吉富罗非鱼成鱼对饲料中有效磷的需要量

为获得吉富罗非鱼成鱼对饲料中有效磷的需要量,以磷酸二氢钾(KH₂PO₄)为磷源,配制含有效磷水平分别为0.15％(对照组)、0.40%、0.66%、0.91%、1.17%和1.43%的6组等氮等能的半纯化饲料,每组饲料饲喂3个重复,每个重复饲养20尾初始体质量为(184.46±8.13)g吉富罗非鱼,经过9周的饲养后,对生长性能、饲料效率、成活率、全鱼基本营养成分、脊椎骨及鳞片的磷含量进行测定。结果显示,饲料有效磷为0.66％或0.91%时,鱼体增重率和特定生长率较其它各组均显著提高(P<0.05),饲料效率显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。随着饲料有效磷含量的增加,实验鱼体的脏体指数、肝体指数和肥满度均显著降低(P<0.05),成活率无显著性变化(P＞0.05);全鱼粗蛋白、粗灰分及磷含量均显著提高(P<0.05),粗脂肪含量显著下降(P<0.05);脊椎骨和鳞片的粗灰分和磷含量均显著提高(P<0.05)。用抛物线模型拟合特定生长率与饲料有效磷含量,罗非鱼获得最大生长时,对饲料中有效磷需要量为0.85%;分别对全鱼磷含量、鳞片磷含量和脊椎骨灰分含量与饲料有效磷含量进行相关回归分析,罗非鱼对饲料中有效磷需要量分别为0.88%、1.14%、1.23%。     

吉富罗非鱼对饲料中苯丙氨酸的需要量

分别用含6种水平(质量比分别为0.78%、0.95%、1.09%、1.34%、1.51%和1.72%)苯丙氨酸(phenylalanine,Phe)的等氮等能(粗蛋白30.10%,总能17.73 MJ/kg)饲料,在池塘网箱中(实验期间水温为24~32℃)饲喂初始体重为(52.70±1.80)g的吉富罗非鱼60 d,考察饲料Phe对吉富罗非鱼(GIFT,Oreochromis niloticus)生长性能、饲料系数、体成分、部分血清生化指标及前肠消化酶活性的影响,以期获得吉富罗非鱼对饲料苯丙氨酸的需要量。结果表明,随着饲料中Phe水平的升高,吉富罗非鱼的增重率、特定生长率、蛋白质效率、蛋白质沉积率、肥满度、肝体比和脏体比均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,饲料系数呈现先下降后上升的趋势;全鱼粗脂肪和全鱼灰分含量显著上升(P0.05),肌肉灰分含量显著下降(P0.05)。饲料中Phe对全鱼水分和粗蛋白质、肌肉水分、肌肉粗蛋白质和肌肉粗脂肪含量无显著性影响(P0.05);各实验组的肌肉氨基酸含量差异不显著(P0.05)。饲料中Phe显著影响血清中谷丙转氨酶活性,甘油三酯、总胆固醇和葡萄糖的含量(P0.05),对谷草转氨酶活性无显著性影响(P0.05);Phe显著影响肠蛋白酶、肠脂肪酶和肠Na~+-K~+-ATP酶活性(P0.05),而对肠淀粉酶活性影响不显著(P0.05)。以增重率、饲料系数和蛋白质效率为评价指标,通过二次回归分析可知,吉富罗非鱼对饲料中Phe需要量为1.17%~1.21%,占饲料蛋白质的3.89%~4.02%。本研究结果为合理配制吉富罗非鱼配合饲料提供了理论依据。     

Dietary vitamin E requirement of sub‐adult genetically improved farmed tilapia strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in freshwater

A two‐factor orthogonal test was conducted to determine the dietary vitamin E (VE, dl ‐α‐tocopheryl acetate) requirement for sub‐adult GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) at two lipid levels, and evaluate its effect on antioxidant responses. A basal diet containing 60 or 130 g/kg of soybean oil was supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 60, 120 and 240 mg VE/kg, respectively. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of tilapia with initial weight (80.3 ± 0.7) g for 10 weeks. Results showed that the weight gain, feed efficiency and hepatic VE retention of fish were significantly increased by the increased VE in diets. In groups with 60 and 130 g/kg lipid, fish fed diets supplemented with VE had higher serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity, and lower malondialdehyde content than fish fed the VE un‐supplemented diet (p < .05). The proximate composition of fish had no significant difference in the group with 130 g/kg lipid, whereas crude lipid and ash content were significantly affected by dietary VE in the group with 60 g/kg lipid. Based on broken‐line regression analysis, dietary VE requirement to support the maximum weight gain and serum SOD were 43.2–45.8 and 66.0–76.1 mg/kg in diets with 60 and 130 g/kg lipid, respectively.     

Dietary leucine requirement of Juvenile Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary leucine on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition and non‐specific immune responses of juvenile Nile tilapia. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain graded levels of L‐leucine (5.3, 8.1, 10.9, 13.2, 15.6 and 18.1 g kg^?1 diet, respectively) from dietary ingredients and crystalline L‐leucine. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 20 juvenile fish (1.94 ± 0.01 g) three times daily to apparent satiation. Results showed that the weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) increased as dietary leucine concentrations increased from 5.3 to 13.2 g kg^?1 and then decreased slightly with further increase in dietary leucine concentrations. Quadratic regression analysis (y = ?522.6x² + 1304.x + 132.6, R² = 0.684) on weight gain against dietary leucine levels indicated that the optimal dietary leucine requirement was estimated to be 12.5 g kg^?1 diet (corresponding to 43.1 g kg^?1 of dietary protein). Leucine supplementation had no impact on the survival and body composition of tilapia. Serum lysozyme activity of fish fed diet containing 13.2 g kg^?1 leucine significantly increased compared to fish fed diet containing 5.3 g kg^?1. Serum superoxide dismutase activity and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentration were not significantly affected by dietary leucine supplementation.     

Dietary valine requirement of juvenile Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to quantify the dietary valine requirement of cultured juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Six isonitrogenous (280 g/kg crude protein) and isoenergetic (16.06 MJ/kg gross energy) diets with graded levels of valine (amounting to 4.1, 7.2, 9.9, 12.7, 15.6 and 18.8 g/kg of dry diet) were formulated. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 20 fish (6.48 ± 0.06 g). Results showed that the weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and protein retention efficiency all increased with an increasing level of dietary valine up to 12.7 g/kg, but remained relatively constant for fish fed higher levels of dietary valine. In addition, the total protein concentration and aspirate aminotransferase activity in plasma, hepatic lysozyme and catalase activities were all significantly (p < .05) improved by dietary valine supplementation. Based on the broken‐line regression analysis of weight gain and protein retention efficiency, the optimal dietary valine requirement for juvenile Nile tilapia occurred between a level of 11.5 g/kg of diet (equivalent to 41.1 g/kg of dietary protein) and 12.7 g/kg of diet (equivalent to 45.3 g/kg of dietary protein).     

Optimum selenium requirement of juvenile Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the optimum selenium requirement in juvenile Nile tilapia. Each of six purified diets with Se‐methionine levels at 0.05, 0.21, 0.41, 0.57, 0.79 and 1.00 mg/kg was assayed in triplicate with initial body weight of 3.00 ± 0.01 g for 8 weeks. The growth of fish was obviously increased when the dietary Se was less than 0.57 mg/kg diet and reached a plateau when the dietary Se was ≥0.57 mg/kg. Serum and hepatopancreatic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity increased markedly when the dietary Se was less than 0.57 mg/kg, but then decreased when the dietary Se was higher than 0.57 mg/kg. The malondialdehyde contents in hepatopancreas were significantly decreased when the dietary Se was higher than 0.79 mg/kg. No significant differences were observed in hepatopancreatic total antioxidant capability (T‐AOC) among the groups (p > .05). The results of this study indicated that Se addition as Se‐methionine was essential, while both the deficiency and excess levels of dietary Se would cause negative effects on growth or antioxidant capability in juvenile Nile tilapia. Based on broken‐line regression of WG and piecewise regression of liver GPx, the optimum requirement of Se for juvenile Nile tilapia is 0.57 mg/kg diet.     

吉富罗非鱼对饲料中锌的需要量

为考察吉富罗非鱼(GIFT,Oreochromis niloticus)对饲料中锌的需要量,以蛋氨酸锌为锌源,配制锌添加水平分别为0,10,20,40,80,160 mg/kg的6组等氮等脂饲料(实测值分别为9.98,21.47,33.75,56.03,88.16,172.54 mg/kg),饲喂初始体质量为(84.44±3.04)g的吉富罗非鱼,试验鱼分为6组,每组3个重复,每个重复20尾鱼,养殖周期为10周。结果显示,随着饲料中锌含量的增加,吉富罗非鱼的增重率、特定生长率先显著升高,在锌含量达到33.75 mg/kg后趋于稳定,添加锌显著降低了饲料系数,提高了成活率。饲料锌含量对全鱼水分、粗蛋白及灰分含量无显著影响,显著降低了全鱼粗脂肪含量。饲料中添加锌对血清总胆固醇含量无影响,显著提高了血清碱性磷酸酶的活性,碱性磷酸酶活性在锌含量达到33.75 mg/kg后趋于稳定,血清甘油三酯含量,乳酸脱氢酶、谷草转氨酶和谷丙转氨酶活性则呈下降趋势。饲料锌含量显著影响脊椎骨、全鱼和肝脏锌的含量,脊椎骨和全鱼锌含量先线性上升,在锌含量达到56.03 mg/kg后趋于稳定,各组的肌肉锌含量无显著差异。以增重率、骨骼锌和全鱼锌含量为评价指标,根据折线回归分析得出,以蛋氨酸锌为添加锌源,吉富罗非鱼对饲料中锌的需要量分别为32.37、55.67和56.13 mg/kg。     

吉富罗非鱼成鱼胆碱的最适需要量

选用初始体质量为(220.00±8.34) g的吉富罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)360尾, 随机分成6组,每组3重复(每重复20尾), 于1 m×1 m×1.5 m池塘网箱中饲养。分别饲喂胆碱含量为97.80(对照组)、375.04、565.74、974.27、      1 409.81、1 824.35 mg/kg的半纯化饲料10周, 研究胆碱对吉富罗非鱼成鱼生长、饲料利用、鱼体营养组成、胆碱蓄积量及部分血液生化指标的影响。结果显示, 经过10周的饲喂, 饲料中添加胆碱可显著提高鱼体增重率、特定生长率和饲料效率(P<0.05); 降低肝脂肪含量(P<0.05), 提高肌肉脂肪含量(P<0.05); 显著升高肝胆碱蓄积量(P<0.05); 胆碱添加组血清甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(T-CHO)显著高于对照组(P<0.05), 并随饲料胆碱含量增加呈现升高的趋势; 肝甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(T-CHO)随着胆碱含量的增加而显著降低(P<0.05); 血清谷草转氨酶(ALT)、谷丙转氨酶(AST)和碱性磷酸酶(ALP)均随着饲料胆碱含量的增大而显著降低(P<0.05)。结果表明, 饲料中添加适量的胆碱可以改善吉富罗非鱼成鱼的生长性能, 提高饲料利用效率, 降低肝脂肪含量, 促进肝脂肪转运; 对特定生长率进行回归分析, 得出吉富罗非鱼成鱼对饲料中胆碱的最低需要量为506.43 mg/kg, 而对肝胆碱蓄积量回归分析得出的需要量为981.38 mg/kg。

     

Dietary threonine requirement of juvenile Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary threonine requirement of juvenile Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain graded levels of threonine, 0.73, 0.91, 1.14, 1.31, 1.56 and 1.72 % of dry weight, respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 juvenile fish (2.97 ± 0.02 g), which were fed three times daily (8:30, 12:30 and 17:00) to apparent satiation. By the end of the feeding trial, weight gain (WG) was found to have increased with increasing dietary threonine levels up to 1.31 %, but WG then decreased in fish fed higher dietary threonine concentrations. Threonine concentration had no significant impact on survival, body composition or the measured haematological and immune parameters. There were, for example, no significant differences in serum lysozyme activity, superoxide dismutase activity, immune globulin M concentration and C-reactive protein content among dietary treatments. Using quadratic regression analysis of WG data, the optimal dietary threonine inclusion for juvenile tilapia was estimated to be 1.33 % of the diet (4.74 % of dietary protein).     

饲料中有效磷对吉富罗非鱼生长、体组成及生化指标的影响

为探讨饲料中不同有效磷水平对吉富罗非鱼幼鱼生长、体组成及生化指标的影响,以磷酸二氢钙(MCP)为磷源,配制含有效磷(AP)水平分别为0.52%(对照组)、0.61%、0.70%、0.78%、0.87%、0.96%和1.05%的7种等氮等能实用饲料,饲喂初始均重为(29.40±0.15)g的实验鱼。每种饲料设置3个重复,每个重复放25尾鱼,进行56 d的养殖实验。结果表明:饲料AP水平对罗非鱼的增重率(WGR)、特定生长率(SGR)、饲料系数(FCR)和脏体比(VSI)均有显著影响(P<0.05)。以WGR为评价指标,通过二次回归分析得出,罗非鱼饲料的适宜AP水平为0.80%。随饲料AP水平的增加,罗非鱼全鱼总磷和灰分含量显著增加并达到稳定(P<0.05),而全鱼水分含量差异不显著(P>0.05),全鱼和肠系膜、肝脏组织脂肪含量均显著下降(P<0.05)。用折线模型分析全鱼磷和灰分含量,得出罗非鱼幼鱼对饲料AP的需求量分别为0.81%和0.80%。随饲料AP水平的增加,肝脏苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)、丙酮酸激酶(PK)、脂蛋白脂酶(LPL)和肝酯酶(HL)活性均显著增加(P<0.05)。血清谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性显著下降(P<0.05),而碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性显著上升(P<0.05),血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性呈先升后降趋势,在0.78%水平组达到最大值,而肝脏丙二醛(MDA)含量正好相反,在0.78%水平组最低。综上所述,研究结果表明:吉富罗非鱼(30~150 g)实用饲料的最适有效磷水平为0.80%。     

吉富罗非鱼家系构建及抗病力检测

文章以吉富罗非鱼（GIFTstrainOreochromisniloticus）为研究对象,按照1雄配1雌原则进行家系配对,待家系鱼生长至50～60g·尾“时人工感染无乳链球菌（Streptococcusagalactiae）（菌株GD001）。通过对GD001菌株半数致死浓度测定及各家系感染死亡率的统计,研究了GD001无乳链球菌感染对各家系吉富罗非鱼抗病力的影响。结果表明,1）配对成功家系67个,经繁殖性能筛选后留种53个,家系留种率为79．1％;2）GD001菌株的半数致死浓度为4×108cfu·mL－1,感染后2～6d为死亡高峰期;3）GD001菌感染53个家系后有11个家系的成活率在90％以上,15个家系的成活率在70％～89％,19个家系的成活率在30％～69％,8个家系的成活率低于30％,表明不同家系对GD001菌株的抗病力存在着显著的差异（P〈0．05）。     

Effect of dietary betaine levels on growth performance and hepatic intermediary metabolism of GIFT strain of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus reared in freshwater

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary betaine levels on the growth performance and hepatic intermediary metabolism of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (mean initial body weight: 78.3 ± 1.3 g, means ± SD). Six practical diets were formulated with the incorporation of betaine at the levels of 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 g kg⁻¹. Survival showed no significant differences among the treatments (P > 0.05). The highest and lowest weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) were observed for fish fed the diets containing 5 and 0 g kg⁻¹ (control) betaine, respectively. Feed intake showed similar trend with WG and SGR. In contrast, feed conversion ratio was the lowest when dietary betaine level was 5 g kg⁻¹. In general, dietary betaine supplementation showed no significant effect on hepatic composition of tilapia. Condition factor and viscerosomatic index tended to increase with increasing dietary betaine levels from 0 to 5 g kg⁻¹ and then decline when dietary betaine levels further increased from 5 to 25 g kg⁻¹. In contrast, hepatosomatic index declined with increasing dietary betaine levels (P < 0.05). Dietary betaine levels significantly influenced several hepatic enzymatic activities, including succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase, lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase, suggesting that dietary betaine addition had significant effects on nutrient metabolism in the liver. Based on the second‐order polynomial regression analysis of WG, 12.5 g kg⁻¹ of dietary betaine level seemed optimal for genetically improved farmed tilapia strain of O. niloticus.     

无鱼粉饲料中添加磷和植酸酶对奥尼罗非鱼生长性能及体成分的影响

奥尼罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus×O.aureus)幼鱼的初始体重约5.0 g,试验共设5组饲料,以全鱼粉饲料为对照组(D0),以豆粕和花生粕完全替代鱼粉为试验组,其中两组为不补充磷酸二氢钙的情况下不添加植酸酶(D1)和添加植酸酶(D2),另两组为在补充磷酸二氢钙的情况下不添加植酸酶(D3)和添加植酸酶(D4)。每一饲料组设3个重复,每箱养鱼30尾,在流水系统中饲养,表观饱食投喂,投喂率为5%~6%。饲养实验周期为8周。试验结果表明,添加磷组(D3、D4)和全鱼粉组(D0)的特定生长率和饲料系数在组间差异不显著(P>0.05),但显著高于不添加磷组(D1、D2)(P<0.05);磷的表观消化率在添加植酸酶组(D2、D4)均显著高于不添加植酸酶(D1、D3),但与全鱼粉组(D0)差异不显著;鱼体粗蛋白含量在不添加磷和植酸酶组(D1)显著低于其他4组;体粗脂肪含量在不添加磷(D1、D2)组显著高于其他组;体灰分含量由高到低依次为全鱼粉组(D0)、添加磷和植酸酶组(D4)、添加磷不添加植酸酶组(D3)、不添加磷添加植酸酶组(D2)和不添加磷不添加植酸酶组(D1),且两两组间差异显著;体钙、磷、镁、锌含量和脱脂骨灰分、钙、磷含量在全鱼粉组(D0)最高。不添加磷组(D1、D2)血清磷含量显著低于其他3组,而血清碱性磷酸酶活性显著地高。试验结果说明,无鱼粉饲料中补充磷可保持奥尼罗非鱼幼鱼生长率,饲料利用和全鱼可食部分营养成分含量;同时添加植酸酶,能显著提高饲料中磷的利用率,促进磷、锌和镁在鱼体内沉积,并有进一步提高奥尼罗非鱼幼鱼生长和饲料利用的趋势。[中国水产科学,2006,13(1):112-118]     

尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料的适宜脂肪需要

选用初始体质量为(46.14±4.67)g的尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis nilotica)360尾,随机分成6组(每组4重复,每重复15尾),分别饲喂添加鱼油水平为0%(对照组)、3%、6%、9%、12%和15%的纯化饲料(实测脂肪水平为0.20%、2.70%、6.11%、8.04%、11.13%和14.85%)。饲养8周后,以尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼的生长、体组成、血清生化及脂肪代谢酶活性等指标为判断依据,确定其饲料的脂肪需要量。结果表明,随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼的增重率、特定生长率以及蛋白质效率均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,饲料系数呈现先下降后上升的趋势。饲料脂肪水平的升高使尼罗罗非鱼肝体比及全鱼和肌肉的脂肪含量显著增加(P<0.05)。随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼血清总胆固醇和甘油三酯含量呈先上升后下降的趋势,各实验组显著高于对照组(P<0.05);血清高密度脂蛋白含量呈先上升后稳定的趋势;血清谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性均在饲料脂肪水平为6.11%时最小,在14.85%时达到最大。随饲料脂肪水平的升高,尼罗罗非鱼脂蛋白酯酶、肝脂酶和肠道脂肪酶活性均呈先升高后下降的趋势,脂肪酸合成酶活性显著下降(P<0.05)。对增重率、蛋白质效率、饲料系数和血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇进行回归分析得出,尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料最适脂肪水平分别为8.86%,9.75%,9.40%和8.30%,因此确定尼罗罗非鱼幼鱼饲料适宜的脂肪需要量为8.30%～9.75%。     

吉富罗非鱼对饲料亚油酸的需要量

选用初始体重为(60.98±3.82)g的吉富罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)630尾,随机分成7组(每组设3个重复,每个重复30尾),饲喂亚油酸含量分别为0.07%(对照组)、0.36%、0.61%、1.03%、2.00%、3.00%和4.15%的7种半纯化等能等氮饲料10周。结果表明,鱼体增重率、饲料效率、蛋白质效率和蛋白质沉积率均在亚油酸水平为1.03%时较对照组差异显著(P0.05),且均在饲料亚油酸水平为2.00%时达到最大。经二次回归分析,饲料亚油酸水平为2.49%和2.66%时吉富罗非鱼分别获得最大增重率和最高饲料效率。通过折线回归发现饲料亚油酸水平为1.02%时,吉富罗非鱼获得最大蛋白沉积。肝体比和脏体比均随亚油酸水平的升高而升高,当饲料亚油酸含量为0.61%~4.15%时显著高于对照组(P0.05)。亚油酸添加组的肌肉粗脂肪含量显著高于对照组(P0.05);当饲料亚油酸含量为1.03%~4.15%时,肝和全鱼粗脂肪含量显著高于对照组(P0.05)。随饲料亚油酸水平升高,血清甘油三酯和总胆固醇变化趋势一致,呈现先下降后上升的趋势,经二次回归分析亚油酸水平为1.63%时血清甘油三酯含量最低;各亚油酸添加组的血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量显著高于对照组,且在饲料亚油酸含量为1.13%时达到最大(P0.05);当饲料亚油酸水平为1.03%~4.15%时,血清低密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。随饲料中饱和脂肪酸(∑SFA)含量下降,吉富罗非鱼肌肉和肝脏∑SFA含量均呈下降的趋势;随饲料亚油酸水平增加,肌肉和肝脏的n-6多不饱和脂肪酸(∑n-6 PUFA)含量呈上升趋势,肌肉和肝脏的∑n-3 PUFA含量呈下降趋势。综上所述,初始体重为(60.98±3.82)g的吉富罗非鱼饲料亚油酸需要量为1.02%~2.66%。     

Dietary taurine improves reproductive performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental taurine on reproductive performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodstock fed soybean meal‐based diets. Four isonitrogenous (350 g kg^?1 protein), isocaloric (18 MJ kg^?1) diets were formulated to contain 0, 5, 10 and 15 g kg^?1 taurine. The diets were fed to triplicate groups of juvenile Nile tilapia (10–15 g average body weight) at a female: male ratio of 3 : 1, to apparent satiation, three times per day for 130 days. The size at first maturation decreased with increasing dietary taurine to 10 g kg^?1 and levelled off with further taurine supplementation. The time to first spawning was also significantly shorter at 10 g kg^?1 taurine level. Spawning performances, including spawning frequencies, total number of spawnings per tank, number of spawnings per female and absolute fecundity, were all significantly improved with increasing dietary taurine up to 10 g kg^?1. However, the quadratic regression analyses indicated that the maximum spawning performance occurred at 8 g kg^?1 of supplemental taurine. Eggs produced from broodstock fed 10 g kg^?1 taurine exhibited significantly higher hatchability and required shorter time for hatching and yolk‐sac absorption and also resulted in higher larval weight than at other dietary taurine levels. The highest egg protein, total amino acids and taurine were also obtained at 10 g kg^?1 taurine. These results suggest that 8 g kg^?1 dietary taurine is required for optimum reproductive outputs of Nile tilapia broodstock.     

Effect of dietary phosphorus supplementation on utilization of algae in the grow‐out diet of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

This research involved testing the replacement of corn gluten protein concentrate in the diet of 1.5 g Nile tilapia with biofuel algae‐based or algae supplemented with phosphorus diets. Experimental diets were formulated to replace 50% of the gluten meal protein in the control diet with biofuel algae protein (Alga50) or Spirulina (Spirulina50) protein. In addition, dicalcium phosphate (P) was added to the Alga50 at a concentration of 3.8% or 7.74% to mitigate aluminium (Al) toxicity and designated as Alga50 + P, and Alga50 + PP respectively. After 9 weeks of the feeding experiment, fish fed diets supplemented with P, Alga50 + P and Alga50 + PP differed significantly (P < 0.05) with respect to the feed conversion and protein deposition from the control. The mineral composition of the fish body showed a decrease in levels of Al and iron (Fe) due to the P supplements. The mineral composition of the faeces indicated that Al and Fe were excreted in the faeces and were not accumulated in the fish body. The effect of dicalcium P supplementation on the neutralization of Al in the diet resulted in improved fish growth and histological integrity of the gastrointestinal tract.     

Nutrient composition and sensory evaluation of fillets from wild-type Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linnaeus) and a red hybrid (Florida red tilapia × red O. niloticus)

A comparison of composition and sensory evaluation were performed on fillets of Oreochromis niloticus (wild type) and red hybrid tilapia (RHT) (Florida red tilapia ♂× red O. niloticus♀). Fifty male tilapia, 25 O. niloticus (initial weight 159.3 g) and 25 red hybrid (initial weight 132.4 g), were placed in each of three 2.0 m³ volume tanks. The fish were fed a commercial feed containing 35.9% crude protein during the 120‐day experimental period and then killed in cold water (3°C). All the fish were filleted. Twelve fillets from each treatment were used for proximate analyses, five fillets from each treatment were used for fatty acids analyses and the remaining fillets were used for sensory evaluation. The compositional analyses showed similar moisture, true protein and ash content in both genetic groups, but a lower crude fat content was measured in the red hybrid fillets (0.70%) compared with that of O. niloticus fillets (0.97%). No differences between O. niloticus and the red hybrid were observed in their fillet profile of fatty acids. In the sensory evaluation test, a difference in fillet flavour between both genetic groups was perceived. Of the 112 consumers in the preference test, 81.2% perceived a difference in fillet flavour between the two tilapias, with a general preference for the red hybrid over the wild‐type O. niloticus. The benefits of cultivating a RHT with a low lipid content are discussed.     

Stable isotope analysis to quantify contributions of supplementary feed in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (GIFT strain) aquaculture

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is currently one of the most farmed freshwater fish and contributes significantly to total global aquaculture production. The genetically improved strain of O. niloticus (GIFT) was introduced to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1999 to improve food and income security. The high cost and low availability of commercial fish feed hinder the growth of GIFT farming in PNG. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were used to determine the role of supplementary and natural food sources in the diet of GIFT in pond‐based aquaculture. Two treatments were used: treatment 1 was daily feeding, and treatment 2 was weekly feeding, each with three replicates. Isotopic analysis of muscle tissue and all potential food sources showed that pellet feed contributed 7% to the growth of GIFT in daily‐fed ponds and 33% in the weekly‐fed ponds. Highly enriched δ¹⁵N values for chicken manure, compared to depleted values for GIFT and other natural food sources in both treatments, clearly indicate insignificant contributions of this input to production. After 90 days of cultivation, the average final body weight of GIFT receiving daily feed inputs was 134 g (average 19 cm), while for weekly‐fed it was 92 g (17 cm). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was poor (6.4:1) in the daily‐fed GIFT ponds compared to a better, and preferable, FCR (1:1) in the weekly‐fed ponds. The findings of this study show that pelleted feed was not the major contributor to the growth of GIFT. Genetically improved farmed tilapia aquaculture should focus on enhancing natural food availability for fish production.     

Total and available tryptophan requirement of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,fingerlings

The dietary total and available requirement of tryptophan of Nile tilapia fingerlings was determined using linear regression analysis. Six hundred fish (3.4 ± 0.0 g) were fed diets containing 296.4 g/kg of crude protein and 14.1 MJ/kg of digestible energy. Five extruded diets containing 2.5, 3.0, 3.4, 3.8 and 4.2 g/kg of total tryptophan were evaluated. Fish were fed four times a day during 45 days. Final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and net protein utilization of fish fed Trp 3.4 and Trp 3.8 diets were improved compared to fish fed Trp 2.5 and Trp 4.2 diets. No significant differences in survival rate, whole‐body moisture and ash were observed. Whole‐body amino acid profile of fish fed different diets did not differ statistically (p > .05). Fish fed Trp 3.0 and Trp 3.4 diets showed higher tryptophan retention compared to fish fed Trp 2.5 and Trp 4.2 diets. Excepting blood glucose, no effects of dietary tryptophan on haematological parameters were observed. The dietary total tryptophan requirement of Nile tilapia fingerlings based on weight gain was estimated to be 3.4 g/kg (11.0 g/kg of dietary crude protein) or 3.0 g/kg of available tryptophan (11.0 g/kg of dietary digestible protein).