Detoxified Jatropha curcas kernel meal as a dietary protein source: growth performance,nutrient utilization and digestive enzymes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings

Jatropha curcas kernel meal is rich in protein; however, it is toxic. Two durations of detoxification process were investigated: 30 and 60 min; designated as J_a and J_b, respectively. Common carp fingerlings (252 fish; 3.2 ± 0.07 g) were fed diets: control containing fishmeal (FM); S₅₀, J_a50 and J_b50: 50% of FM protein replaced by soybean meal (SBM), detoxified Jatropha kernel meal (DJ_aKM and DJ_bKM); S₇₅, J_a75 and J_b75: 75% of FM protein replaced by SBM, DJ_aKM and DJ_bKM. Highest body mass gain, specific growth rate, metabolic growth rate (MGR) and energy production value were observed for the J_b50 group which were statistically similar to that for control group and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than for all other groups. Lowest feed gain ratio was observed in control group, which was statistically similar to than in J_b50 group. Lowest MGR, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value and lipid production value were observed in J_a75 group. The dry matter and lipid digestibilities were statistically (P < 0.05) highest in control group and lowest in J_a50 group. Protein and energy digestibilities were statistically similar (P > 0.05) for control and J_b50 groups, and these values were highest among the groups. Highest crude protein efficiency was observed in J_b50 group, whereas lowest in J_b75 group. Relative intestinal length and hepatosomatic index were higher in plant protein–fed groups. Intestinal amylase, protease and lipase activities for control group were statistically higher (P < 0.05) than for plant protein–fed groups. Conclusively, performance of J_b50 group was similar to control group and better than other groups and, thus, is recommended as the most optimal diet for common carp fingerlings.     

Energy budget and metabolism in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., fed on different dietary protein levels and at different ration levels

The total energy budget of 65 ± 8.0 g common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was studied in the laboratory. The pattern of energy allocation varied with dietary protein content and ration levels. The energy lost as heat of metabolism, R, was found to increase with dietary protein level and total ration. Energy lost as faeces, F, varied from 19% to 24% of consumption, C, but did not appear to be related to either protein content or ration levels. The energy equivalent of nitrogenous excretion, U, as a proportion of C increased with an increase in dietary protein but decreased with an increase of ration level. Regression equations were developed from the data to allow prediction of respiratory energy losses, faecal losses and excretory losses. The balance of energy budgets compiled from experiments conducted over an 18-day period was between 66% and 82%. Observed growth was always less than predicted growth, so the predictive models overestimated growth. The data presented form the basis for the first reported study of total energy budgets in Cyprinus carpio.     

Effects of dietary zinc sources and levels on growth performance,tissue zinc retention and antioxidant response of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian) fed diets containing phytic acid

Plant protein‐based diets are widely used for common carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). The plant source antagonist, such as phytate, negatively affects the bioavailability of trace minerals, but this aspect was not considered in previous studies on this species. A 10‐week growth trial was conducted to investigate the effects of inorganic Zinc (ZnSO₄·7H₂O, Zn‐S) and organic Zn (2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic Zinc, Zn‐M) on growth performance, Zn retention and antioxidant responses of common carp (initial weight 10.0 ± 0.03 g). Eleven semi‐purified diets containing 7 mg/kg phytic acid were prepared with 0, 5, 20, 35, 50 and 65 mg/kg Zn from Zn‐S and Zn‐M (12.8 mg/kg Zn in basal level), respectively. The results showed that either Zn‐S or Zn‐M inclusion improved growth performance, vertebral Zn deposition and antioxidant responses of fish. The Zn requirement based on WGR, vertebrae Zn and plasma SOD were 47.0, >77.8 and 48.5 mg/kg, and 63.3, 42.2 and 36.8 mg/kg, respectively, with Zn‐S and Zn‐M as Zn sources. The relative bioavailability of Zn‐M was 2.44‐ (vertebrae Zn deposition) and 1.74‐fold (plasma SOD activity) the availability of Zn‐S in the diet of common carp. The lower growth performance and poor bioavailability in vertebrae of Zn‐S group were related to the chelating of zinc with phytic acid.     

Response of juvenile tench (Tinca tinca L.) fed practical diets with different protein contents and substitution levels of fish meal by soybean meal

A basal practical diet for juvenile tench (Tinca tinca) was formulated and elaborated to test several protein contents and substitution possibilities of fish meal (FM) by soybean meal (SBM) in a 90‐day trial with 5‐month‐old juveniles (30.54 mm TL, 0.30 g W). A factorial design included nine feeding treatments: three protein contents (50%, 40% or 30%) and three levels of replacement (0%, 25% or 45%) of FM protein by SBM protein. In addition, a commercial carp feed was used as reference. Final survival ranged from 98.2% to 99.4%. The 50% dietary protein with 0% or 25% replacement and 40% dietary protein with 25% replacement diets enabled higher growth (P < 0.05) and lower FCR (P < 0.05) than the rest of practical diets. Fish fed 50% dietary protein had similar growth than those fed carp feed (63.8% protein). Deformed fish averaged 1% for the practical diets and 87.6% for the carp feed. The basal practical diet has showed to be feasible and levels of 40–50% dietary protein with 25% replacement of FM protein by SBM protein can be recommended for juvenile tench aged 5–8 months.     

Incorporation of a mixture of meat and bone meal,poultry by‐product meal,blood meal and corn gluten meal as a replacement for fish meal in practical diets of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei at two dietary protein levels

A 6‐week feeding trial was carried out in glass tanks to determine the effects of partial replacement of fish meal (FM) with a combination of meat and bone meal (MBM), poultry by‐product meal (PBM), blood meal (BM) and corn gluten meal (CGM) in practical diets on the growth, nutrient digestibility and body composition of Pacific white shrimp. Six practical diets were formulated, containing two levels of crude protein (CP) (330 and 380 g kg^?1) and similar crude lipid (CL) levels. For the 330 g kg^?1 dietary protein level, 0, 357 and 714 g kg^?1 FM were replaced by the mixture in Diets 1–3, respectively; while 0, 514 and 784 g kg^?1 FM were replaced in Diets 4–6, respectively, for 380 g kg^?1 dietary protein level. White shrimp‐fed diets containing 330 g kg^?1 CP had significantly lower weight gain compared with white shrimp fed diets containing 380 g kg^?1 CP. Increasing the mixture and dietary protein level significantly raised the body ash content of white shrimp. White shrimp fed a low‐protein diet obtained better nutrient digestibility compared with those fed a high‐protein diet.     

Measurement of digestibility in agastric fish based on stripping method – apparent nutrient,energy and amino acid digestibilities of common feed ingredients for carp diets (Cyprinus carpio)

Apparent nutrient, energy and amino acid (AA) digestibilities of wheat starch (WS), corn starch (CS), pea protein concentrate (PPC), soy protein concentrate (SPC), corn gluten meal (CGM) and soybean meal (SM) were assessed indirectly in common carp by applying the marker‐based indicator method. Each test diet consisted of 70% reference diet and 30% test ingredient. Stripping as faeces collection technique was applied to obtain faecal material two times a day for 9 weeks. Apparent digestibilities of ingredients (ADIs) for crude protein (CP) were higher in SM (79.5 ± 5.1%) and SPC (75.2 ± 4.8%) than in CGM (59.2 ± 6.6%). Regarding ADIs of individual AAs, SM and SPC always showed higher values than CGM and PPC. ADIs for crude carbohydrates in CS (90.4 ± 2.2%), WS (88.8 ± 2.0%) and CGM (82.3 ± 3.9%) exhibited higher amounts than in SM (26.3 ± 1.0%). Evaluated apparent digestibilities indicate that in particular SM and SPC are good protein and CGM, WS and CS are promising carbohydrate sources to be included in diets for common carp. A strong correlation between ADI_CP and ADI_AA was determined. Stripping used for digestibility measurement in carp was found to be a viable method as conventional passive faeces collecting techniques such as sedimentation or sieving.     

Effects of dietary protein levels on the growth performance, digestive capacity and amino acid metabolism of juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of protein levels on the growth performance, digestive capacity and amino acid metabolism of juvenile Jian carp. Brown fish meal was used as the sole protein source in the present study. Six isoenergetic experimental diets containing 14.4 MJ kg^?1 of digestible energy and 220–495 g crude protein kg^?1 diets were fed to triplicate groups of 50 fish with a mean initial weight of 16.67 ± 0.01 g for 45 days. Per cent weight gain (PWG) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) improved with an increase in the dietary protein levels up to 330 g kg^?1 diet. The condition factor, relative gut length, intestinal folds height, hepatopancreas and intestine protein content improved with an increase in the protein levels up to 330–385 g kg^?1 diet. Trypsin, creatinkinase, Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities generally followed the same tendency as that of growth parameters. Amylase and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (γ‐GT) activities were negatively correlated with increasing protein levels from 220 to 330 g kg^?1 diet, and no differences were found thereafter. Lipase activity was unaffected by protein levels. Lactobacillus amount was increased with protein levels up to 275 g kg^?1 diet, while Aeromonas amount followed the opposite pattern. Escherichia coli amount was not influenced by dietary protein levels. Glutamate–oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activities in the hepatopancreas and plasma ammonia concentration (PAC) were not influenced by protein levels between 220 and 275 g kg^?1 diet, but significantly increased with increasing protein levels from 275 to 440 g kg^?1 diet, and remained similar thereafter. Glutamate–pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activities significantly increased with protein levels >275 g kg^?1 diet. Based on the broken‐line model, the dietary protein requirement for PWG of Jian carp (16.7–55.0 g) was estimated to be 341 g kg^?1 diet with a digestible energy of 14.4 MJ kg^?1 diet.     

Growth performance,muscle and liver composition,blood traits,digestibility and gut bacteria of beluga (Huso huso) juvenile fed different levels of soybean meal and lactic acid

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of fishmeal (FM) replacement with 0, 350 or 700 g/kg soybean meal (SBM) in combination with the supplementation of lactic acid (LA; 0, 10 or 20 g/kg) in the diets of juvenile beluga sturgeon (Huso huso; 700 ± 30 g). Nine isonitrogenous (400 g/kg protein) and isoenergetic (18 MJ/kg) diets were fed to beluga ad libitum, three times a day, for 60 days. The results showed that replacing FM with SBM without LA significantly reduced fish growth; on the other hand, LA supplementation had positive effects on fish fed diets that FM was replaced by SBM (p < .05). Increasing SBM in the diet altered the fatty acid profiles of the fish, reducing long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the n‐3/n‐6 fatty acids. High amounts of SBM (700 g/kg) caused reductions in the haematocrit, glucose and cholesterol levels in the blood (p < .05). In addition, the digestibility of protein, fat, dry matter and phosphorus was reduced when replacing FM with SBM, however, adding LA to the diets increased fish performance (p < .05), and this improvement was sharper in 2% LA groups. The number of LA bacteria increased significantly with the dietary supplementation of LA (p < .05). Based on these results, replacing 350 g/kg of FM with SBM and adding 20 g/kg LA to their feed do not negatively affect the biological and physiological indices of beluga.