin, or glucose. Feed efficiency ranged from 0.52 to 0.61 and was higher in fish fed the diet containing the highest concentration of amylose and lower in fish fed the diet containing glucose. Hepatosomatic index was highest (2.71) in fish fed the diet containing glucose and lowest (1.401.45) in fish fed diets containing high‐amylose cornstarch. Intraperitoneal fat ratio was distinctly lower in fish fed diets containing some amylose as compared to those fed diets without amylose. Liver lipid was significantly lower (4.8%) in fish fed the diet containing glucose and almost twice as high (7.3‐8.9%) in fish fed the diets containing any starch. Glycogen content of the liver decreased from approximately 12% in fish fed the diet containing glucose to 5% in fish fed the diets containing amylose. Muscle proximate composition and ratio were unaffected by the dietary treatments. Fasting levels (15 h) of blood glucose in fish reared for 10 wk on the diet containing glucose were significantly elevated (5.5 mmol/L) when compared to fasting levels of those that had been reared on diets containing starch (3.4‐1.1 mmol/L). Fish fed the diet containing glucose exhibited maximum blood concentrations (14.6 mmoVL) 4 h postprandial then rapidly declined to nearly fasting levels within 8 h postprandial. In contrast, maximum plasma glucose concentrations in fish fed diets containing starch were roughly half (6.8‐8.1 mmol/L) those of fish fed the diet containing glucose. Blood glucose in fish fed diets containing dextrin or predominantly amylopectin starch remained elevated longer than that of fish fed diets containing glucose or predominantly amylose starch. Glycemic response appeared to decrease with increasing dietary amylose content. These data suggest that feeding diets in which a greater portion of the starch is amylose may be a useful strategy for improving carbohydrate use in sunshine bass.     

Optimal Dietary Protein Concentration for Hybrid Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus Fed All-Plant Diets

There are several estimates of the optimal dietary crude protein concentration for juvenile tilapia fed high quality animal proteins or mixtures of animal and plant derived feedstuffs. In the present study, the optimal dietary crude protein concentration for hybrid tilapia Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus reared in glass aquaria was determined using diets free of fish meal. Further, initial weight of fish was approximately 21 g, which is the beginning of the growout phase of many commercial operations. The diets contained primarily corn co-products and soybean meal as the sources of amino acids, and were formulated to provide 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 or 34% crude protein. The diets were fed to quadruplicate groups of tilapia for 10 wk. Increasing concentrations of dietary crude protein resulted in proportional improvements in weight gain and feed efficiency up to 30% dietary crude protein. Fish fed 24% dietary crude protein exhibited significantly reduced weight gain compared to fish fed 28–34% dietary crude protein. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) of tilapia was unaffected by dietary crude protein concentration. However, fish fed 28% crude protein exhibited numerically higher PER (2.58) than fish fed other levels of crude protein. Muscle crude protein levels were lower in fish fed diets containing 24–28% crude protein than in fish fed 30% and higher concentrations. Quadratic regression analyses of weight gain and feed efficiency data indicated the optimal dietary crude protein concentration to be 29.65% and 28.33%, respectively, while broken line analyses indicated 27.5 and 27.3%, respectively. Based on weight gain, feed efficiency, PER, and proximate composition data, the authors recommend 28% dietary crude protein as the minimum for hybrid tilapia fed all-plant diets and reared in tanks.     

The suitable dose of gamma irradiation on soybean meal as a fish meal substitute in diets for golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

A 5‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of gamma ray irradiation treatment on soybean meal as a fish meal substitute in diets for golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). A diet containing 32% fish meal served as a reference (C), and 75% of the fish meal was replaced by soybean meal that either received no gamma ray irradiation (R0) or was irradiated with gamma ray at a dose of 5 (R5), 10 (R10), 15 (R15), 30 (R30) or 60 (R60) kGy respectively. All the diets were formulated to contain 46% crude protein and 6.5% crude lipid. The weight gain was higher in fish fed diets R5, R10, R15 and R30 than in fish fed diet R0. The feed intake was higher in fish fed diets R15, R30 and R60 than in fish fed diets R0, R5 and R10. No significant differences were found in feed conversion ratio, nitrogen retention efficiency, condition factor, hepatosomatic index, body composition, waste outputs of nitrogen and phosphorus between fish fed the diets with non‐irradiated soybean meal or irradiated soybean meal as the fish meal substitute. Proteins with heavy molecular weight in soybean meal were degraded, whereas the contents of proteins with light molecular weight or peptides increased with the increase in the irradiation dose. This study reveals that gamma ray irradiation at a dose of 5 to 15 kGy can significantly improve the level of soybean meal inclusion as a fish meal substitute in diets for golden pompano.     

Use of duckweed, Spirodela polyrrhiza L. Schleiden, as a protein feedstuff in practical diets for tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L.

The use of solar-dried duckweed, Spirodela polyrrhiza L. Schleiden, as a dietary protein component for tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L., reared in glass tanks was evaluated. Six isonitrogenous diets (30% crude protein) were fed to all-male tilapia fingerlings for 56 days. The fish meal protein in the diets was substituted at a rate of 5%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 100% with duckweed. A diet without the duckweed served as a control. Growth performance and nutrient utilization of fish were based on daily weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in growth performance and nutrient utilization of fish fed on diets containing up to 20% duckweed inclusion and the control. However, increases in dietary duckweed inclusion resulted in progressively reduced growth performance and nutrient utilization of fish. Diet without fish meal (100% duckweed) gave the poorest result. The most cost-effective diet in terms of cost per unit gain in weight of fish was obtained with 30% duckweed dietary inclusion. The result showed that solar-dried up to 30% duckweed dietary inclusion as a replacement for fishmeal in practical diets supported fish growth and was cost-effective.     

Growth of Atlantic Salmon,Salmo salar,Fed Diets Containing Barley Protein Concentrate

A 16-week feeding trial was conducted with juvenile Atlantic salmon (123 g/fish initial weight) to determine the effects of adding either 11% or 22% barley protein concentrate (BPC) to the diet compared to salmon fed a reference diet (0% BPC) containing mostly fishmeal. The fish were stocked into twelve 0.264 m³ tanks, providing 40 fish per tank with an average density of 18.55 kg/m³. Temperature was maintained at ?12°C and salinity at ?2 ppt using ground water during the study. There were no significant differences in specific growth rate (0.62 basal, 0.60 11% BPC, 0.72 22% BPC), feed conversion (1.06, 1.37, 1.09), weight gain (124.3 g, 113.5 g, 155.3 g), proximate composition of the salmon for lipid (8.4%, 7.8%, 9.8%), protein (17.3%, 17.1%, 18.6%), moisture (71.4%, 72.3%, 69.4%), and ash (6.5%, 6.1%, 6.9%) among any of the treatment groups. Salmon fed the diet containing 22% barley protein concentrate, however, had significantly greater energy retention (34%) compared to the fish fed the other diets (23%–28%). The results of this study indicate that barley protein concentrate is an acceptable feed ingredient for Atlantic salmon that should provide performance similar to fishmeal at inclusion rates below 22%.     

Partial Replacement of Fish Meal with Poultry By‐product Meal in Diets for Snakehead,Channa striata (Bloch, 1793), Fingerlings

A 12‐wk feeding trial was carried out to examine the response of snakehead, Channa striata, fingerlings to diets containing poultry by‐product meal (PBM) protein as replacement to fish meal (FM) protein. Fish (mean initial weight 3.98 ± 0.01) were reared in 15 tanks and fed one of five isocaloric (18.5 kJ/g gross energy) diets, in triplicates. Each diet was formulated to contain 45% crude protein and 6.5% crude fat and utilizing protein from PBM to replace that of defatted FM in the following decreasing order; 40, 30, 20, 10, and 0%, respectively. Fish were fed assigned diets to apparent satiation twice daily during the trial, for 12 wk. Water quality parameters (temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen) were monitored and ranged between 28.5–30.5 C, 6.1–6.6, and 4.61–6.34 mg/L, respectively. Fish survival and growth performance were not significantly (P < 0.05) different among all the treatments. Dietary PBM level did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect the hepatosomatic (HSI) and viserosomatic indices (VSI) in fish and the carcass protein and ash compositions. Muscle lipid was significantly the highest in the 30PBM compared to 0PBM, 10PBM and 20PBM groups, but similar to the 40PBM treatment. The result of this trial indicates that protein from PBM could be used to successfully replace minimum 40% of defatted FM protein in diets for snakehead fingerlings without negative effects on growth and feed utilization.     

Effect of Dietary Lipid Level and Protein Energy Ratio on Growth and Body Composition of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides

A feeding trial was conducted in aquaria with juvenile largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides to examine the effects of increasing dietary lipid levels on growth and body composition. Feed‐trained largemouth bass fingerlings were graded to a similar size (16.3 ± 2.4 g) and randomly stocked into 15 113.6‐L glass aquaria at 25 fish/aquarium. Fingerlings were fed twice daily to apparent satiation with one of five isonitrogenous extruded experimental diets based on practical ingredients. Diets contained approximately 40% crude protein and either 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% added lipid. Due to background lipids in the ingredients, this equated to total lipid levels of 7, 10, 16, 20, and 23%, respectively. These diets had protein to energy ratios of 137, 120, 106, 95, and 86 mg/kcal, respectively. There were three replicate aquaria per dietary treatment. After 12 wk, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in average weight (g), specific growth rate (% body weight/d), survival (%), or protein efficiency ratio (PER, %) among fish fed the five diets, which averaged 79.3 ± 5.6, 1.9 ± 0.1, 99.5 ± 1.5, and 2.11 ± 0.19, respectively. Juvenile largemouth bass fed diets containing 15 and 20% added lipid had significantly lower (P± 0.05) feed conversion ratios (FCR) (1.1 ± 0.0 and 1.1 ± 0. 1, respectively) than fish fed diets containing 0, 5, and 10% added lipid (1.4 ± 0.1, 1.3 ± 0. 1, and 1.3 ± 0.2, respectively). Proximate analysis of whole body samples indicated a significantly higher (P ± 0.05) lipid content in fish fed 15 and 20% added lipid compared to fish fed lower lipid levels. While FCR was lowest in fish fed the 15 and 20% added lipid diets, increased whole body lipid deposition may indicate that these levels are above optimal levels for juvenile largemouth bass. It appears that 7–16% total dietary lipid (P/E:137–106 mg/kcal) is sufficient to support efficient growth without impacting body composition in juvenile largemouth bass when fed a diet containing 40% crude protein.     

Dietary Protein Requirement of Juvenile Cachara Catfish,Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum

Cachara, Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum, is a high commercial value carnivorous catfish in Brazil, but whose dietary protein requirement is still unknown. Aiming to determine this requirement, groups of 15 juveniles (16.08 ± 1.13 g) were fed isoenergetic diets (4600 kcal/kg gross energy) with increasing levels of crude protein (30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55%). After 60 d, regression analysis revealed a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) of increasing dietary crude protein concentration on growth variables. The highest weight gain and specific growth rate as well as the best feed conversion were shown by fish fed the 50% crude‐protein diet. Similarly, protease activities were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in fish fed 50% crude protein. However, the highest protein retention was observed in fish fed the 45% crude‐protein diet. Protein and dry matter digestibilities did not differ (P > 0.05) for diets containing 40, 45, or 50% crude protein. Therefore, based on weight gain and at a dietary energy concentration of 4600 kcal/kg, the estimated protein requirement for juvenile cachara between 16 and 85 g is 49.25% crude protein. This is equivalent to 44.79% digestible protein and a gross energy to digestible protein ratio of 10.27 kcal/g.     

Replacement of Herring Fish Meal by Soybean Flour in Practical Diets for Red Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus × O. mossambicus,Grown in Concrete Tanks

ABSTRACT

A feeding experiment was conducted for 100 days to evaluate the suitability of soybean flour (SBF) as a partial or complete substitute for the protein supplied by herring fish meal (HFM) in diets for growth of red tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus ×O. mossambicus, fingerlings (mean weight of 0.65 g/fish) grown outdoors in concrete tanks. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing 35% crude protein and 3.36 kcal of digestible energy (DE)/g of diet were formulated in which SBF replaced 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the protein supplied by HFM. Results demonstrated that SBF has good potential as a substitute protein source for up to 75% of the protein supplied by HFM (diet 4) in red tilapia diets with no significant (P>0.05) adverse effects on growth, feed efficiency, body composition, and apparent digestibility of protein compared to the HFM-based control diet. The highest growth performance and best economic efficiency of fish weight gain were obtained with fish fed diet contained 50% of the protein from HFM and the other 50% from SBF. Fish fed this diet had the highest weight gain (11.95 g/fish), percent increase in weight (1838%) and growth rate (0.120 g/day) among fish fed all the other test diets. The lowest feed efficiency and growth performances were shown in the fish fed diet containing SBF as a complete substitute for protein supplied by HFM. Fish fed this diet had the lowest weight gain (4.70 g/fish), percent increase in weight (723%) and growth rate (0.047 g/day) among fish fed all the other test diets. Survival of fish was not statistically different (P>0.05) among all treatments. The apparent protein digestibility values showed wide variation between diets, ranging from 70.13% to 82.12% and the values were remarkably high in fish fed SBF-based diets. At the conclusion of the study, substituting HFM-protein with SBF-protein in diets for red tilapia did not affect the final fish protein, ash and moisture contents, but lipid content was significantly higher (P <0.05) in fish fed diets in which SBF substituted for 50% or more of the protein supplied by HFM. Hematological characteristics of red tilapia were examined at the end of the study and the results showed that all the blood parameter values were within normal values for fish. Economic analysis of diets suggested the possibility of using SBF as an alternative source of protein in red tilapia diets.     

Evaluation of Cow Pea Seed Meal,Vigna sinensis,as a Dietary Protein Replacer for Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus (L.), Fingerlings

The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of partial and total replacement of fish meal (FM) protein by cow pea seed meal (CPSM) protein in practical diets on growth performance, feed utilization, and body composition of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Fish of an average initial weight of 4.6 ± 0.2 g were stocked in 15 glass aquariums (80 L each) at a rate of 15 fish per aquarium. FM protein (30% of the diet) was used as the sole source of animal protein in the control diet. Percent replacement of FM by CPSM on the basis of crude protein were as follows: 0% (control diet A), 25% (diet B), 50% (diet C), 75% (diet D), and 100% (diet E). Diets were fed to fish at a rate of 4% of the total fish biomass daily, for a period of 16 wk. The results of this study revealed that the fish fed control diet A (100% FM) had the best average final body weight, specific growth rate (SGR %/d), weight gain (g/fish), weight gain %, while the poorest results for all parameters were obtained with fish fed diet E (100% CPSM). The same parameters of fish fed diets B (25% CPSM) and C (50% CPSM) were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of fish fed the control diet A. Feed utilization parameters of fish fed diets A, B, C, and D were better than for diet E. Proximate composition of whole‐body moisture and ash contents were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among all experimental diets and control diet. Whole‐body protein contents for fish fed diets B and C were superior to the control diet A. Incorporation of CPSM in the diets significantly increased whole‐body fat content. Incorporation of CPSM in the diets significantly decreased apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein crude fat and energy. Diets B and C were not significantly different from control diet A. Therefore, these findings suggest that up to 50% of FM protein can be replaced by CPSM protein in Nile tilapia diets without any adverse effects on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, and digestibility.     

Nutritional evaluation of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) seeds as dietary protein source for tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted in a warmwater recirculation system at 27 ± 0.2 °C to evaluate the nutritive value of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) seed meal as a possible fish meal substitute in the diet of tilapia. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain 32% crude protein and 18.4 kJ g^?1 gross energy. Sesbania seed meal was included in diets at various levels [0%, 9.7%, 19.4%, 29.1% and 38.8% for diets 1 (control), 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, which correspond to 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of dietary crude protein]. Each treatment had two replicates, eight fish per replicate, with mean initial weight of 7.06 ± 0.03 g. Fish were fed 20 g kg^?1 metabolic body weight daily. On the basis of the observed growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, apparent net protein utilization and energy retention, diets 1 (control) and 2 (containing 9.7% Sesbania meal) were similar and significantly (P < 0.05) better than the other dietary groups. Fish fed diets 3, 4 and 5 containing higher levels of Sesbania meal showed significantly reduced growth performance compared with those fed diets 1 and 2. Fish fed diets 3, 4 and 5 had significantly lower faecal dry matter (DM) content, apparent crude protein, lipid and energy digestibility and reduced levels of cholesterol compared with the control and diet 2. Fish fed diets containing higher levels (>9.7%) of Sesbania meal had significantly higher whole‐body moisture, lower lipid and gross energy content. The lower growth performance of fish fed diets containing higher levels of Sesbania meal is thought to result from the presence of tannins, saponin and the non‐starch polysaccharide content of the seed. The results of this study showed that inclusion of up to 9.7% untreated Sesbania seed meal (10% of the dietary protein) in the diet did not affect the growth performance and nutrient utilization in tilapia.     

Evaluating fungi‐degraded date pits as a feed ingredient for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L.

Five isocaloric‐isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 g kg^?1 of fungi Trichoderma reesei‐degraded date pits (DDP), as a replacement for dietary corn, were fed to triplicate groups of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. fingerlings (1.88 g initial weight), for 9 weeks, in 70 L fibreglass tanks. Each tank was considered as an experimental unit and was part of a water recirculating system utilizing filtered and aerated ground well water (24 ± 3 °C). Tilapia growth performance, namely, weight gain, feed conversion, specific growth rate and protein efficiency ratio were similar and superior in fish fed diets containing 150 and 300 g kg^?1 DDP, when compared with those fish fed the other diets. Fish fed the control diet with 450 g kg^?1 DDP had better growth efficiency performance than those fed diets containing 0 and 600 g kg^?1. Fish fed the diet with 600 g kg^?1 DDP were inferior to all other groups. Tilapia body composition was affected by increasing DDP level in the diets as body fat was decreased, while body moisture was increased. In conclusion, DDP could replace 300 g kg^?1 of dietary corn with better growth results. Further increase of date pits replacements to 450 g kg^?1 will affect growth performance, when compared with the control.     

The growth and gonadal maturation of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) broodstock fed differently heated soybean-based diets

An investigation was carried out to assess the growth and gonadal maturation of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) fed differently heated soybean diets in concrete tanks. Four hundred and eighty male and female C. gariepinus (182 ± 10 g for females and 208 ± 5 g for males) were randomly distributed in groups into hapa nets. Iso‐nitrogenous (310 g kg^?1 crude protein) and iso‐caloric diets (355 Kcal kg^?1) prepared from raw soybean (D0) and soybean autoclaved for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min labelled D0, D5, D10, D15, D20, D25 and D30, were fed to the fish for 84 days. The fish meal based diet tagged DFM served as control. The male and female broodfish fed the fish‐meal‐based diet and diet D25 had significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth performance, gonad maturation, gonadosomatic index, relative fecundity and percentage egg fertilization and hatchability than the fish fed the other diets. The females had significantly higher (P < 0.05) weight increases and healthier condition over their male counterparts fed the same diets. This study showed that diet D25 was found to be the best substitute for fish meal that provided adequate nutrients required for the formation of genital products that produced strong offspring in C. gariepinus broodstock culture.     

Growth and feed performance,digestibility and acute stress response of juvenile grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) fed diets with hydrolysate from milkfish offal

Nutritional qualities of fish processing by‐products can further be improved through enzymatic hydrolysis. The objective of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of hydrolysed milkfish offal at different inclusion levels when fed to juvenile grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, with an initial body weight of 2.88 ± 0.06 g. The animals were fed for 56 days with seven diets supplemented with 0 (control), 5%, 15% and 25% of milkfish offal (MO) and milkfish offal hydrolysate (MOH). The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (45%) and isolipidic (11%). The diets were assigned to 21 tanks (15 fish per tank) with each diet having three replicates. Results from the experimental trials indicated that feed conversion efficiency, feed intake and weight gain of fish significantly (P < 0.05) improved when fed diets with MOH. No significant differences within the rest of the dietary treatments were observed. Survival rate (>90%) did not differ in all the dietary treatments. Proximate composition (crude protein, crude fat and ash) indicated no significant difference among fish fed from all the dietary treatments. Apparent digestibility of MOH indicated a 95% and 66% digestibility for protein and dry matter respectively. Plasma stress parameters (cortisol and glucose) were not influenced by the dietary treatment when fish were subjected to an acute stressor (5‐min chasing). Liver morphology indicated normal hepatocyte shape and the presence of lipid droplets in fish fed from all the dietary treatments. The results indicated that milkfish offal processed as hydrolysate can be utilized in grouper diets and can promote growth and feed efficiency when supplied at 10–15%.     

Growth, reproductive performance, muscle and egg composition in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), fed hydrilla or formulated diets with varying protein levels

Growth, reproductive performance, muscle and egg composition were investigated in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennnes), fed hydrilla or formulated diets with varying protein levels. Five experimental diets, with varying levels (20%, 25%, 30%, 35% and 40%) of crude protein (CP), were used. One of the fish groups was fed hydrilla. Fish (44.1±0.3 cm; 913±9 g) were stocked (20 tank^?1) in outdoor concrete tanks (20 × 10 × 1.5 m) in duplicate, and fed to satiation, twice daily, at 09:00 and 17:00 hours for the experimental duration of 360 days. High (P<0.05) weight gain was recorded in fish fed 30% and 35% CP diets. However, values for gonadosomatic index (GSI), egg diameter, relative fecundity (eggs kg^?1 body weight), fertilizability and hatchability (%) were comparable (P>0.05) in fish at ≥25% of dietary protein intake. Hydrilla‐fed fish exhibited lower (P<0.05) values for the measured parameters. Crude protein content in muscle increased with dietary protein level. Highest (P<0.05) muscle protein was obtained in fish fed 35% CP diet. Muscle fat was comparable (P>0.05) among fish receiving formulated diets. Ash content was not significantly (P>0.05) different among fish of different dietary groups. Moisture content in fish fed formulated diets, with the exception of 20% CP diet, did not vary significantly (P>0.05). Eggs of fish fed formulated diets contained higher CP and fat contents than those of hydrilla‐fed fish. High (P<0.05) moisture content was noted in the eggs of hydrilla‐fed fish. Ctenopharyngodon idella fed formulated diet, with a minimum of 25% CP, showed better reproductive performance than those fed hydrilla.     

Evaluation of potential of lupin meal as an alternative to fish meal in juvenile Penaeus monodon diets

An indoor feeding trial in a flow-through marine water system was performed to evaluate the feasibility of using dehulled lupin Lupinus albus seed meal as a protein source to replace fish meal in diets for the juvenile Penaeus monodon. Five isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) diets formulated by replacing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of fish meal protein by lupin meal protein were fed to shrimp (mean initial weight of 4.32 ± 0.23 g) three times daily at a feeding allowance of 5% body weight per day for 42 days. Shrimp fed diets with 0, 25, 50 and 75% replacement had similar (P > 0.05) weight gain, dry matter feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and apparent net protein utilization (ANPU). Shrimp fed the highest dietary inclusion level of lupin meal (100% replacement) had significantly (P < 0.05) lower responses for all the above parameters than shrimp fed all other diets. Survival was high (87–100%) and similar for all diets. Apparent dry matter digestibility (ADMD) of diets with 25, 50, 75 and 100% replacement of fish meal with lupin meal was similar (75.6–76.6%) and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of diet with 0% replacement (73.9%). Diets containing the two highest lupin inclusion levels (75 and 100% replacement) had significantly (P < 0.05) better apparent protein digestibility (APD) than those containing the two lowest lupin meal inclusion levels (0 and 25% replacement). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in whole-body composition (dry matter, protein, lipid and ash) of shrimp fed on the various diets. Pellet water stability was inversely related to level of lupin meal inclusion. It was found, in this study, that up to 75% protein of fish meal can be replaced with the protein of dehulled lupin seed meal in diets for juvenile P. monodon. The diet with total replacement of fish meal containing 40% lupin meal was utilized very poorly by the shrimp.     

Effect of dietary protein, lipid and carbohydrate ratio on growth, feed efficiency and body composition of pikeperch Sander lucioperca fingerlings

Pikeperch Sander lucioperca fingerlings were fed nine practical diets containing three levels of protein (P=34%, 43% and 50%), lipid (L=10%, 16% and 22%) and carbohydrate (C=10%, 15% and 20%) for 10 weeks in a recirculating water system at 23°C. Dietary treatments were distributed by orthogonal design with dietary energy content ranging from 15.5 to 23.1 MJ kg^?1 diet. Significant differences (P<0.05) in weight gain (%) and feed efficiency (FE) were observed after feeding trial. Relatively low growth and FE were found in fish fed diets containing 34% dietary protein level compared with that of fish fed diets with 43–50% protein levels, suggesting that 34% dietary protein probably is below the protein requirements of pikeperch fingerlings. Fish fed diets containing P43L10C15, P43L22C20 and P50L16C20 had significantly (P<0.05) higher weight gain and FE than fish fed the diets containing other dietary P/L/C ratios. There was no significant difference in weight gain and FE between fish fed diets of P43L10C15, P43L22C20 and P50L16C20. These results may indicate that pikeperch require at least 43% of dietary protein for adequate growth and FE, and considering the fish growth and feed ingredient cost P43L10C15 diet is more cost‐effective formulation for pikeperch fingerling. However, protein efficiency was not significantly affected by dietary P/L/C ratio.     

Supplemental iron and phosphorus increase dietary inclusion of cottonseed and soybean meal in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

A long‐term feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the use of cottonseed and soybean meal (CS) with iron and phosphorus supplements in diets for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Olive flounder with an initial average size of 28.5 ± 0.35 g (mean ± SD) were divided into 15 groups (three tanks per dietary treatment) and fed 480 g kg^?1 crude protein diets in which each of five isonitrogenous diets was formulated to contain different levels of cottonseed/soybean meal (1 : 1) to replace fish meal (FM) with iron and phosphorus supplementations. The five experimental diets were as follows: diet 1 (control), 0%CS; diet 2, 20%CS; diet 3, 30%CS; diet 4, 30%CS + Fe&P; and diet 5, 40%CS + Fe&P. After 26 weeks of feeding trial, no significant differences were observed in weight gain, feed utilization and survival among all the treatments. The total gossypol accumulation in liver of fish fed diets supplemented with iron was significantly lower than that of fish fed diets without supplementation of iron. The results indicate that the addition of iron in diets could prevent the absorption of free gossypol. The findings in this study suggest that dietary supplements of iron and phosphorus could increase the inclusion of cottonseed and soybean meal for FM replacement in diets for marine fish species.