Osmoregulatory balance in Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell), affected with chronic ulcerative dermatopathy

This study examined the osmoregulatory capability of Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii, affected by chronic ulcerative dermatopathy (CUD) in intensive aquaculture. This condition appears to arise only in facilities utilizing groundwater, with the causative agent suggested to be a water-borne factor. Healthy Murray cod (~ 700 g) were transferred to a CUD-affected farm to monitor the progression of the syndrome and began to show signs of CUD after approximately five months. In order to evaluate possible effects of CUD on osmoregulation; plasma electrolyte concentrations, osmolality, and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities were measured, and gill histology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed. Plasma electrolyte concentrations and osmolality of CUD-affected Murray cod were consistent with reference values determined for non CUD-affected fish. A greater number of gill mucous cells were observed in Murray cod cultured at the CUD-affected farm compared to non CUD-affected fish. We also found an un-identified cell type that was present solely in the gills of CUD-affected Murray cod. Gill Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was significantly higher in severely CUD-affected Murray cod compared to individuals transferred to the CUD-affected farm. While there appeared to be some minor changes in the gills of CUD-affected fish, this study demonstrated that Murray cod were able to effectively osmoregulate, although, perhaps at an energetic cost.     

The pathology of chronic erosive dermatopathy in Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell)

Chronic erosive dermatopathy (CED) is a disease of intensively farmed Murray cod in Australia that has been reported in association with the use of groundwater (mechanically extracted from shallow boreholes) supplies. CED results in focal ulceration of the skin overlying sensory canals of the head and flanks. Trials were conducted at an affected fish farm to study the development of the condition, both in Murray cod and in goldfish, and also to assess the reported recovery of lesions when affected fish were transferred to river water. Grossly, lesions began after 2-3 weeks with degeneration of tissue at the periphery of pores communicating with the sensory canals. Widening of these pores along the axis of the canals resulted from a loss of tissue covering the canal. Histopathologically, hyperplasia of the canal epithelial lining was seen after 3 weeks in borehole water and subsequent necrosis and sloughing of this tissue resulted in the loss of the canal roof. Canal regeneration occurred when fish were transferred from borehole water into river water. The lack of lesions in other organs and the pattern of lesion development support exposure to waterborne factors as the most likely aetiology.     

Performance of intensively farmed Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) fed newly formulated vs. currently used commercial diets, and a comparison of fillet composition of farmed and wild fish

Murray cod is a top‐order carnivore with high culture potential. Currently, there are no commercial diets formulated specifically for Murray cod. In this study, results of two growth trials on Murray cod (80–83.5‐g mean initial weight), conducted in commercial settings, using two laboratory‐formulated diets (DU1 and DU2; 48.9% and 49.1% protein, and 16.9% and 16.1% lipid, respectively, on a dry matter basis), and two commercial diets, formulated for other species (salmon – CD/S and barramundi – CD/B) but used in Murray cod farming are presented. The two commercial diets had less protein (46.6% and 44.4%) but higher lipid (21.7% and 19.5%). The energy content of the feeds tested was similar (about 20–22 kJ g^?1). The growth performance and feed utilization of Murray cod did not differ significantly amongst the diets, but the food conversion ratio and % protein efficiency ratio in fish fed the DU1 and DU2 diets were consistently better. There was significantly less carcass and muscle lipid deposition in fish fed with the latter diets. Of the fatty acids in muscle, the lowest amounts (in μg mg lipid^?1) of n‐3 (262.5±2.9), n‐6 (39.8±0.9) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (302.3±3.8) were observed in fish fed CD/S, and the highest in fish fed DU2 and CD/B. Fatty acids 16:0 and 18:0, 18:1n‐9 and 16:1n‐7, and 22:6n‐3, 20:5n‐3, 22:5n‐3 and 18:2n‐6 were the dominant fatty acids amongst the saturates, monoenes and PUFA, respectively, and accounted for 80.8–88.7% of all identified fatty acids (23) in muscle of Murray cod. The study showed that Murray cod could be cultured successfully on a diet (DU2) containing 20% soybean meal without compromising growth and/or carcass quality. Differences in the proximate composition and fatty acid composition of muscle of wild and farmed Murray cod were observed, the most obvious being in the latter. Wild Murray cod had significantly less (P<0.05) saturates (192.6±1.84 vs. 266.3±3.51), monoenes (156.5±8.7 vs. 207.6±6.19), n‐3 (145.2±5.24 vs. 261.8±3.2) but higher n‐6 (144.3±2.73 vs. 48.3±1.38) in muscle (all values are in μg mg lipid^?1) than in farmed fish. Wild fish also had a much lower n‐3 to n‐6 ratio (1.0±0.03 vs. 5.4±0.09).     

Finishing diets stimulate compensatory growth: results of a study on Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii

The effective implementation of a finishing strategy (wash‐out) following a grow‐out phase on a vegetable oil‐based diet requires a period of several weeks. However, fish performance during this final stage has received little attention. As such, in the present study the growth performance during both, the initial grow‐out and the final wash‐out phases, were evaluated in Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii). Prior to finishing on a fish oil‐based diet, fish were fed one of three diets that differed in the lipid source: fish oil, a low polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) vegetable oil mix, and a high PUFA vegetable oil mix. At the end of the grow‐out period the fatty acid composition of Murray cod fillets were reflective of the respective diets; whilst, during the finishing period, those differences decreased in degree and occurrence. The restoration of original fatty acid make up was more rapid in fish previously fed with the low PUFA vegetable oil diet. During the final wash‐out period, fish previously fed the vegetable oil‐based diets grew significantly (P < 0.05) faster (1.45 ± 0.03 and 1.43 ± 0.05, specific growth rate, % day⁻¹) than fish continuously fed with the fish oil‐based diet (1.24 ± 0.04). This study suggests that the depauperated levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids in fish previously fed vegetable oil‐based diets can positively stimulate lipid metabolism and general fish metabolism, consequently promoting a growth enhancement in fish when reverted to a fish oil‐based diet. This effect could be termed ‘lipo‐compensatory growth’.     

Movements and habitat use of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) juveniles in a large lowland Australian river

Abstract – Native Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) are listed as a nationally vulnerable species, whereas non‐native common carp (Cyprinus carpio) are widespread and abundant. Understanding key aspects of life history, such as movement patterns and habitat selection by juvenile Murray cod and common carp, might be useful for conserving Murray cod populations and controlling common carp numbers. We used radio‐telemetry to track eight juvenile Murray cod and seven juvenile common carp in the Murray River, Australia, between March and July 2001. Common carp occupied a significantly greater total linear range (mean ± SD: 1721 ± 1118 m) than Murray cod (mean ± SD: 318 ± 345 m) and the average daily movement was significantly greater for common carp (mean ± SD: 147 ± 238 m) than for Murray cod (mean ± SD: 15 ± 55 m). All Murray cod and five of the seven common carp displayed site fidelity or residency to one, two or three locations. Murray cod were found only in the mainstream Murray River among submerged woody habitats, whereas common carp occurred equally in mainstream and offstream areas, and among submerged wood and aquatic vegetation. Murray cod were found in deeper (mean ± SD: 2.3 ± 0.78 m) and faster waters (mean ± SD: 0.56 ± 0.25 m·s^?1) compared with common carp (mean ± SD: 1 ± 0.54 m; 0.08 ± 0.09 m·s^?1) respectively. The presence of juvenile Murray cod only amongst submerged wood is an indication that these habitats are important and should be preserved. Conversely, juvenile common carp were equally present among all habitats sampled, suggesting that habitat selection is less specific, possibly contributing to their widespread success.     

Impacts of stock enhancement strategies on the effective population size of Murray cod,Maccullochella peelii,a threatened Australian fish

Abstract Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii (Mitchell) is an iconic Australian species endemic to the Murray‐Darling Basin (MDB) of inland south‐eastern Australia. Murray cod has been a valuable food source and supported a large commercial fishery throughout much of the 20th century. Over‐fishing and habitat destruction have resulted in significant declines in Murray cod populations throughout much of its range. Since the early 1980s, large numbers of Murray cod have been stocked into waterways to support both recreational fishing and conservation efforts. In this study, the likely impacts of past and current stocking practices on genetic diversity of Murray cod were modelled and new strategies to maximise genetic diversity in stocked populations are explored. The results suggest that a large, well‐managed breeding and stocking programme could help maintain genetic diversity of Murray cod across the MDB. In catchments within the MDB where the effective population size is very small, a well‐designed stocking programme, following strict guidelines for numbers of families reared and number of individuals maintained per family, could increase genetic diversity in a few generations.     

Growth and nutrient utilization of Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) fingerlings fed diets with varying levels of soybean meal and blood meal

Abstract The Australian native freshwater fish Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii pellii (Mitchell), currently supports a fledgling inland aquaculture industry, which is thought to have considerable growth potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of two alternate protein sources [blood meal (BM) and defatted soybean meal (SBM)] as substitutes for fish meal at various levels of inclusion in diets for juvenile Murray cod. The growth performance of juvenile Murray cod in response to nine isonitrogenous and isocalorific diets (50% protein, 14% lipid, 20.2 kJ g^?1) consisting of a control diet in which protein was supplied from fish meal, and test diets in which the fish meal protein was substituted at levels of 8%, 16%, 24%, and 32% with BM or SBM was evaluated from a 70‐day growth experiment. The per cent apparent dry matter (% ADC_dm) and percentage protein digestibility (% ADC_p) of the test diets were also determined using Cr₂O₃ as a marker. Survival in all the SBM dietary treatments was high but that of fish on the BM dietary treatments was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in all the other dietary treatments. Specific growth rate (% day^?1) of Murray cod fed SBM incorporated diets ranged from 1.63 ±  0.06 to 1.78 ±  0.10 and even at the highest level tested (32% of the dietary protein from SBM) was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the fish fed the control diet (1.65 ±  0.09). Feed conversion ratios of the SBM dietary treatments ranged from 1.36 ±  0.08 to 1.45 ±  0.07. The protein efficiency ratios and protein conversion efficiencies of Murray cod in the soybean meal treatments were also good and for a majority of the SBM diets were better than those for the control diet. Per cent ADC_dm and ADC_p of the SBM diets tested ranged from 70.6 ±  1.46 to 72.3 ±  1.81% and 88.6 ±  0.57 to 90.3 ±  0.17%, respectively, and was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the control diet (% ADC_dm 74.3 ±  1.63; % ADC_p 91.3 ±  0.55). The reasons for significantly poor survival and growth of Murray cod reared on BM incorporated diets, and relatively poor digestibility of these diets are discussed. The study shows that for Murray cod diets in which fish meal protein is substituted up to 32% performance or carcass composition is not compromised.     

Growth performance, feed efficiency and fatty acid composition of juvenile Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii, fed graded levels of canola and linseed oil

In two independent experiments, the effects of dietary inclusion of canola and linseed oil were evaluated in juvenile Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii, Mitchell) over a 112‐day period. In each experiment, fish received one of five semi‐purified diets in which the dietary fish oil was replaced with canola oil (Experiment A) or linseed oil (Experiment B) in graded increments of 25% (0–100%). Murray cod receiving the graded canola and linseed oil diets ranged in final weight from 112.7 ± 7.6 to 73.8 ± 9.9 g and 93.9 ± 3.6 to 74.6 ± 2.2 g, respectively, and exhibited a negative trend in growth as the inclusion level increased. The fatty acid composition of the fillet and liver were modified extensively to reflect the fatty acid composition of the respective diets. Levels of oleic acid (18:1 n‐9) and linoleic acid (18:2 n‐6) increased with each level of canola oil inclusion while levels of α‐linolenic acid (18:3 n‐3) increased with each level of linseed oil inclusion. The concentration of n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in the fillet and liver decreased as the amount of vegetable oil in the diets increased. It is shown that the replacement of fish oil with vegetable oils in low fish meal diets for Murray cod is possible to a limited extent. Moreover, this study reaffirms the suggestion for the need to conduct ingredient substitution studies for longer periods and where possible to base the conclusions on regression analysis in addition to anova .     

Early ontogeny-related changes of the fatty acid composition in the Percichthyid fishes trout cod,Maccullochella macquariensis and Murray cod,M. peelii peelii

Changes in the fatty acid profiles of the Percichthyid fish trout cod, Maccullochella macquariensis (Cuvier), and Murray cod, M. peelii peelii (Mitchell), two Australian native freshwater fish species, were investigated during early development from egg to yolk-sac-resorbed larval stage. In the two Percichthyid fishes polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) accounted for more than 50 % of the 19 quantified fatty acids in total lipid. The fatty acids that occurred in the highest abundance in both trout cod and Murray cod, in all developmental stages, in order, were docosahexaenoic acid [DHA 22:6(n-3)], arachidonic acid [AA 20:4(n-6)], oleic acid [18:1(n-9)] and palmitic acid (16:0), all of which exceeded 100 μg per mg total lipid in most instances. The ratio of 22:6(n-3) to eicosapentaenoic acid- 20:5(n-3) in eggs of trout cod and Murray cod was 5.4:1 and 7.3:1, respectively, and remained almost unchanged through development, and was considerably higher than the 2:1 ratio generally reported for fish eggs. In trout cod, 11 of the 19 fatty acids in total lipid decreased during the transformation from egg to yolk-sac-resorbed larva. In Murray cod, only 16:1(n-7) showed a significant decrease whilst 20:4(n-6) increased significantly with development. Overall, there was a tendency in both species to conserve n-3 and n-6 series highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), suggesting their essentiality in first feeding larvae. These observations are discussed in relation to the feeding habits of trout cod and Murray cod, which are top order, freshwater carnivores.     

Performance of murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) in response to different feeding schedules

The Australian freshwater fish Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) is gaining popularity as a suitable species for intensive culture, particularly in closed systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Murray cod in response to different feeding schedules. Growth, survival, food conversion and a range of other related parameters including carcass proximate composition were evaluated for fish in five feed management regimes. The feeding regimes used in the experiment were hand fed to satiation twice daily (SAT), a pre‐determined ration of 1.2% of the body weight day^?1 which was hand fed twice daily (HFR), and belt fed through the day only (B/D), belt fed through the night only (B/N) and belt fed for 24 h (B/DN). Each of the five feeding regimes was randomly allocated to three tanks (triplicates). All of the feeding regimes used a commercially prepared diet formulated specifically for Murray cod, containing ≈50% protein and ≈16% lipid. The experiment was conducted for 84 days. Specific growth rate ranged from 0.89±0.01 to 1.07±0.04% day^?1. Food conversion ratio (FCR) ranged from 1.09±0.02 to 0.92±0.03. The fastest growth and greatest final body weight were observed in the SAT treatment; however, the highest FCR, visceral fat index (VFI %) and hepatosomatic index (HSI %) were also observed in this treatment. Significant differences were found in specific growth rate and final mean weight between fish in the B/D and SAT treatments. B/N and B/DN feeding regimes appeared to result in the most favourable fish performance.     

Evaluation of Weaning Strategies for Intensively Reared Australian Freshwater Fish, Murray Cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii

The Australian Murray cod supports a growing national industry. However, with regard to the process of weaning fry, there is a lack of information and optimal procedures need to be developed. The aim of the present investigation was to test the biological and economic efficacy of different weaning strategies for Murray cod. Three weaning strategies were tested on triplicate groups of fish: (1) only Artemia for 5 d, 7 d on Artemia plus starter diet, and 14 d on dry diet only; (2) 12 d on Artemia plus starter diet and 14 d on dry diet only; and (3) directly to dry diet for the entire experimental period. No significant differences were recorded in the growth and feed efficiency, while significantly higher mortality (38.4 ± 0.35%) was recorded in fish weaned directly onto dry diet. Fish subjected to the first 5 d on Artemia only showed a growth reduction during this period, which was compensated by a phase of enhanced growth during the dry‐diet phase. No significant differences were noted in the proximate composition of fish under the different treatments. The economic evaluation suggested that the treatment with the simultaneous supply of Artemia and starter diet is preferable.     

Movements of Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) in a large Australian lowland river

Abstract –  This study of Murray cod ( Maccullochella peelii peelii ) movements in a large lowland river in south-eastern Australia indicated that the species was not sedentary, but undertook complex movements that followed a seasonal pattern. While there were sedentary periods with limited home ranges and high site fidelity, Murray cod also under took larger movements for considerable portions of the year coinciding with its spawning schedule. This generally comprised movements (up to 130 km) from a home location in late winter and early spring to a new upstream position, followed by a rapid downstream migration typically back to the same river reach. Timing of movements was not synchronous amongst individuals and variation in the scale of movements was observed between individuals, fish size, original location and years.     

Flow alteration and thermal pollution depress modelled growth rates of an iconic riverine fish,the Murray cod Maccullochella peelii

The serial discontinuity concept (SDC) proposes that hypolimnetic‐releasing impoundments cause major disruptions to the naturally occurring physical, chemical and biological gradients of rivers but that this impact diminishes with distance downstream. Such a gradient in discharge, flow velocity and temperature regime occurs below a large hypolimnetic‐releasing impoundment, the Hume Dam, on the River Murray in south‐eastern Australia. To examine the effects of this disturbance gradient on a warm‐water large‐bodied freshwater fish, the Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii), a bioenergetics model was developed and calibrated to explore energy expended under differing water velocities and temperature regimes. Model simulations predicted negative growth of juveniles directly downstream of the impoundment, due largely to the energetic costs associated with active and, to a lesser extent, standard metabolism outweighing the achievable energetic gains through food consumption. As flow velocity and temperature regimes became more favourable downstream, so did the simulated growth of the species. It was not until +239 km downstream of the impoundment that the model predicted that flow velocity and temperature regimes were suitable for greater weight gains. The modelled growth responses of juvenile Murray cod are consistent with the predictions of the SDC, emphasising that changes in the bioenergetics of individuals are likely to be reflected in reduced growth rates under the changed flow velocity and temperature regimes imposed by disturbance gradients. This research represents a valuable step in the biological understanding of Murray cod within variable riverine environments and emphasises the urgency required to mitigate impacts associated with hypolimnetic impoundments.     

Coccidiosis due to Goussia lomi (Protista: Apicomplexa) in aquarium-reared Murray cod, Maccullochella peeli (Mitchell), (Percichthyidae)

Abstract. Intestinal parasitism by the coccidian Goussia lomi was associated with morbidity and histological lesions in aquarium-reared Murray cod fry, Maccullochella peeli (Mitchell), at a hatchery near Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia. Coccidial infection was not found in pond-reared Murray cod of the same age, nor in trout cod, M. macquariensis (Cuvier & Valenciennes), reared under similar conditions at the same hatchery. Overcrowding may have predisposed Murray cod in aquaria to heavy infection with G. lomi. Clinical coccidiosis was expressed in a small proportion of infected fish. Large numbers of coccidial developmental forms were detected histologically in the intestinal mucosa of affected fish in association with a necrotic enteropathy. Using a method of intestinal trypsin digestion and flotation, 2000 coccidial oocysts were counted in one 0-05g fish.     

Post‐release mortality of angled golden perch Macquaria ambigua and Murray cod Maccullochella peelii

Abstract Short‐term (≤4 days) post‐release mortalities of two large, culturally and ecologically important Australian freshwater teleosts golden perch Macquaria ambigua (Richardson) and Murray cod Maccullochella peelii (Mitchell) were investigated. There was no angler‐induced mortality among golden perch that were immediately released in winter and spring, but 24% of this species and 15% of Murray cod died after delayed release in summer. Significant predictors of mortality were limited to times caught and total length for golden perch, and restraint methods and recovery times for Murray cod, but other parameters were also implicated as cumulative influences. The estimated mortalities may be sufficient to produce population‐level impacts for these two long‐lived species but could be considerably reduced through revisions of tournament regulations.     

The amino acid profiles in developing eggs and larvae of the freshwater Percichthyid fishes,trout cod,Maccullochella macquariensis and Murray cod,Maccullochella peelii peelii

Results on changes in the total amino acids (protein bound + free) and the free amino acids (FAA) in relation to development, from egg (unfertilised and/or fertilised) to yolk-sac resorbed larva, before first feeding, in two Percichthyid fish, trout cod, Maccullochella macquariensis and Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii, which lay demersal, adhesive eggs, are presented. Throughout development, the FAA accounted for only a small proportion (0.19 % in fertilised eggs of both species) of the total amino acid pool. Nine essential amino acids (EAA) and eight non-essential amino acids (NEAA) were quantified in the amino acid pool at all stages of development. In both species, the total amino acid content decreased during the transformation (at 20 ± 1 °C) from newly hatched larva to yolk-sac resorbed larva. Overall, the changes in the TEAA and TNEAA reflected that of the amino acid pool. In trout cod, all but one EAA (lysine) and two NEAA (cysteine and glycine) decreased with ontogeny, from fertilised egg to yolk-sac resorbed larva. In Murray cod, however, the exceptions to the general decline were two NEAA (aspartic acid and glycine). In contrast, the FAA increased with development, the changes being reflected in both FEAA and FNEAA. Qualitatively, the predominant free amino acids in trout cod and Murray cod eggs were alanine, lysine, leucine and serine. Because the egg protein and the total amino acid contents declined with development, it is concluded that the rate of breakdown of yolk protein was higher than the anabolic and catabolic processes during embryogenesis. Data also suggest that in freshwater fish FAA are an unlikely primary energy substrate during embryogenesis.     

Modification of tissue fatty acid composition in Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii, Mitchell) resulting from a shift from vegetable oil diets to a fish oil diet

The dynamics of fatty acid composition modifications were examined in tissues of Murray cod fed diets containing fish oil (FO), canola oil (CO) and linseed oil (LO) for a 25‐week period and subsequently transferred to a FO (finishing/wash‐out) diet for a further 16 weeks. At the commencement of the wash‐out period, following 25 weeks of vegetable oil substitution diets, the fatty acid compositions of Murray cod fillets were reflective of the respective diets. After transfer to the FO diet, differences decreased in quantity and in numerousness, resulting in a revert to the FO fatty acid composition. Changes in percentages of the fatty acids and total accumulation in the fillet could be described by exponential equations and demonstrated that major modifications occurred in the first days of the finishing period. A dilution model was tested to predict fatty acid composition. In spite of a general reliability of the model (Y=0.9234X+0.4260, R²=0.957, P<0.001, where X is the predicted percentage of fatty acid; Y the observed percentage of fatty acid), in some instances the regression comparing observed and predicted values was markedly different from the line of equity, indicating that the rate of change was higher than predicted (i.e. Y=0.4205X+1.191, R²=0.974, P<0.001, where X is the predicted percentage of α‐linolenic acid; Y the observed percentage of α‐linolenic acid). Ultimately, using the coefficient of distance (D), it was shown that the fatty acid composition of fish previously fed the vegetable oil diets returned to the average variability of the fillet fatty acid composition of Murray cod after 70 or 97 days (LO and CO respectively).     

Effect of dietary protein level on growth and food utilization in juvenile Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell)

Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) is a freshwater Percichthyid fish considered to have high culture potential. Growth and feed utilization were examined in a 56‐day experiment, in which triplicate groups of juvenile Murray cod (initial weight 21.5 ± 0.03 g) were fed isocalorific diets (gross energy content of about 21 kJ g^?1) containing 40%, 45%, 50%, 55% or 60% protein (designated P40, P45, etc.). Final mean weight, percentage increase in weight and specific growth rate (SGR; % day?1) were highest in fish fed the P50 diet. Food conversion ratio (FCR; 1.05 ± 0.04) and protein efficiency ratio (PER; 1.98 ± 0.11) were also best in fish on the P50 diet, but the differences in these parameters from the corresponding values on diets P55 and P60 were not always significant. FCR (Y) was related to dietary protein content (X), the relationship being a second‐order polynomial, in which Y = 0.004X²?0.431X + 12.305 (r= 0.95; P < 0.01). The proportions of carcass moisture, protein, lipid and ash did not differ among the different dietary treatments. The protein conversion efficiency (y) was negatively correlated to percentage dietary protein (X) content, the relationship being: y = 62.76–0.62X (r= 0.99; P < 0.01).     

Digestibility and amino acid availability of three protein-rich ingredient-incorporated diets by Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) and the Australian shortfin eel Anguilla australis Richardson

In this study, the apparent dry matter (ADM), protein (PD) and energy (ED) digestibility, and the amino acid availability (essential, EAAA; non‐essential, NEAAA; total, TAAA) of diets incorporated with one of three protein‐rich ingredients (soybean meal, shark meat meal waste and meat meal) were evaluated for Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell) and the Australian shortfin eel Anguilla australis Richardson. The reference diets (RDs) used for Murray cod and shortfin eel had 50% and 45% protein, and 10% and 15% lipid respectively. The test diets consisted of 30% ingredient and 70% RD, and digestibility estimations were made using chromic oxide as a marker.     

Effect of crude oil extracts from trout offal as a replacement for fish oil in the diets of the Australian native fish Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii

The efficacy of trout oil (TO), extracted from trout offal from the aquaculture industry, was evaluated in juvenile Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii (25.4±0.81 g) diets in an experiment conducted over 60 days at 23.7±0.8 °C. Five isonitrogenous (48% protein), isolipidic (16%) and isoenergetic (21.8 kJ g^?1) diets, in which the fish oil fraction was replaced in increments of 25% (0–100%), were used. The best growth and feed efficiency was observed in fish fed diets containing 50–75% TO. The relationship of specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) to the amount of TO in the diets was described in each case by second‐order polynomial equations (P<0.05), which were: SGR=–0.44TO²+0.52TO+1.23 (r²=0.90, P<0.05); FCR=0.53TO²–0.64TO+1.21 (r²=0.95, P<0.05); and PER=–0.73TO²+0.90TO+1.54 (r²=0.90, P<0.05). Significant differences in carcass and muscle proximate compositions were noted among the different dietary treatments. Less lipid was found in muscle than in carcass. The fatty acids found in highest amounts in Murray cod, irrespective of the dietary treatment, were palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1n‐9), linoleic acid (18:2n‐6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n‐3). The fatty acid composition of the muscle reflected that of the diets. Both the n‐6 fatty acid content and the n‐3 to n‐6 ratio were significantly (P<0.05) related to growth parameters, the relationships being as follows. Percentage of n‐6 in diet (X) to SGR and FCR: SGR=–0.12X²+3.96X–32.51 (r²=0.96) and FCR=0.13X²–4.47X+39.39 (r²=0.98); and n‐3:n‐6 ratio (Z) to SGR, FCR, PER: SGR=–2.02Z²+5.01Z–1.74 (r²=0.88), FCR=2.31Z²–5.70Z+4.54 (r²=0.93) and PER=–3.12Z²–7.56Z+2.80 (r²=0.88) respectively. It is evident from this study that TO could be used effectively in Murray cod diets, and that an n‐3:n‐6 ratio of 1.2 results in the best growth performance in Murray cod.