Effects of varying rearing temperatures on expression of different trypsin isozymes, feed conversion efficiency and growth in Atlantic salmon (shape Salmo salar L.)

Hatching and start-feeding temperatures affected the expression of different trypsin isozymes in the pyloric caeca of Atlantic salmon. Hatching temperature of 10 °C induced the expression of the common isozyme TRP-2*100, and of 6 °C induced the variant TRP-2*92 (p$<$0.01). In contrast, start-feeding temperature of 12 °C significantly (p$<$0.0001) influenced the expression of the variant TRP-2*92, compared to 6 °C. The frequencies between different trypsin isozyme patterns were not changed at later stages under varied rearing temperatures.The frequency distribution between Atlantic salmon without and with trypsin variants was about 0.4:0.6. The trypsin isozyme TRP-2*92 was the major variant in Norwegian salmon, while the trypsin variant TRP-1*91 was dominant in Scottish salmon, at frequencies of 0.47 and 0.42, respectively. The presence of both the common and either variant trypsin isozymes were important for feed utilization and growth at varying rearing temperatures. Trypsin isozymes are functionally sensitive to different temperatures. The expression of the common trypsin isozyme TRP-2*100 is important when the water temperature is $>$ 8 °C, while it is important for the expression of the variant TRP-2*92 when the water temperature is $\leq$ 8 °C, especially below 6 °C. The variant TRP-1*91 was observed to perform effectively at a wider temperature range than the variant TRP-2*92, but not at temperature $\leq$ 6 °C.Genetic variation in trypsin isozyme pattern is a primary factor affecting food conversion efficiency and growth under different rearing temperatures.     

Effects of feeding levels on growth performance,feed utilization,body composition and apparent digestibility coefficients of nutrients for juvenile Chinese sucker,Myxocyprinus asiaticus

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of feeding levels on growth performance, feed utilization, nutrient deposition, body composition and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of nutrients for juvenile Chinese sucker (initial weight, 11.77±0.22 g). Chinese sucker were fed a practical diet from 0% (starvation) to 4.0% (at 0.5% increments) body weight (bw) day^?1 for 8 weeks. The results showed that growth performance, feed utilization, nutrient deposition, body composition and ADCs of dry matter, protein and energy were significantly (P<0.05) affected by feeding levels. Survival was the lowest for the starvation group. Final mean body weight, growth rate, thermal‐unit growth coefficient (TGC) increased with feeding rate from 0% to 3.0% bw day^?1 (P<0.05) and showed no significant differences above the level (P>0.05). Feed conversion rate was significantly lower at a feeding level of 2.5% bw day^?1 than above and below the level (P<0.05). Protein efficiency ratio was markedly highest at the 2.5% bw day^?1 ration level (P<0.05). Fish fed at the feeding level (1.0% bw day^?1), which represented a maintenance ration (energy gain was less than 2.27 kJ fish^?1 day^?1), showed positive protein deposition but negative lipid deposition. This indicates that fish fed a maintenance ration mobilize body lipid reserve to support protein deposition. Lipid contents of whole body, muscle and liver increased with increasing feeding rates from 0.5% to 3.0% bw day^?1 and showed no significant differences above the level (P>0.05). Protein contents of whole‐body composition increased with feeding rate from 0.5 to 3.0% bw day^?1 (P<0.05) and showed no significant differences above the level (P>0.05), whereas muscle and liver remained relatively stable with the different ration amount with the exception of fish fed a ration of 0.5% bw day^?1, at which Chinese sucker possessed significantly lower body protein concentration (P<0.05). The ADCs of dry matter, protein and energy decreased with increasing feeding levels from 0.5% to 3.0% bw day^?1 and then remained relatively constant over the level. Based on the broken‐line regression analysis using WG data, the optimum and maintenance feeding levels for Chinese sucker were 3.10% bw day^?1 and 0.45% bw day^?1 respectively.     

Trypsin isozymes in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.: studies of heredity, egg quality and effect on growth of three different populations

Abstract. Isoelectric focusing of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., trypsin resolved three major isozymes designated TRP-1, TRP-2 and TRP-3, with three variants, TRP-l(9l), TRP-l(75) and TRP-2(92). The TRP-1 and TRP-2 may represent duplicated loci which exhibit either tetrasomic or disomic inheritance from pairing of homeologous chromosomes. A significant difference in growth during 3 months after first-feeding was observed in the families exhibiting a high frequency of the isozyme TRP-2(92) (f≥0·5). Studies of three salmon populations suggested a correlation between the presence of this isozyme and better growth rate. No difference in egg quality was observed between the families possessing and lacking the trypsin isozyme TRP-2(92).     

Astaxanthin digestibility as affected by ration levels for Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feed intake on the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of astaxanthin including the major geometrical E/Z-isomers in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Atlantic salmon (50 per pen, initial weight 2 kg) were kept in 125 m³ sea pens equipped with an excess feed collection system to monitor and quantify accurate feed intake, and subjected to three treatments in triplicate. All salmon were fed the same diet supplemented with 47 mg astaxanthin per kg. Two treatments were fed full or restricted rations corresponding to 100 or 40% of apparent satiation, respectively, with a switch in ration between two consecutive feeding periods (14 and 3 d, respectively), whereas the control treatment was fed to 100% of apparent satiation during both periods. The corresponding feed intakes were 0.45 and 0.16% of biomass for salmon fed 100% or 40% of apparent satiation, respectively. Faeces were collected by stripping at the end of each feeding period and ADCs of astaxanthin were determined by an indirect method using yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) as an indigestible marker. Feed intake and astaxanthin ADC were negatively correlated (R² = 0.64; p = 0.0001). Astaxanthin ADC was 1.5 times higher at the low compared to the high ration level (p < 0.05), but due to the low feed intake the total amount of digested astaxanthin was only about 50% of that in fish fed to satiation. The ADCs of the all-E and 13Z-isomers of astaxanthin were similar and considerably higher than for 9Z-astaxanthin (p < 0.05). The amount of digested astaxanthin/TGC (estimated thermal growth coefficient) decreased with increasing feed intake. Estimates of astaxanthin retention indicated that a higher feed intake cause a lower muscle concentration of astaxanthin compared to that obtained at low feed intakes due to the lower digestibility. Blood samples were collected at the end of the second feeding period to examine possible relationships between plasma carotenoids, feed intake and ADC. Salmon without faeces in the hindgut had a lower plasma astaxanthin concentration compared to salmon with faeces in the hindgut (p < 0.05). In conclusion, feed intake and astaxanthin ADC are negatively correlated, and may thus explain reductions in muscle retention of Atlantic salmon.     

Plasma insulin,glucagon, glucagon-like peptide and glucose levels in response to feeding,starvation and life long restricted feed ration in salmonids

Plasma insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide (GLP) and glucose were measured in samples taken from rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss. (1.5 years of age) before feeding and at selected times up to 9 days after feeding. The feed contained 21.7% carbohydrate (65% digestibe) in the dry matter. The fish responded to feeding with an elevated plasma insulin level (p<0.005) 0.5 h post-feeding, which may account for the unchanged plasma glucose levels. Twentyfour hours after feeding, plasma insulin level had returned to prefeeding levels, while 4–9 days after feeding, a significant reduction compared to pre-feeding levels was observed (p<0.001). During this period plasma glucose levels remained unchanged. The corresponding plasma glucagon or GLP levels showed no significant elevation in response to starvation, the plasma GLP concentration was even significantly reduced on days 4–9 post-feeding (p<0.01–0.001).Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar, (3.5 years of age) fed a calculated satiation ration (RL=100) throughout their lifetime had, in addition to a higher body weight, significantly higher plasma insulin (p<0.005) glucagon (p<0.0001) and GLP levels (p<0.0001) than fish fed half the satiation ration. The plasma glucose levels were, however, not significant different between the groups.     

Effects of feeding rate and frequency on growth performance,digestion and nutrients balances of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)

A 10‐week study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding rate and frequency on growth performance, digestion and nutrients balances of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in replicated recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Replicated groups of juvenile salmon weighing 90 ± 2.5 g (mean ± SD) were fed a commercial feed (21.63 MJ kg^?1 gross energy) to designed feeding rate (1.4%, 1.6% and 1.8% body weight day^?1, BW day^?1) and feeding frequency (2 and 4 meals day^?1) combinations. Specific growth ratio varied between 1.15 ± 0.02 and 1.37 ± 0.16% day^?1, and feed conversion ratio ranged from 0.96 ± 0.03 to 1.16 ± 0.02. The nitrogen and phosphorus retention rates were from 36.50 ± 1.94 to 47.08 ± 5.23% and from 20.42 ± 1.05 to 38.59 ± 2.80%. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) in dry matter, protein, lipid and energy showed no significant differences for all groups. However, fish fed at 1.6% BW day^?1 and 4 meal day^?1 groups had relatively better growth and nutrient retention efficiency compared to other groups. In addition, concentrations of nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds were also detected in this study. These results suggested that salmon of 100–200 g in RAS could in practice be fed at 1.6% BW day^?1 and 4 meals day^?1, taking environmental impacts into account.     

Genetic differences in digestion and absorption of dietary protein in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., with different trypsin isozyme patterns

Abstract. In the genetical presence of trypsin isozyme TRP -2(92), Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., of either 100g or 400g in weight showed similarity in significantly higher absorption of the dietary protein as their postprandial total free amino acids in the plasma were significantly higher than those in the salmon without the isozyme. Better digestion of the dietary protein was observed by the presence of significantly higher postprandial plasma lysine level of the TRP-2(92) salmon. Another indication of different protein metabolism between salmon with and without the isozyme was observed by differences in plasma alanine and hydroxyproline. Trypsin activity in the intestine showed a higher response to feeding than that in the pyloric     

Influence of a dietary shift on temporal changes in fat deposition and fatty acid composition of Atlantic salmon post-smolt during the early phase of seawater rearing

The proportion of body fat in farmed fish correlates with the concentration of fat in the feed, and the fatty acid composition of the storage fat usually reflects that of the lipids in the feed. We examined the time course of changes in fatty acid compositions of fillet, viscera and carcass of Atlantic salmon post‐smolt over 14 weeks after transfer from fresh water to seawater. The fish had been fed either high‐(34%) or low‐ (22%) fat feeds based upon either fish or vegetable oils during freshwater rearing. Changes in tissue fat concentrations and fatty acid compositions were studied to assess the extent to which lipid turnover and fatty acid metabolism might contribute to temporal changes in fatty acid profiles. When given a 41% protein, 31% fat, fish oil‐based feed, the tissue fatty acid profiles of salmon fed vegetable oil‐based feeds in fresh water gradually came to resemble those of fish fed the fish oil‐based feed throughout freshwater and seawater rearing. The changes in tissue fatty acid compositions were greatest during the second half of the study, corresponding to the time at which growth rates of the fish were highest (SGRs weeks 0–6, 0.3–0.6% day^?1; weeks 0–14 SGRs > 1% day^?1). As the fish increased in size and body fat increased, their tissue fatty acid compositions seemed to be influenced more by deposition of fatty acids obtained from the feed than by lipid turnover and fatty acid metabolism.     

Ration level for salmonids: I. Growth, survival, body composition, and feed conversion in Atlantic salmon fry and fingerlings

Twelve groups of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), raised in fibre-glass tanks, were fed at 12 ration levels for 7 periods, each period lasting 28 days. The basic ration level was calculated from an expected maximum growth rate, depending on fish size and water temperature. This level was defined as “level 1.00”. The experimental ration levels varied from 0.50 to 3.25 in intervals of 0.25.

During the start-feeding period there was an average survival rate of 95%. After the remaining 6 periods the group which was fed least had a survival rate of 48%. The other groups had an average survival rate of 81%. In all 7 periods, increasing the ration levels from 0.50 to 1.00 resulted in increased growth. A further increase in ration level did not result in extra growth. The weight distribution of the fingerlings was bimodal, with the majority of fish in the scantiest fed groups being in the lower mode. The majority of the fish in the adequately fed groups were distributed in the upper mode.

The water temperature varied from 10 to 17°C, and the thermal sum was 2430 day-degrees. The average final weight of the fish which received ration levels from 1.00 to 3.25 was 28.3 g, while the fish on the scantiest ration weighed only 9.6 g at the end of the study. The feed conversion rate, which was 0.9–1.0 kg dry feed/kg growth for the two underfed groups, ranged from 1.0 to 3.0 in the other groups. The chemical composition of the fish varied according to fish size and ration level.     

Effects of live prey availability on growth and survival in the early stages of cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) life cycle

This investigation examined the effects of live prey availability on growth and survival of Sepia officinalis. Two independent experiments, comprising two feed rations each, were performed, using adequate prey size. In the first experiment, cuttlefish hatchlings were fed live mysids, Paramysis nouvelli [(feed ratio I (fr I)], at 15% body weight per day (bw day^?1) (fr I₁₅) and 30% bw day^?1 (fr I₃₀). In the second experiment, juvenile cuttlefish were fed live Atlantic ditch shrimp, Paleomonetes varians (fr II), under the same experimental design. In both experiments, the final mean weight, feeding rate and instantaneous growth rate were higher when animals were fed feed ratio fr II₁₅ and fr II₃₀ (30% bw day^?1). The results indicate that prey availability influenced weight gain, irrespective of the prey used, during the first 2 months of cuttlefish life cycle. This effect seems to be more noticeable when a certain limit of prey is achieved. For cuttlefish fed fr II, the optimal prey density is thought to be under 2.5 g prey L^?1 (i.e. 14 shrimp L^?1). Results indicate that cuttlefish can withstand prey densities up to 120 mysids L^?1 for cuttlefish up to 3 weeks old and 19 shrimps L^?1 for cuttlefish up to 6 weeks old.     

Effect of diet and ration on the relationship between plasma GH and IGF-1 concentrations in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.)

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether dietary ration or diet composition influence the relationship between plasma growth hormone (GH) and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.). The pattern of changes in plasma GH and IGF‐1 concentrations was examined in fish fed at different ration levels (0%, 0.35% and 0.70% BW day⁻¹) for 5 weeks, and in fish fed diets containing different lipid:crude protein (LCP) ratios. Ration level significantly affected plasma GH and IGF‐1 concentrations; at 5 weeks the levels of both hormones in the food‐deprived group were significantly lower than in fish fed the 0.70% BW day⁻¹ ration. Also, plasma IGF‐1 levels in fish of each ration treatment group were significantly correlated with individual final body weight; no such correlation was found for GH. To examine the effects of dietary LCP ratios, fish were fed for up to 18 weeks, with one of four formulated diets that had LCP ratios (dry matter basis) of 0.35 (Diet 1), 0.43 (Diet 2), 0.51 (Diet 3) or 0.59 (Diet 4), or a commercial diet (Diet 5) which had an LCP ratio of 0.38. Statistical differences in plasma GH and IGF‐1 concentrations were found only after 18 weeks. Growth hormone was significantly lower in fish fed Diets 1 and 2 compared with Diets 3 and 5, and IGF‐1 was significantly lower in fish fed Diet 1 compared with Diets 2 and 5. Significant correlations between plasma GH and IGF‐1 concentrations were found only for fish fed Diets 1 and 5, suggesting that the influence of diet composition on the relationship between GH and IGF‐1 varies with the dietary LCP ratio in this species. The decline in plasma IGF‐1 concentrations during food deprivation is similar to that described in other species; however, the unexpected decrease in plasma GH during food deprivation in this study may represent a species‐specific response.     

Astaxanthin deposition in fillets of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. fed two dietary levels of astaxanthin in combination with three levels of α-tocopheryl acetate

The influence of α-tocopheryl acetate (α-TOAc) on plasma concentration and fillet deposition of dietary astaxanthin was investigated in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. The diets were added 30 or 50 mg kg^–1 astaxanthin, and 200, 400 or 800 mg kg^–1α-TOAc at each astaxanthin level. Improved flesh deposition of astaxanthin by 8–14% was achieved for fish fed diets with 30 and 50 mg kg^–1 astaxanthin, respectively, by the dietary addition of 800 compared with 200 mg kg^–1α-TOAc. These results were supported by CIE[1976]L*a*b* tristimulus redness measurements (a* value). Plasma astaxanthin concentration mirrored the muscle astaxanthin concentration in the groups of fish fed a diet containing 30 mg kg^–1 astaxanthin. The salmon fed a high astaxanthin and low α-TOAc diet had the highest plasma concentration of idoxanthin (P < 0.05). Astaxanthin retention was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in salmon fed 30 mg kg^–1 astaxanthin than in those fed 50 mg kg^–1 astaxanthin, but was not significantly affected by dietary α-TOAc. Liver weight, body weight, specific growth rate, feed/gain ratio and mortalities were not affected by dietary α-TOAc levels. In conclusion, the dietary addition of α-TOAc appears to increase astaxanthin fillet deposition in salmonids and may reduce the demand for astaxanthin supplementation. The effect was rather small and requires verification.     

Feed intake, growth and feed conversion efficiency of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.)

The individual food intake of each fish in each of four groups of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.) (mean weight: 422 g) was monitored by direct observation over a period of 21 days. Gross feed conversion efficiency (= growth·feed intake^?1), net feed conversion efficiency and maintenance ration were estimated by regression analysis. Specific growth rates were found to be linearly related to weight-specific consumption at a temperature of 8–9°C: growth = 1.922· feed intake ? 0.242. Maintenance ration was 0.126% of body weight day^?1. The gross feed conversion efficiency increased asymptotically with increasing feed intakes and growth rates, and was found to approach 1.9 at high growth rates (0.5 on a dry weight basis). One feeding per day seemed to be sufficient for maximum food intake and growth rate.     

Effects of graded levels of standard soybean meal on intestinal structure, mucosal enzyme activities, and pancreatic response in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Duplicate tanks of c.280 g Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) were fed for 60 days on diets in which fishmeal was substituted with graded levels of extracted soybean meal (SBM) comprising 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% or 35% of total protein. The effects on feed intake, growth, feed conversion, apparent digestibility and utilization of macronutrients and energy, pathohistological response of the distal intestine (DI), activities of digestive enzymes in the mid and distal intestinal mucosa, and faecal trypsin and plasma insulin concentrations were studied. A negative, dose‐dependent effect of SBM was observed on nearly all performance parameters with a notable exception of feed intake. The lowest SBM inclusion level of 10% resulted in moderate pathohistological changes in the DI. Each subsequent increase in SBM level increased the number of fish displaying severe changes. In contrast to the mid‐intestine (MI), all enzyme activities in the distal intestinal mucosa decreased dose‐dependently with increasing SBM inclusion. Faecal trypsin increased up to an SBM inclusion level of 20% and then levelled off. Plasma insulin increased from 0% to 15% SBM inclusion and then decreased. The results suggest that caution should be exercised in the use of even low levels of extracted SBM in salmon feeds.     

The effects of feeding frequency on growth of juvenile Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.

Four experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding frequency on growth of juvenile Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus L. Fish (22–75 g) fed three (3 ×) or five times per day (5 × day^?1) under constant light and temperature (13±1°C) consumed significantly more feed than fish fed 1 × day^?1 but by the end of the experiment only fish fed 5 × day^?1 were heavier and had greater specific growth rates (SGR). Under simulated winter conditions (9L:15D, 5±1°C), halibut (～300 g) fed every other day consumed more feed, had a greater SGR and final weight compared with fish fed every third day. Feed conversion ratios were not different among treatment groups in any of the experiments. These results suggest that growth rates may be improved by feeding juvenile halibut more than 1 × day^?1.     

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%.     

Nutritional, physiological, and histological responses in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. fed diets with genetically modified maize

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether standard fish meal diets prepared with increasing levels of genetically modified (GM; 150 and 300 g kg⁻¹) maize (event MON810^®) as a starch source, showed any nutritional or physiological adverse effects on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. postsmolt. The diets with low or high inclusions of GM maize and its near‐isogenic parental line (nongenetically modified; nGM maize), were balanced with Suprex maize (Reference) to obtain compositional equivalency of diet starch, sugars and all other nutrients. Total starch level in all diets was 160 g kg⁻¹. After 82 days of feeding, fish growth was high in all groups, however fish fed the GM maize showed slight but significant lower feed intake, which was followed by slight but significant lower specific growth rate and final body weights, compared with fish fed nGM maize, none of the groups varied significantly from fish fed the Reference diet. There was no variation in feed conversion ratios (FCR), protein and lipid efficiency ratios (PER and LER), or protein‐ and lipid‐productive values (PPV and LPV) in this study. No significant effect of maize type was detected on apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of dry matter, protein or lipid. Hematological analysis and plasma nutrients varied within normal ranges for Atlantic salmon in all diet groups, except for somewhat elevated aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) values in all groups. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) with values ranging from 1.37 to 1.60, was significantly higher for the high GM maize group compared with the high nGM maize group but not when compared with the Reference diet group. Lowered spleen (SSI) and head‐kidney somatic indices (H‐KSI) were registered when fed GM compared with nGM maize, the Reference treatment was however, equal to both. Distal intestine somatic index (DISI) was significantly higher for GM maize‐fed fish compared with nGM maize‐fed fish, but not significantly different from the Reference diet group. Histological evaluation of the mid‐ and distal intestine, liver, spleen and head‐kidney did not reveal any diet‐related morphological changes. Maltase activities in the mid‐ and distal intestinal tissue homogenates were affected by diet, the fish fed high GM maize having higher activities compared with high nGM maize‐fed fish. Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were not affected by diet. Sodium‐dependent d ‐glucose uptake in brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from pyloric caeca of fish fed high GM maize was significantly higher than that found in fish fed the analogous diet with high nGM maize. Based on the present findings, the conclusions made are: Atlantic salmon smolts fed GM maize (event MON810^®), its near‐isogenic parental line and suprex maize (Reference diet), all resulted in high growth rates, ADC and feed utilization. Health, when evaluated by means of mortality (low), normal ranges of blood and plasma parameters, except somewhat elevated ASAT values and minor variations in organ sizes, were considered good in all diet groups. The changes in the glucose transport mechanism and intestinal maltase enzyme activity in the gastrointestinal tract warrant further studies.     

Saltwater performance of triploid Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. brown trout Salmo trutta L. hybrids

Survival and growth in a saltwater net-pen of sexually immature triploid Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. brown trout Salmo trutta L. hybrids was comparable to that of immature diploid Atlantic salmon. Following 17 months of freshwater rearing, the experimental fish were individually tagged and transferred to a saltwater net-pen where they were raised communally for 376 days. Initial and final average weights were 158 and 760 g per fish for the diploid Atlantic salmon and 209 and 1010 g per fish for the triploid hybrids; weights for the hybrids were significantly larger in both cases (α= 0.05). Survival from transfer to harvest was 43% for the Atlantic salmon and 48% for the hybrids. Average specific growth rate of fish which survived to harvest was 0.42% day^-1 for Atlantic salmon and 0.41% day^-1 for hybrids; these values were not significantly different. No significant differences were observed in average condition factor and dress-out percentage between crosses. Average gonadal weights and gonadosomatic indices were not significantly different for male diploid Atlantic salmon, female triploid hybrids and male triploid hybrids, but were significantly greater for female Atlantic salmon.     

Protease activities, plasma free amino acids and insulin at different ages of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) with genetically different trypsin isozymes

We show significant relationships between digestion rate of dietary protein, absorption/transport rate of amino acids, and plasma insulin concentration. Digestion rate of dietary protein was indicated by protease activity ratio of trypsin to chymotrypsin in the pyloric caeca. Plasma total free amino acids and/or the ratio of essential to non-essential free amino acids indicated absorption/transport rate of amino acids. These relationships are associated with and likely to be primarily affected by genetic variation in the expression of different isozymes of trypsin, a key enzyme for feed utilization and growth, affecting digestion, absorption/transport rate of amino acids and plasma insulin levels in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).     

Effects of Feeding Levels on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Body Composition, and Apparent Digestibility Coefficients of Nutrients for Grouper Epinephelus coioides Juveniles

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of feeding levels on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of nutrients for juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides (initial weight, 10.31 ± 0.36 g). Grouper were fed a practical diet from 0 (starvation) to 3.5% (at 0.5% increments) body weight per day (bw/d) for 8 wk. ANOVA indicated that growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, and ADCs of dry matter, protein, and energy were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by feeding levels. Survival was the lowest for the starvation group and for fish fed a ration of 0.5% bw/d. Final mean body weight, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate, and metabolic growth rate increased with feeding rate from 0 to 2.5% bw/d (P < 0.05) and showed no significant differences above the level (P > 0.05). Feed conversion rate was significantly lower at a feeding level of 2.0% bw/d than above and below the level (P < 0.05). Protein efficiency ratio was markedly highest at the 2.0% bw/d ration level (P < 0.05). Lipid contents of whole body, muscle, and liver increased with increasing feeding rates from 0 to 3% bw/d and showed a slight decline at the feeding level of 3.5% bw/d. Protein contents of whole‐body composition, muscle, and liver remained relatively stable with the different ration amount with the exception of fish fed a ration of 0.5% bw/d, at which grouper possessed significantly lower body protein concentration (P < 0.05). Condition factor, viscerosomatic index, and hepatosomatic index were the lowest for fish fed 0.5% bw/d and tended to increase with the increasing feeding levels. ADCs of dry matter, protein, and energy decreased with increasing feeding levels from 0 to 2.5% bw/d and then remained relatively constant over the level. Based on the broken‐line regression analysis using WG data, the optimum and maintenance feeding levels for grouper were 2.5% bw/d and 0.25% bw/d, respectively.