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).     

Effect of dietary probiotic Biogen® supplementation as a growth promoter on growth performance and feed utilization of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Probiotic microbial feed supplements are gaining wide acceptance in livestock production, and may be applicable to aquaculture production systems. The present study was conducted to examine probiotic treatment in the fingerling diet of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.). A total of 240 of Nile tilapia fingerlings (weight ranged from 22.96 to 26.40 g) were divided into five experimental groups. The experiment was conducted for 120 days. Experimental diets were identical in all, except for the variation in probiotic levels. A probiotic (Biogen^®) was used at 0% (diet 1), 0.5% (diet 2), 1.5% (diet 3), 2.0% (diet 4) and 2.5% (diet 5) inclusion rates in the experimental diets. The growth performance and nutrient utilization of Nile tilapia including weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value and energy retention were significantly (P≤0.01) higher in the treatment receiving probiotic (Biogen^®) than the control diet. No differences were observed for moisture, ash and protein content (P≤0.01) among the experimental diets. The lowest gross energy and lipid contents were recorded for fish fed the diet containing 0.5% Biogen^® (P≤0.01). The production performance and subsequent cost–benefit analyses clearly indicated that the diets containing probiotic biogen recorded the highest net return and the lowest total cost compared with the control diet.     

Growth performance and feed utilization of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and tilapia galilae Sarotherodon galilaeus (Linnaeus, 1758) fingerlings fed plant protein-based diets

This study was designed to determine the effect of complete substitution of fish meal (FM) by three plant protein sources including extruded soybean meal (SBM), extruded full‐fat soybean (FFSB) and corn gluten meal (CGM) on growth and feed utilization of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and tilapia galilae Sarothrodon galilaeus. Four isonitrogenous of crude protein (ca. 28.0%) and isocaloric (ca. 19 MJ kg⁻¹) experimental diets were formulated. The control diet (diet 1) was prepared with FM as the main protein sources. Diets 2–4, each FM control diet, were completely substituted with SBM (diet 2), FFSB (diet 3) and CGM (diet 4). l ‐lysine and dl ‐methionine were added to plant protein diets to cover the nutritional requirements of tilapia. Each treatment was allocated to three net pens and fed for 17 weeks. Nile tilapia fed the control diet showed significantly higher (P≤0.05) values for final body weight (FBW), feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR), whereas fish fed the diet with CGM achieved the lowest values. Tilapia galilae fed SBM diet recorded the highest (P≤0.05) values for growth performance. Better feed conversion ratio (FCR) for both Oreochromis niloticus and Sarothrodon galilaeus was observed when fish were fed SBM diet, whereas the worse FCR was recorded for FFSB diet. Feed utilization parameters including protein productive value (PPV), fat retention (FR) and energy retention (ER) showed significant differences (P≤0.05) for both the species fed different dietary protein sources. The present results suggest that, for Nile tilapia, both SBM and FFSB supplemented with dl ‐methionine and l ‐lysine can completely replace dietary FM. Meanwhile, S. galilaeus fed SBM diet exhibited comparable growth and feed utilization with those fish fed a fish‐meal‐based diet.     

Combined effect of temperature,salinity and density on the growth and feed utilization of Nile tilapia juveniles (Oreochromis niloticus)

Based on Box–Behnken experimental design and response surface method, the joint effect of temperature (16–36°C), salinity (0–22 ppt) and rearing density (200–1000 fish.m^?3) on the specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion rate (FCR) of Nile tilapia juveniles were studied under laboratory conditions. The entire experiment lasted for 1 month (30 days). Results showed that the linear and quadratic effects of temperature, salinity on both growth and feed utilization were highly statistically significant (P < 0.01). The linear and quadratic effect of rearing density on the growth was highly significant (P < 0.01); the linear effect of rearing density on feed utilization was significant (P < 0.05), but the quadratic effect nonsignificant (P > 0.05). Interactions between temperature and salinity, and between salinity and rearing density on the growth statistically differed from zero (P < 0.05). Interactions between temperature and salinity, between temperature and density on feed utilization was significant (P < 0.05). Model equations of the growth and feed utilization on temperature, salinity and density were established, with the coefficient of determination being 98.34% for growth and 98.11% for feed utilization, and could be applied to projection. The optimal temperature/salinity/density combination was obtained utilizing statistical optimization approach: 29°C/6 ppt/500 fish.m^?3, at which the maximal specific growth and feed utilization reached 4.228%.d^?1 and 0.520 respectively, with the desirability being 0.989.     

Glycerol inclusion in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles

The present study evaluated the effects of inclusion of glycerol in the diet of Nile tilapia juveniles on growth performance, biochemical changes in blood, and carcass composition. We used 300 Nile tilapia juveniles with an average initial weight of 29.15 ± 8.40 g and 11.55 ± 0.87 cm in length, distributed in 20 fiberglass tanks with a capacity of 250 L. The experiments followed a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications during 79 days. The animals were fed diets containing four concentrations of glycerol (25 g kg^?1, 50 g kg^?1, 75 g kg^?1 and 100 g kg^?1) and a control diet without glycerol. HDL was the only biochemical parameter, that showed statistically different (P < 0.05) results; it was higher in the groups fed with 0 and 75 g kg^?1 glycerol compared to the other groups. No significant difference was observed in the results from the carcass composition of tilapia juvenile fed with the different glycerol levels, except for lipids (P < 0.05), which showed the highest values in fish fed with 50 g kg^?1 glycerol and the lowest in fish fed with 100 g kg^?1. Glycerol can be used in fish diets as an energy supplement without causing damage to growth performance or to the biochemical and carcass composition of Nile Tilapia juveniles.     

木薯粉对罗非鱼生长、饲料利用和鱼体营养成分的影响

选择健康的吉富罗非鱼(体重1.29±0.25 g)为实验鱼,配制五种木薯粉含量分别为0%、10%、20%、30%和40%的等氮(粗蛋白为32%)、等能(总能为16 kJ·g-1)实验饲料,饲喂罗非鱼56 d,每饲料组设三个重复,研究不同含量木薯粉对吉富罗非鱼生长、饲料利用及全鱼营养成分的影响.结果表明:(1)木薯粉能提高罗非鱼的增重和蛋白质效率,其中以40%木薯粉组的效果最佳,其增重率、蛋白质效率和饲料系数分别为1470.99%(P＜0.05)、2.36(P＜0.05)和1.27(P＜0.05).(2)40%木薯粉组的干物质和蛋白质的表观消化率分别较对照组提高13.87%(P＜0.05)和7.93%(P＜0.05).(3)40%木薯粉组的全鱼粗蛋白、粗灰分分别较对照组显著提高7.07%(P＜0.05)和8.78%(P＜0.05),粗脂肪降低了13.00%(P＜0.05).     

Growth,feed utilization,and liver histology of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets containing increasing levels of swine fat

Due to predictions that the expanding aquaculture sector cannot continue to rely on finite marine stocks for fish oil, there have been several research works within the aquafeed industry to find sustainable alternatives for dietary lipid sources. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a range of inclusion levels of rendered swine fat on the growth performance and liver histology of juvenile Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Fish (initial weight ~ 20 g) were randomly stocked into twelve 1 m³ nylon mesh hapas and fed isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets containing rendered swine fat at varying inclusion levels of 0% (Control), 5% (SF5), 7% (SF7), or 10% (SF10) for 84 days. The control diet contained 5% fish oil as the lipid source. At the end of the trial, there were no significant differences between the final weights of the fish that were fed the control (38.01 ± 0.76) and SF5 diets (37.85 ± 0.68), and both groups recorded significantly higher (P < 0.05) specific growth rates relative to the SF7 and SF10 groups. Specific growth rates ranged from 0.59% day^?1 (SF10) to 0.75% day^?1 (Control and SF5). The fish that were fed the SF7 and SF10 diets had significantly (P < 0.05) larger livers relative to the control and SF5 fish. Histological examination further revealed significant liver alterations in the SF7 and SF10 fish, as evidenced by hepatocyte nuclei migration, hepatic vacuolation, and varying degrees of steatosis. Calculations of profit indices showed that the SF5 diet offers the best economic viability, taking into consideration both the monetary values of fish produced and cost of feed fed over the trial period. The results of this study indicate that rendered swine as a sole lipid source in juvenile Nile tilapia diets can be included at 5% without depressing fish growth.     

Genetic diversity and differentiation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) revealed by DNA microsatellites

To assess the genetic diversity of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, a total of 250 fish from five Egyptian populations were genotyped using six microsatellite markers. Heterozygosity and Wright's F‐statistics (F_IS, F_ST, and F_IT) were calculated to determine the genetic variation within and between these populations. Observed heterozygosities were in the range of 0.4 (Burullus) to 0.96 (Qena), with F_IS values ranging from 0.082 to 0.282. The mean F_ST showed that approximately 96.5% of the genetic variation was within‐population and 3.5% was among populations. Standard genetic distances were used to classify the five populations into two major groups. The deeper lotic river Nile populations of Assuit and Cairo formed one group and the shallow less lotic Delta lakes populations of Manzalla and Burullus formed the second group, with the upstream Nile Qena population being an outgroup. The findings from the current study help understanding of the broad‐scale population structuring of the Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) allowing the population groupings identified to act as potential sources of genetic variation. These populations could be included in future Marker‐Assisted‐Selection programs for economically desired production traits.     

Growth, feed utilization and nutrient digestibility in tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis aureus Steindachner) fed diets containing bacteria-treated coffee pulp

The effectiveness of bacteria treated‐coffee pulp (BT‐CoP) in fish diets was evaluated in a feeding trial with Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner) fingerlings. Five diets were formulated to contain 0%, 6%, 12%, 18% and 24% BT‐CoP, replacing wheat meal. Fish were reared in a recirculating unit consisting of 16 aquaria. Each aquarium was stocked with 10 fish of 1.1–2.4 g. Fish were fed ad libitum twice daily (10 and 15 h) for 4 weeks. Fish fed diets without BT‐CoP and with 6% BT‐CoP showed similar growth (body weight, growth rate: RGR_m) and feed utilization (feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, apparent net protein utilization). Diets containing 0% and 6% BT‐CoP gave similar dry matter and protein digestibility coefficients, but dietary BT‐CoP levels higher than 6% produced lower digestibility values, except for carbohydrate. It is concluded that O. aureus fingerlings may assimilate only small amounts (6%) of BT‐CoP in the diets without adverse effects on growth and feed utilization parameters. The CoP‐containing diets did not affect fish survival (100%). The depression in tilapia performance may be associated mainly with the high level of fibre present in the CoP diets.     

Dry whey meal as a protein source in practical diets for Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted as a trial of using dry whey meal (DWM) as a substitute for fish meal (FM) in practical diets for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Triplicate fish groups were fed on five isonitrogenous (30.2%) and isolipidic (6.9%) diets. The control diet (D1) used FM as the sole protein source. In the other four diets (D2–D5), FM protein was substituted by 25, 50, 75, or 100% DWM. Fish (3.5 ± 0.1 g) were stocked at a rate of 20 fish per 100-L aquarium and fed one of the tested diets up to satiation twice daily for 12 weeks. Fish growth, feed utilization, protein efficiency ratio, apparent protein utilization, and energy utilization for fish fed DWM diets up to 75% FM (D2–D4) tended to be higher but were not statistically different than the control diet. No significant effect of diet was found in whole-body moisture, crude protein, and total ash contents. Whole-body lipid content in fish fed the 100% DWM (D5) diet was significantly higher than that for fish fed the control diet. The optimal replacement level of FM by DWM was estimated by second-order polynomial regression to be 62.5%.     

Effect of feed colour on growth and feed utilization of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) larvae and fingerlings

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of feed colour on the performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) larvae and fingerlings. In the first experiment, triplicate groups of newly hatched larvae (0.01 g fish⁻¹) were stocked in 40 L glass aquaria at a density of 2 fish L⁻¹. The fish were fed a test diet (400 g kg⁻¹ crude protein) with six different colours (dark blue, dark green, red, dark brown, yellow and light brown) for 60 days. The best performance and survival were achieved in fish fed on dark‐coloured diets, while light‐coloured diets (yellow and light brown) resulted in inferior performance. Dark diets also produced higher body protein than light diets. Body water, lipids and ash showed irregular trends. In the second experiment, triplicate groups of Nile tilapia fingerlings (5.30 g fish⁻¹) were stocked in 140‐L aquaria, in a recirculating indoor system. The fish were fed a test diet (350 g kg⁻¹ crude protein) with the same colours used in the larval trial, for 60 days. Growth rates, feed efficiency, survival and body composition were not significantly affected by feed colours. These results suggest that Nile tilapia larvae are visual feeders, and they prefer dark‐coloured diets to light‐coloured diets, while fingerling fish showed no preference to diet colours.     

Fisheries by-catch and processing waste meals as ingredients in diets for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Digestibility, feeding and growth studies were conducted with Nile tilapia using diets containing fishery by‐catch and processing waste meals. Three meals manufactured from sorted fisheries by‐catch (MBM, from mixed benthic species, SPM, from small pelagic species, CAM, from mixed catfish species) one from tuna cannery waste (TCW) and one commercial anchovy meal (COM) were tested. By‐catch and processing waste meals had lower protein, lower lipid and higher ash contents than anchovy meal. The meals were all highly digestible and no significant differences (P≥0.05) were observed between apparent protein digestibility measurements. Five feeds, containing fish meal as the major protein ingredient, were formulated and fed to triplicate groups of 30 juvenile tilapias for 9 weeks. Survival, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, phosphorus retention and whole body proximate composition were compared. Weight gain and SGRs were similar for each treatment group and compared favourably with the results obtained from juvenile tilapia elsewhere. Growth was the highest for CAM (P≤0.05), which contained both the highest essential amino acid levels and the highest ash content. Phosphorus retention was significantly lower in fish fed with high ash meals, MBM, CAM and TCW (P≤0.05) than in fish fed with the lower ash meals COM and SPM. Overall, the fisheries by‐catch and processing waste meals evaluated in this study are suitable protein ingredients for juvenile tilapia feeds.     

罗非鱼谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶1基因的克隆与分析

采用cDNA末端快速扩增（rapid amplification of cDNA ends,RACE）技术,克隆了罗非鱼（Oreochromis niloticus）谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶1（glutathione pemxidasel,GPx1）基因完整的编码序列（complete coding sequence,CDS）。GPx1基因全长984bp,5’uTR56bp,CDS576bp,3’UTR352bp,PolyA20bp;第791—885位碱基（位于3’UTR）形成1个硒半胱氨酸插入序列（selenocysteine insertion sequence,SECIS）,协助174～176位密码子TGA（UGA）编码1个硒半胱氨酸（Sec）。GPx1包含191个氨基酸,分子量21．8kDa,等电点8．04,无信号肽和潜在的N．糖基化位点。蛋白结构分析表明该基因编码蛋白为非跨膜蛋白。序列比对显示,GPx1单体具有Sec、Trp、Gln和Asn构成的催化四联体。罗非鱼GPx1与其他脊椎动物GPx1相比较,核苷酸序列相似性为43．2％-58．2％,氨基酸序列相似性为58．1％～80．6％。进化分析显示,处在分类学上不同纲的脊椎动物GPx1分别占据了不同分支。利用Swiss-Model预测了罗非鱼GPx1的3D结构,序列分析显示,GPx1可以形成1个同源四聚体。     

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.     

Moderate salinities enhance growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings in the biofloc system

The biofloc technology (BFT) has recently gained attention as an economic and environmentally sustainable system for aquaculture. The use of BFT with salinized water could be used to minimize the negative effects of nitrogenous waste and improve the growth performance of Nile tilapia. This work evaluated the growth performance, survival, gill lesions, and fillet composition of tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus) reared during 70 days with different salinities (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 g/L) in a biofloc previously developed. The results indicated that the use of mature bioflocs alone was sufficient to avoid fingerling mortality due to nitrite peaks. Moreover, the salinized water, especially between 4 and 8 g/L (maximum points around 6 g/L), can be recommended in BFT to improve the growth performance of tilapia in the initial culture phase. The salinity level that was evaluated did not affect fillet composition nor the occurrence of gill lesions. The total ammonia nitrogen concentration was lower in freshwater than in salinized water (p < 0.05). Nitrite peaks in salinities of 12 and 16 g/L appeared later and were higher in comparison to other treatments. Considering minimal water exchange in BFT, the use of salinized water in this system may be environmentally viable.     

高温诱导对尼罗罗非鱼性别分化及生长的影响

采用自雌鱼口腔中取出受精卵人工孵化的方法建立了尼罗罗非鱼家系20个。受精后9d,将各家系鱼苗分成两份,分别在28℃(对照组)和36℃(高温诱导组)下养殖,诱导处理12d后,统计高温诱导期成活率并将实验鱼转入自然水温下培育,养殖60～120d后对各实验组的雄性率及生长情况进行测定。结果表明,高温处理对仔鱼的成活率没有影响,但能显著提高某些家系的雄性率,如F27(诱导组88%,对照组49%)、F37(诱导组90%,对照组53%)和F41(诱导组91%,对照组53%);高温处理后多数家系的雄性率略有升高,但不显著;有两个家系高温诱导组雄性率低于对照组,分别是F8(诱导组43%,对照组46%)和F35(诱导组29%,对照组38%),这显示了尼罗罗非鱼性别分化受遗传和环境因子共同作用。生长情况测定结果表明,高温诱导对发育初期罗非鱼的生长没有显著影响。本研究结果说明,高温处理能显著提高某些家系的雄性率,高温诱导和家系选择有望成为高雄性率尼罗罗非鱼新品种培育的新的技术手段。     

Improvement of growth and antioxidant status in Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,fed diets supplemented with mushroom stalk waste hot water extract

Mushroom stalk waste (MSW) generated from the oyster mushroom industry is drastically increasing and safe disposal of MSW is becoming a critical issue worldwide. Mushrooms are an established, excellent source of nutraceuticals and antioxidants, and therefore MSW may confer similar effects when consumed. The severe deterioration of aquatic habitat may compromise the homoeostasis of antioxidative metabolism of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, which resulted in a reduced total production. Based on this paradigm, hot water extracts (HWE, 2‐ and 5‐h) of MSW were evaluated as a supplement in fish feed and determined the effect on growth performance and the antioxidant status of Nile tilapia, O. niloticus, in vivo. The HWE 5‐h contained significantly higher amounts of nutrient and β‐glucan than HWE 2‐h (P < 0.05). Four standardized in vitro antioxidant assays showed that HWE 5‐h was a better antioxidant agent than HWE 2‐h (P < 0.05). Tilapia fingerlings fed 5 g kg^?1 HWE supplemented feed produced better (P < 0.05) growth and higher antioxidant enzyme activities than 10 g kg^?1 HWE, CD and BD. Thus, HWE of MSW included at 5 g kg^?1 may be beneficial to tilapia farming and may also provide a way of disposing the waste created by mushroom farming.