The effects of less-expensive plant protein sources replaced with soybean meal in the juvenile diet of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): growth, nutrient utilization and body composition

In this study, the effects of less-expensive protein sources replaced with soybean meal on growth performance, nutrient utilization and body composition of juvenile grass carp were investigated. For this purpose, a control diet containing 42% soybean meal was prepared. Cotton seed meal (CSM), sunflower meal (SFM) and corn meal (CM) were added to the experimental diets by replacing 100% of the soybean meal protein used in the control diet. All diets were iso-nitrogenous (40% crude protein) and iso-caloric (19.5?MJ?kg^?1 gross energy). Each treatment had three replicates, and 20 juvenile grass carps (3.5?±?0.1?g, initial weight) were located in per replicate. The fish were fed to satiety three times in a day during 3?months at 26°C of water temperature in glass aquarium (45 l). The results of the study showed that the weight gain (308.6?C448.6%), specific growth rate (1.56?C1.89%/day), feed conversion rate (1.2?C1.9), protein efficiency ratio (1.32?C2.08), and apparent digestibility coefficients of protein (80.5?C89%) or sum of amino acids (80.5?C88.9%) were not significantly affected by the experimental diets, except diet CM. All of these values obtained for the diet CM were significantly lower than those of fish fed on the control, CSM and SFM diets. However, there were no significant differences between the lipid digestibility of the diets, and crude protein, lipid, and gross energy contents in the whole body of fish in experiments. In conclusion, CSM and SFM diets were highly utilized by juvenile grass carp, but not CM diet. These results combined with the remarkable acceptability of diets containing high levels of plant protein ingredients with identical growth performances of juvenile grass carp show clearly that dietary soybean meal level can be considerably reduced without any adverse consequence in terms of somatic growth and nitrogen utilization.     

草鱼鱼种对胆碱需要量的研究

用不含胆碱的饲料饲养草鱼鱼种，草鱼鱼种生长减慢，饲料效率降低，肝脏脂肪浸润，血浆总脂，甘油三脂，胆固醇和磷脂含量降低，随着饲料中胆碱含量的添加，草鱼生长和饲料效率改善，肝脏脂肪含量降低，血浆总脂、甘油三脂、胆固醇，磷脂含量回升。当饲料中胆碱添加量达到０．３％以上时，草鱼生长率最高，肝脏脂肪含量，血浆总脂、甘油三脂，胆固醇，磷脂与摄食天然饲料（浮萍）的草鱼基本相同。在本研究条件下，建议草鱼鱼种饲料中     

Digestibility of low-cost ingredients in pelleted feed by grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella C. et V.)

The digestion coefficients of nutrients in 37% protein MARDI feed as well as in napier and carpet grass meals were evaluated in grass carp. Cr₂O₃ was used as an internal marker for the evaluation of digestibility. In the MARDI feed, the fish meal and soya bean meal were digested most by the fish: the digestion coefficients for protein were 90.81% and 96.21%, respectively; for fat the values were 100% and 98.79%, respectively; and for gross energy the values were 83.37% and 82.71%, respectively. These results indicate that it may be feasible to replace fish meal partially with soya bean meal in the MARDI feed for grass carp. The digestion coefficients for dry matter and carbohydrate of maize were 64.76% and 87.85%, respectively, although protein, fat and gross energy in maize were poorly utilized by the fish. Copra cake and rice bran were poorly digested by the fish. These two ingredients should be deleted in feed formulations for this fish.The digestion coefficients of nutrients in napier and carpet grass meals were much higher than those of maize, copra cake and rice bran in the fish, which suggests that grass meals may possibly be used as ingredients in feed formulation for grass carp.     

葡萄糖和玉米淀粉对草鱼生长和肠系膜脂肪沉积的影响

采用30%葡萄糖或玉米淀粉作为糖源的配制两种纯化饲料,饲养初始体重为(35.94±1.86)g的两组草鱼,经过为期9周的生长试验,观察葡萄糖和玉米淀粉对草鱼生长和肠系膜脂肪沉积的影响.实验结果显示摄食葡萄糖饲料的草鱼其相对生长率、饲料效率和蛋白质效率均显著高于玉米淀粉组,而肠系膜脂肪占鱼体的百分比在葡萄糖饲料组和淀粉饲料组之间存在显著性差异,分别为1.85%±0.46%和3.56%±0.45%.由此可见,葡萄糖比玉米淀粉对草鱼的生长具有更好的作用,而玉米淀粉比葡萄糖更容易引起草鱼肠系膜脂肪沉积的增加.     

饲料中添加生物素对草鱼幼鱼生长、体成分和血清生化指标的影响

在纯化饲料中分别添加生物素0、0.05、0.10、0.20、0.40、0.80、1.60 mg/kg投喂初始质量为(5.92±0.25)g的草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)幼鱼8周,研究了不同生物素添加量对草鱼幼鱼生长性能、饲料系数、机体营养成分、血清生化指标的影响。试验结果显示:与对照组相比,添加生物素提高了草鱼幼鱼的增重率、特定生长率,降低了饲料系数。添加量为0.40 mg/kg时草鱼幼鱼的特定生长率和增重率最大,饲料系数最低,并与对照组存在显著差异(P<0.05);添加不同水平生物素对草鱼幼鱼全鱼水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪含量无显著影响,但添加量为0.40 mg/kg时粗蛋白含量最大。0.10 mg/kg组和0.20 mg/kg组的全鱼灰分含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05);添加生物素对血清总蛋白(TP)、血糖(GLU)和总胆固醇(TC)无显著影响,但显著提高了血清甘油三酯(TG)含量,各添加组TG含量均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),1.60 mg/kg添加组的高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。综合本试验结果,草鱼幼鱼饲料中生物素适宜添加量为0.40 mg/kg。     

蚕豆、大巢菜籽及苦瓜籽饲料对草鱼生长、肌肉成分、组织生化指标和消化酶活性的影响

分别以常规配合饲料(配合饲料组)、浸泡蚕豆(浸泡蚕豆组)、含75%蚕豆(蚕豆饲料组)、60%大巢菜籽(巢菜籽饲料组)、60%苦瓜籽(苦瓜籽饲料组)的饲料饲喂体重为(59.0±0.6)g的草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella),养殖8周后,配合饲料的增重率显著高于其他各组(P0.05),饲料系数显著低于其他各组(P0.05);与浸泡蚕豆组相比,蚕豆饲料组的增重率提高56.9%,而巢菜籽饲料组、苦瓜籽饲料组的增重率则分别下降30.6%、21.2%(P0.05);浸泡蚕豆组、蚕豆饲料组、巢菜籽饲料组、苦瓜籽饲料组的肌肉胶原蛋白含量较配合饲料组显著提高,而肌肉脂肪含量显著下降(P0.05);苦瓜籽饲料组的肌肉总氨基酸(TAA)、鲜味氨基酸(DAA)含量显著高于配合饲料组和浸泡蚕豆组(P0.05)。在生化指标方面,与配合饲料组相比,投喂蚕豆、巢菜籽饲料及浸泡蚕豆显著降低了肝胰脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性(P0.05),提高了肝胰脏丙二醛(MDA)含量和肌肉肌酸激酶(CK)活性(P0.05),但蚕豆饲料组的肝胰脏丙二醛(MDA)含量低于浸泡蚕豆组(P0.05);在消化酶方面,投饲蚕豆、巢菜籽、苦瓜籽饲料和浸泡蚕豆显著降低了前肠脂肪酶活性(P0.05),提高了α-淀粉酶活性(P0.05),蚕豆饲料组、巢菜籽饲料组及浸泡蚕豆组的碱性蛋白酶活性较对照组显著降低(P0.05)。上述结果表明,饲喂以蚕豆、大巢菜籽、苦瓜籽为主要成分的配合饲料及浸泡蚕豆可改变草鱼肌肉组成,但也降低了草鱼生长性能;综合生长性能和肌肉组成,蚕豆饲料较巢菜籽饲料、苦瓜籽饲料和浸泡蚕豆在脆化草鱼生产养殖上更具有可行性。     

饲料中添加谷胱甘肽对草鱼生长、生理指标和抗病力的影响

选用初始体质量约8.50 g的草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idella),在56 d的饲养期中分别投喂添加5种不同剂量谷胱甘肽(GSH)(添加量分别为0 mg/kg、100 mg/kg、200 mg/kg、300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg)的试验饲料,观察GSH对草鱼生长、生理指标和抗病力的影响。结果表明,饲料中添加GSH能够提高草鱼特定生长率、存活率和饲料效率。其中,300 mg/kg GSH组草鱼的特定生长率和400 mg/kg GSH组草鱼的存活率显著高于对照组;添加GSH各组草鱼的饲料效率均显著高于对照组,当添加量为200 mg/kg时草鱼饲料效率达到最高。与对照组相比,饲料中添加GSH的各组草鱼肝胰指数明显升高,其中200 mg/kg组达到显著水平。饲料中添加GSH能够提高血清IGF-1水平,其中300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg组显著高于对照组。与对照组相比,各实验组草鱼血液白细胞数目有不同程度升高,其中300 mg/kg和400 mg/kg组均达到显著水平。饲料中添加GSH可以提高草鱼对嗜水气单胞菌的抵抗能力,其中200 mg/kg GSH组草鱼攻毒后存活率达到最高。以特定生长率为判定指标,GSH在草鱼饲料中的适宜添加量为350 mg/kg。     

Replacement of fishmeal in diets for Australian silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). II. Effects of cooking on digestibility of a practical diet containing different starch products

Abstract The interactive effects of cooking and starch type on the dry matter, gross energy and protein digestibility of diets fed to fingerling silver perch were examined. Nine experimental diets were made: a reference diet either uncooked or cooked, six other diets comprising uncooked reference diet supplemented with 30% uncooked or cooked wheat, maize or potato starch and one diet comprising uncooked reference diet supplemented with 15% pregelatinized maize starch. Cooking involved autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min. The indirect method was used to calculate apparent digestibility coefficients, and chromic oxide (1%) was used as the inert indicator. Both ingredient type and cooking influenced dry matter and gross energy digestibility of diets. All diets had significantly different digestibility coefficients in the following order (from most to least digestible): reference > wheat > maize > potato, for both dry matter and gross energy. Cooking significantly increased the apparent digestibility of diets for both dry matter and gross energy. There was no significant effect of ingredient or cooking or their interaction on protein digestibility. Dry matter and energy digestibility of the diet containing pregelatinized maize starch were significantly higher than for diets containing cooked or uncooked starch products. Ingredient digestibility followed the same trend as diet digestibility. The results from this study indicate that the successful use of starch in practical diets for silver perch is dependent on the origin and processing of the starch. The significant benefits of cooking in the reference diet suggest that pelleted diets should be cooked (e.g. steam conditioned or extruded).     

Protein‐sparing capability of dietary lipid in herbivorous and omnivorous freshwater finfish: a comparative case study on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus)

Two, 8‐week feeding trials were conducted to compare protein‐sparing capability of dietary lipid in herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and omnivorous tilapia (Oreochomis niloticus × O. aureus). Utilizing a 2 × 3 factorial design, experimental diets containing two levels of crude protein (380 and 250 g kg⁻¹) and three levels of lipid (0, 40 and 100 g kg⁻¹) were formulated for use in both feeding trials. Growth performances showed better response of both fish fed 380 g kg⁻¹ protein diet than those fed 250 g kg⁻¹ protein diet. Despite the dietary protein level, weight gain (WG), specific growth ratio (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio were much higher (P < 0.05) for grass carp fed 40 g kg⁻¹ lipid diet than those fed 100 g kg⁻¹ lipid diet; however, there were no significant differences in tilapia fed the two diets. The feed intake of grass carp fed lipid‐free diet was the lowest, but it tended to decrease with increase in dietary lipids in tilapia. Lipid retention (LR) was negatively correlated with dietary lipid concentration of both fish. Viscerosomatic index (VSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), intraperitoneal fat ratio (IPF) and whole‐body and liver lipid content positively correlated with dietary lipid concentration of both fish. Plasma parameters and liver enzymes activities were also positively correlated with dietary lipid concentration of both fish. Liver lipid contents were higher and enzymes activities were lower in grass carp when compared with tilapia. These data suggested that there was no evidence of a protein‐sparing effect of dietary lipids in grass carp. Tilapia has relatively higher capacity to endure high dietary lipid level compared to grass carp.     

Effects of lysine and methionine supplementation on growth,body composition and digestive function of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed plant protein diets using high‐level canola meal

A 76‐day feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of Lysine and Methionine supplementation on growth and digestive capacity of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed plant protein diets using high‐level canola meal (CM). Fish with initial average weight 103.9 ± 0.6 g were fed three extruded diets. Fish meal (FM) diet was formulated as the normal control with 40 g kg^?1 FM and 300 g kg^?1 CM; CM diet was prepared by replacing all FM with CM (total 340 g kg^?1) without Lys or Met supplementation; CM supplement (CMS) diet was similar to CM diet but was supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) to ensure the levels of Lys and Met similar to those in the FM diet. Feed intake, feed efficiency and specific growth rate of the grass carp fed CMS and FM diets were similar (P > 0.05), but higher than those of the grass carp fed CM diet (P < 0.05). The hepatosomatic index, relative gut length, intestosomatic index and intestinal folds height were significantly improved in fish fed FM and CMS diets as compared to CM diet (P < 0.05). Lower activities of trypsin, lipase and amylase in hepatopancreas were observed in fish fed CM diet (P < 0.05). Three hundred and forty gram per kilogram CM without Lys or Met supplementation significantly decreased trypsin, lipase and amylase mRNA levels in hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the high supply of CM (340 g kg^?1) in plant protein (200 g kg^?1 soybean meal and 100 g kg^?1 cottonseed meal) diets decreased digestive ability through decreasing digestive enzyme activities and enzyme gene's expressions of grass carp, and these side effects can be reversed by supplementing Lys and Met. Therefore, CM could be high level used in a plant protein blend‐based extruded diet for grass carp as long as EAA were supplemented.     

Growth responses and nutrient digestibility in mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fed different levels of cassava and rice

Mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings were fed for 10 weeks on isonitrogenous diets containing 15%, 30% or 45% of either cassava or rice and a control containing neither of these digestible carbohydrates. Nutrient digestibility, food utilization and tissue composition were studied. Results revealed that fish grew best on the 45% rice diet. Carbohydrate digestibility when cassava or rice was added to diet was high and ranged between 86% and 97%, but was very low (17%) when no cassava or rice was added. Protein digestibility was slightly raised from 76% (in the control) to between 83.5% and 88% with the addition of cassava or rice to the diets. Absence of appreciable quantity of digestible carbohydrate from diet probably led to the fish metabolising more fat for energy. Slight hypoglycaemia resulted when fish were fed diets devoid of appreciable quantities of digestible carbohydrate. Dietary energy as carbohydrate is well utilized by mirror carp.     

The supplementation of nutrient additives in broad bean-based diet improved the growth of “crisped” grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idellus

To investigate the effects of supplemental nutrient additives in broad bean-based diets on growth, flesh quality, and collagen gene expression of grass carp, five diets were prepared, including complete formula diet (control), soaked broad bean (SBB), and three broad bean-based diets containing 80% broad bean without (BBD1) or with the supplementation of methionine (BBD2), and methionine+vitamins+minerals (BBD3), and were fed to grass carp (171.9 ± 1.1 g), Ctenopharyngodon idellus, for 84 days. The results showed that broad bean-based diets significantly increased weight gain (WG) and reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of grass carp when compared to the SBB (p < .05). The BBD3 group reached levels similar to the WG and FCR of the control group (p > .05). Grass carp fed the BBD3 diet had lower steaming loss of flesh, higher muscle fiber density, and higher collagen content in muscle and skin than the control (p < .05). The relative expressions of COL1A1 and COL1A2 mRNA in muscle and skin were significantly higher in the BBD3 and SBB groups than in other groups (p < .05). In conclusion, the combination of methionine, vitamins, and minerals in broad bean-based diets promoted the growth of “crisped” grass carp and improved flesh quality and collagen gene expression when compared to the control formula diet.     

金丝桃素、绿原酸和硬葡聚糖对草鱼幼鱼生长及免疫功能的影响

在水温（25±2）℃下,分别在基础饲料中添加不同剂量的硬葡聚糖（0．2％,G1组;0．4％,G2组）绿原酸（0．04％,G3组;0．08％,G4组）和金丝桃素（0．066％,G5组;0．132％,G6组）,连续投喂放在1．0m×0．5m×1．0m网箱内、体质量110±5g的草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idellus）幼鱼35d,以未添加者为对照组,探讨三种添加剂对草鱼幼鱼生长和免疫功能的影响。结果表明,三种添加济对草鱼幼鱼增重率和特定生长率均影响不显著,当饲料中添加0．08％的绿原酸时,草鱼幼鱼末体质量和肝体比显著增加（P〈0．05）;三种添加剂都可显著提高碱性磷酸酶活性,其中以添加0．08％的绿原酸效果最好,添加剂各组间碱性磷酸酶活性差异不显著（P〉0．05）;0．132％金丝桃素组的草鱼血清超氧化物歧化酶活性显著高于对照组,其它试验组与对照组差异不显著;饲料中添加0．2％硬葡聚糖可显著提高草鱼幼鱼血清溶菌酶含量（P〈0．05）;三种添加剂对草鱼幼鱼血清中丙二醛的含量影响不显著（P〉0．05）。     

Impacts of diet on hindgut microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Diet is known to influence intestinal microbiota in fish, but the specifics of these impacts are still poorly understood. Different protein/fibre ratio diets may result in differing structures and activities of gut microbiota. We examined the hindgut microbiome of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fed three different diets: fish meal (FM, high protein – low fibre), Sudan grass (SG, high fibre – low protein) and compound feed (CF, intermediate). Microbial profiles of fish fed on FM were significantly different from profiles of fish fed CF and SG (F = 18.85, p < .01). Cetobacterium, known to be positively associated with protein digestion, was the dominant microbial group in FM samples (approximately 75.7%), while Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, thought to be involved in fermentation of plant polysaccharides, were dominant in CF and SG samples (46.8% and 42.9% respectively). Network analyses indicated that the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae was in a significantly positive correlation (r = .895, p = .001). Short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels may indicate that the digestibility of diet by microbiota in the grass carp gut decreased from FM to SG (FM>CF>SG). Overall low SCFA levels indicate that hindgut fermentation probably provides a low proportion of energy requirements in grass carp.     

Dietary available phosphorus requirement of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

A growth trial was conducted to estimate the optimum concentration of dietary available phosphorus (P) for grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Triplicate groups of grass carp (5.59 ± 0.02 g) were fed diets containing graded levels (2.36, 4.27, 6.31, 8.36, 10.4 and 14.8 g kg^?1) of available P for 8 weeks. Grass carp fed with the P‐supplemented diets had significantly higher specific growth rate, weight gain, protein efficiency ratio and feed efficiency than fish fed with the basal diet. In whole‐body composition, protein content increased, while lipid content decreased with the increase in P level in diet (P < 0.05). Fish fed with the P‐supplemented diets had significantly higher whole body, vertebrae and scales mineralization (P < 0.05), but Ca/P ratios were not influenced. The blood chemistry analysis showed that dietary available P had distinct effects on P, Ca and Mg contents, as well as on the contents of triacylglycerol and total cholesterol. Broken‐line analysis indicated that 8.49 g kg^?1 dietary available P was required for maximal tissue storage and mineralization as well as optimal growth.     

饲料蛋白质和能量水平对草鱼幼鱼生长和消化酶活性的影响

在水温24～29℃下,将675尾规格整齐、健康、体质量为（35.59士0.44）g的草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idel-lus）随机分为9个处理,每处理3个重复,放养于水泥池中的网箱（100cm×50cm×100cm）内,投喂以鱼粉和豆粕为蛋白源,豆油作为脂肪源配制的3个蛋白水平（24%、28%、32%）,每一蛋白水平设3个脂肪水平（4%、6%、8%）,共计9种饲料。饲料蛋能比（P/E）在15.81-22.46 mg·kJ-1之间。92d的饲养表明：D4组（蛋白质含量为28.02%,脂肪为4.30%）草鱼的特定生长率最高,显著高于其他各组（P〈0.05）。随着饲料中蛋白含量的增加,草鱼全肠中蛋白酶的活力逐渐升高,之后又降低,以D4组饲料的蛋白酶活性最高,显著高于D1、D8和D9（P〈0.05）。本实验表明,该生长阶段的草鱼所需最适蛋白水平为28.02%,能量为14307kJ.kg-1,P/E约为19.58mg·kJ-1。     

Effects of dietary non‐protein energy source levels on growth performance,body composition and lipid metabolism in herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella Val.)

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary non‐protein energy sources on growth, tissue lipid accumulation and lipid metabolism‐related genes expression of grass carp. Triplicate groups of fish were fed for 9 weeks on four isonitrogenous (300 g kg^?1) experimental diets with four levels of non‐protein energy (6.52 kJ g^?1 control diet, 5.32 kJ g^?1 high‐CEL diet, 8.46 kJ g^?1 high‐CHO diet and 8.53 kJ g^?1 high‐LIP diet respectively). Increasing dietary non‐protein energy source levels did not improve the growth, and the high‐CEL diet reduced the growth of grass carp. The high‐CHO diet tended to induce high hepatosomatic index, with high fat and glycogen content of liver. However, the high‐LIP diet caused the high mesenteric fat index, but did not increase liver fat. The mRNA abundance and activities of hepatic lipogenic enzymes were significantly increased in the high‐CHO diet group, whereas the opposite tendencies were observed in the high‐LIP diet group. Peroxisome proliferator‐actived receptor‐α (PPARα) in liver and PPARγ in mesenteric adipose tissue were up‐regulated in the high‐CEL diet group. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene expression was significantly increased both in liver and mesenteric adipose tissue of fish fed the high‐LIP diet, while the LPL gene expression was up‐regulated in liver but down‐regulated in mesenteric adipose tissue of fish fed the high‐CEL diet. These findings suggest that an increase in dietary non‐protein energy sources alters the genes expression of lipid metabolism and increased lipid deposition.     

不同水平的蚯蚓和蚯蚓粪对草鱼消化能力的影响

本研究首次在基础饲料中添加不同浓度的蚯蚓(5%、7.5%、10%)和蚯蚓粪(2%、4%、6%),饲养平均体重(54.03±0.15)g的草鱼100d,研究蚯蚓和蚯蚓粪对草鱼消化能力的影响。结果表明:添加7.5%～10%蚯蚓和6%蚯蚓粪显著提高了草鱼肝胰脏和前肠中胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶的活性,以添加7.5%蚯蚓效果最好;采用石蜡切片技术观察各试验组草鱼前肠肠道内部结构,结果表明,添加7.5%～10%蚯蚓可显著提高草鱼肠道褶皱高度、宽度和基层厚度。综上所述,在提高草鱼消化能力方面,以饲料中添加7.5%蚯蚓的效果最好。     

Effects of dietary chlorogenic acid on growth,flesh quality and serum biochemical indices of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

The study was to investigate effects of dietary chlorogenic acid (CGA) on growth performance, flesh quality and serum biochemical indices of grass carp (95.1 ± 0.3 g) (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed seven different diets, including control diet, Eucommia ulmoides (EU)‐supplemented diet (20 g kg^–1) and CGA‐supplemented diets containing 100, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg CGA. Contents of collagen and alkaline‐insoluble collagen in muscle and skin were significantly increased by dietary CGA and EU (p < .05). Total essential amino acids (TEAA) and total amino acids (TAA) in muscle of grass carp fed EU diet or 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg CGA diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed control diet and 100 and 200 mg/kg CGA diet (p < .05). Fish fed 200–800 mg/kg CGA showed significantly lower muscle crude lipid content than EU, control and 100 mg/kg CGA groups (p < .05). Fish fed CGA‐supplemented diets (100–800 mg/kg) had significantly higher muscle fibre density and lower muscle fibre diameter than control group (p < .05). In conclusion, supplementation of CGA improved flesh quality of grass carp, and supplemental level of CGA for improving flesh quality and growth was estimated to be 400 mg/kg diet.