Evaluation of hydrolysed rubber seed meal as a dietary protein source for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L.

This study evaluated the use of hydrolysed rubber seed meal as a locally grown alternative feed ingredient to reduce the use of fishmeal within formulated feeds for tilapia. Five experimental diets were prepared by formulating different inclusion levels of hydrolysed rubber seed meal (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of plant‐based protein contribution). Dried and defatted rubber seed meal was hydrolysed by adding rumen digesta liquid to the ingredient. For digestibility measurement, chromic oxide was added to each diet as an inert marker. The digestibility trial was conducted over a 14‐day period by collecting faecal matter from the rearing tanks. In addition, a growth trial was conducted over a period of 50 days using four replicates per dietary treatment. In both experiments, all fish were fed three times daily to apparent satiation. At the end of growth trial, the inclusion level of hydrolysed rubber seed meal up to 50% of plant‐based protein contribution did not give any significant difference compared to the control diet in terms of feed efficiency, specific growth rate and protein retention parameters. In the digestibility study, fish fed diets containing hydrolysed rubber seed meal up to a 50% of plant‐based protein inclusion level did not give any significant difference compared to the control diet in terms of protein and dry matter apparent digestibility. Based on the result of this growth and digestibility study, up to a 50% of plant‐based protein contribution of hydrolysed rubber seed meal can be used within formulated tilapia feeds without any adverse effect.     

Replacement of fishmeal by chicken plasma powder in diets for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): Effects on growth performance,feed utilization and health status

The present study was conducted to explore the effects of graded replacing fishmeal (0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg) with chicken plasma powder in diets for largemouth bass, and each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish (initial weight: 49.50 ± 0.07 g) twice daily. Results showed that specific growth rate was not remarkably reduced until 150 g/kg fishmeal being replaced. Meanwhile, the inclusion of chicken plasma powder led to a significant decrease in feed intake, and the replacement of 150 g/kg fishmeal significantly decreased the apparent digestibility coefficient of protein and essential amino acids, which may account for the lowered protein retention rate and decreased crude protein content of liver and whole body composition. Moreover, the replacement of 150 g/kg fishmeal resulted in a significantly reduced activity of lysozyme, classical complement pathway and respiratory burst, and meanwhile, the red blood cell count and haemoglobin content were also significantly reduced, indicating the impaired health status of fish with high inclusion of chicken plasma powder. In above, approximately 50–100 g/kg fishmeal could be replaced by chicken plasma powder in the diets for largemouth bass.     

Lipid biosynthesis from [14C]-glucose in the coral Montipora digitata

ABSTRACT:     Glucose has been implicated in functioning as a form of carbon translocated from symbiont zooxanthellae to the host coral cell. The present paper describes the lipid biosynthesis from [¹⁴C]-glucose in the coral tissue. To study the incorporation of [¹⁴C]-glucose into lipids, the branch tips of the coral Montipora digitata were incubated with [¹⁴C]-glucose or another radiolabeled substrates. The lipid biosynthesis from [¹⁴C]-glucose was dependent on light, and was decreased by dark conditions or by photosystem II inhibitor, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Of the lipid classes, the light dependency was more pronounced with the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols (TG) and wax compared with phospholipids. Examination of [¹⁴C]-label distribution in the glycerolipids suggested that [¹⁴C]-glucose supplied mainly the fatty acid moiety of newly synthesized TG, while [¹⁴C]-glucose provided evenly the fatty acid moiety and the glycerol skeleton of phospholipids. The comparison of [¹⁴C]-labeling of lipid from host coral tissue and symbiont zooxanthellae suggested that [¹⁴C]-glucose entered the coral cell and was processed in parallel in the zooxanthellae and host cells. Furthermore, the coral cells used various [¹⁴C]-labeled sugars for lipid synthesis with similar lipid labeling profile as was the case for glucose. The current study thus supports the view that the low-molecular-weight compound, sugars and amino acids, once translocated from zooxanthellae to host cell were metabolized toward lipogenesis as well as glycerol.     

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.).     

Apparent absorption efficiencies of amino acids in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), fed diets containing bacterial single-cell protein

The aim of the present study was to compare the apparent absorption efficiency of individual indispensable and dispensable amino acids in diets containing varying proportions of bacterial single cell protein (BSCP) and fishmeal when fed to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). Four diets were formulated to contain a total of 45.8% crude protein, of which 0% was from BSCP in diet 1 (BSCP-0), 25% in diet 2 (BSCP-25), 62.5% in diet 3 (BSCP-62.5) and 100% in diet 4 (BSCP-100); the remainder of the protein was from fishmeal. The four diets were isonitrogenous and had similar amino acid compositions. Duplicate groups of 25 fish were fed one of the four experimental diets at the rate of 20 g kg^?1 body weight per day for 132 days. Apparent absorption efficiency was measured over a 45-day period during the growth trial. Results from two methods of faeces collection and two indicators of absorption efficiency were compared. The amino acid absorption efficiency of BSCP-100 was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when compared to the other three diets and absorption of some of indispensable amino acids was below the requirement level. The variation seen in individual amino acids absorption efficiencies between diets suggests that this parameter may be important in fish nutritional investigations.     

Total sulphur amino acid requirement of the Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

The quantitative dietary sulphur amino acid requirement of the Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), was determined by conducting a growth study. The experimental diets contained 400 g crude protein kg⁻¹ from casein, gelatine and supplemental crystalline amino acids. Diets containing six graded levels of methionine (3.2, 6.5, 9.0, 11.5, 14 and 16.5 g kg⁻¹) with a constant level of cystine (1.4 g kg⁻¹) were formulated and fed to triplicate groups of Labeo rohita fingerlings twice a day to satiation for 60 days. The optimum dietary requirement for methionine was estimated using the break-point regression analysis at 11.5 g kg⁻¹ of diet or 28.8 g kg⁻¹ of dietary protein. Thus the total sulphur amino acid (Met + Cys) requirement was determined to be 12.9 g kg⁻¹ of diet or 32.3 g kg⁻¹ of protein. Higher survival, specific growth rate and food conversion efficiency values were observed for fish fed the diet containing optimum levels of sulphur amino acids.     

Nutrients apparent digestibility coefficients of selected protein sources for juvenile Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt), compared by two chromic oxide analyses methods

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter (ADC_d), crude protein (ADC_p), energy (ADC_e) and amino acids in selected feedstuffs were determined for juvenile Siberian sturgeon (8.38 ± 0.20 g). The tested feedstuffs were fishmeal (FM), meat and bone meal (MBM), poultry by-product meal, hydrolysed feather meal, fermented feather meal solvent-extracted cottonseed meal and soybean meal. ADCs were determined using a reference diet and test diets at 7 : 3 ratios with 5 g kg⁻¹ chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃) as an inert marker. Fish were reared in a recirculating system and fed to apparent satiation five times daily. Cr₂O₃ in diets and faeces samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and acid-digestion colorimetry (AC) methods, respectively. The results showed that ICP-AES method was more accurate for Cr₂O₃ determination than AC method, and the results determined by ICP-AES method were used in this study. ADC_d and ADC_p of seven tested ingredients were lowest for MBM (59.1 and 84.5%) and highest for FM (79.9 and 94.5%); ADC_e of tested ingredients were from 71.8% for SECM to 93.2% for FM. ADCs of amino acid in test ingredients followed similar trend to the ADC_p. The ADCs of individual amino acids varied from 61.6% (histidine in MBM) to 98.8% (valine in FM).     

Influence of multiple amino acid supplementation on the performance of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), fed soya based diets

Using rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), of approximately 50 g, a 63 day feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of individual and multiple amino acid supplements in diets where soyabean meal was used as the principle protein source. Iso-nitrogenous diets (45% crude protein) were formulated where the control diet (F) contained fishmeal as the reference protein and a solvent extracted soyabean meal (S) replaced approximately 66% of this protein source. The soyabean containing diets were then supplemented with crystalline amino acids thus; methionine only, dual supplemented with two methionine and lysine levels and finally, a supplement comprising methionine, lysine, tryptophan, threonine, arginine and histidine. The results showed that soyabean meal (SBM) was inferior to the reference protein when SBM was used to replace 66% of the fishmeal and that no significant restoration in growth, feed efficiency and apparent net protein utilization was obtained by either methionine only or dual methionine and lysine supplementation. However, by comparison with the fish fed the unsupplemented, single and dual supplemented diets, multiple amino acid incorporation was associated with significantly improved percentage weight gain, specific growth rate and marginal improvements in apparent net protein utilization. However, performance was not equal to that of the fish fed the fishmeal based control diet. The results are discussed with respect to the level of each of the essential amino acids (EAA) as a proportion of the total EAAs (A/E index) of test diets by reference to the whole body tissue amino acid profile of rainbow trout.     

Evaluation of carbohydrate rich diets through common carp culture in manured tanks

Four diets (T₀–T₃) were formulated reducing the fishmeal (Indian) component by 100 g kg^–1 from 300 to 0 g kg^–1 and including proportionately increasing quantities of maize. Diets were fed for 120 days at 50 g kg^–1 body weight to triplicate groups of common carp (av. wt. 2.11–2.18 g) stocked at 1 m^–2 in mud bottomed cement tanks (18 m²), fertilized with poultry manure. Fish growth, SGR and FCR in the different treatments were statistically not significantly different ( P  > 0.05). PER was lowest for the 300 g fishmeal kg^–1 diet treatment (diet T₀), increasing with decrease in dietary fishmeal content (diets T₁–T₃). Fish survival ranged from 96.29 to 100%. Diets influenced carcass composition and digestive enzyme activity. A significant increase in lipid deposition was recorded with increasing dietary carbohydrate content. Amylase, protease and lipase activities were higher in fish fed with diets T₂ and T₃. The protein sparing effect of dietary carbohydrate and the economic implication of eliminating fishmeal from the diet are discussed.     

Substrate specificity of carp hepatopancreatic cathepsin S for peptides and myofibrillar proteins

SUMMARY: From 250 g of carp hepatopancreas, 0.29 mg of the purified enzyme was obtained. The bond specificity of cathepsin S for α-neoendorphin and neurotensin was ⁶Arg-⁷Lys and ³Tyr-⁴Glu, respectively. The cleavage sites for insulin B-chain were estimated to be the bonds at ³Asn-⁴Gln, ⁶Leu-⁷Cys, ¹²Val-¹³Glu, ¹³Glu-¹⁴Ala, ¹⁶Tyr-¹⁷Leu, ²²Arg-²³Gly, ²⁴Phe-²⁵Phe and ²⁶Tyr-²⁷Thr. P2 position on these peptides were bulky and hydrophobic amino acid residues such as Phe or Leu, small amino acid residues such as Gly, Ala and Val were also accepted in these positions. Regarding the protein substrates, cathepsin S degraded carp α-actinin, actin, tropomyosin and troponins T and I although the proteolyzing speeds were distinct from one another.     

Intestinal absorption and tissue distribution of glucose and isoleucine in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The intestinal absorption and tissue distribution of D(U¹⁴C)-glucose (¹⁴C-glc), 3-O-methyl-D(U¹⁴C)-glucose (¹⁴C-OMG) and L(U¹⁴C)-isoleucine (¹⁴C-ile) were studied in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, using a forced-feeding technique. The appearance of radioactivity in faeces, blood, liver, white muscle and brain was monitored over 48 h. The recoveries of radioactivity 48 h postfeeding in the fish tissues studied were 36, 57 and 48% for ¹⁴C-glc, ¹⁴C-ile and ¹⁴C-OMG, respectively. White muscle and liver contained most radioactivity on the whole tissue basis. Concentrations of ¹⁴C-glc and its derivatives in the liver and the brain exceeded those of ¹⁴C-ile and its derivatives, but the reverse was found in the white muscle. These differences may reflect differences in the metabolism of glucose and isoleucine. All tissues studied showed some differences in the accumulation of ¹⁴C originating from ¹⁴C-OMG and ¹⁴C-glc. As ¹⁴C-OMG is a nonmetabolizable glucose analogue, these differences may be the result of glucose metabolism at tissue level.     

Growth performance,nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed graded levels of the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus

In a 10‐week study, we evaluated the effects of replacing 20%, 40% or 60% of fishmeal (present in control diet at 300 g/kg) on a digestible protein basis with yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae or a yeast mixture of Wickerhamomyces anomalus and S. cerevisiae on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nutrient retention and intestinal health of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Triplicate tanks with 35 rainbow trout (144.7 ± 25.1 g mean ± SEM) were fed rations of 1.5% of total biomass per tank. Replacement of 60% of fishmeal with yeast mixture resulted in lower specific growth rate of 1.0% versus 1.2%/day for other diets. Apparent digestibility coefficients for crude protein and most amino acids were highest in fish fed fishmeal‐based diet, with similar values for fish fed the diet with 20% replacement with yeast mixture. Diet with 20% replacement with yeast mixture resulted in highest phosphorus digestibility. Replacement of 60% of fishmeal with S. cerevisiae resulted in oedematous mucosal fold tips in the proximal intestine. The results of this study suggest that these yeasts can replace up to 40% of fishmeal under current inclusion levels in diets for rainbow trout without compromising growth performance, nutrient digestibility or intestinal health.     

The effect of dietary phosphatidylcholine and its constituent fatty acids on microdiet ingestion and fatty acid absorption rate in gilthead sea bream, Sparus auratus, larvae

This study tested the effect of the level of dietary phosphatidylcholine (PC) and its constituent medium-chain fatty acids on microdiet ingestion (μg diet larva⁻¹ h⁻¹) and the absorption rate of the free fatty acid [¹⁴C]16:0 (pmole larva⁻¹ h⁻¹) in 15, 20, 21, 25, 26, 30 and 31-day-old gilthead sea bream, Sparus auratus L., larvae. Fish were fed four microdiets (A, B, C and D): microdiet A contained no phospholipid (PL), while microdiet B included 10 g kg⁻¹ Artemia nauplii PL (3.7 g kg⁻¹ PC). Microdiets C and D contained 10 g kg⁻¹ purified saturated PC dimyristoyl (C_14:0) and polyunsaturated PC dilinoleoyl (C_{18:2[cis]−9,12}), respectively.
Larvae from one or both of the PC microdiets demonstrated significantly higher ( P < 0.05) ingestion rates (μg diet larva⁻¹ h⁻¹) than the non-PL microdiet control in 15, 21, 22, 25 and 26-day-old larvae and the Artemia PL microdiet in 15, 22 and 26-day-old larvae. However, microdiet ingestion and fatty acid absorption rate appeared to be independent of the associated medium carbon chain saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acid moiety of the PC diets. Apparent absorption, as measured by the retention of radio-labelled [¹⁴C]16:0 following 8 h of non-labelled microdiet feeding, was possibly related to feeding.     

Partial and total replacement of fishmeal by a blend of animal and plant proteins in diets for Seriola dumerili: Effects on performance and nutrient efficiency

A 154‐day trial was performed to assess the use of an alternative protein blend (corn gluten, krill and meat meal) as a substitute for fishmeal in diets for juvenile yellowtail, using four isolipidic (140 g/kg) and isoenergetic diets (24 MJ/kg) with the same digestible protein content (50%). The control diet was FM100, without replacement, and in FM66, FM33 and FM0, fishmeal was replaced at 33 g/kg, 66 g/kg and 100 g/kg, respectively. At the end of the experiment, no differences in growth parameters were observed. Fish fed the FM0 diet exhibited the lowest survival (23%). This high mortality may be due to different factors, such as a dietary amino acid imbalance or some antinutrient factors contained in the alternative ingredients. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio, digestible protein intake and protein efficiency ratio were similar in all diets. However, digestible energy intake and protein efficiency retention were lowest in fish fed the FM0 diet. Apparent digestibility coefficients for protein, energy and amino acids diminished as a substitution for fishmeal increased. Significant differences were observed in the diet whole‐fish body profile amino acid retention (AAR) ratio for the seven essential amino acids. In summary, total fishmeal replacement by the blend assayed was not feasible for yellowtail. The FM66 diet resulted in good growth, high survival and good nutrient efficiency.     

Effect of replacing fishmeal with canola meal on growth and nutrient utilization in kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus (Bate)

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the nutritional values of canola meal as a substitute for fishmeal in diets for kuruma shrimp using five isocaloric diets (190 kJ kg^?1) prepared by replacing 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of fishmeal protein with canola meal protein in CM0, CM10, CM20, CM30 and CM40 diets respectively. Triplicate groups of juveniles (0.19 g) were fed the respective diets for 60 days in tanks. At the end of trial, weight gain (%) and specific growth rate (% day^?1) were not significantly (P > 0.05) different among shrimp fed CM0, CM10 and CM20 diets. However, growth was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in shrimp fed CM30 and CM40 diets. As with growth performance, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were also decreased (P < 0.05) in CM30 and CM40 groups. Whole body dry matter, methionine and proline were significantly decreased with canola meal substitution levels. In general, retention efficiency of protein and indispensible amino acids were decreased as canola meal increased in diets. It may be concluded that 20% fishmeal protein can be successfully replaced with canola meal, while supplementation of amino acids or blending with complementary proteins could facilitate higher fishmeal replacements in kuruma shrimp diets.     

日粮中鱼蛋白水解物对黄颡鱼生长、体成分和血清生理指标的影响

为了探讨鱼蛋白水解物对黄颡鱼生产性能的影响,以日本鳀粉为对照,以实用型黄颡鱼饲料配方模式为基础开展实验:1以30.5%鱼粉为对照(FM),在相同配方模式下,以6%鱼蛋白水解物(MPH6)替代20%的鱼粉;2以30.5%鱼粉为对照(FM),在无鱼粉日粮中分别添加3%(FPH3)、6%(FPH6)、12%(FPH12)鱼蛋白水解物;共设计5组等氮等能实验日粮,在池塘网箱中养殖黄颡鱼[初始体质量(30.08±0.35)g]60 d。结果显示:与FM相比,FPH12在SGR、FCR、PRR和FRR方面均无显著差异,而MPH6、FPH3、FPH6组SGR降低了15.45%~24.39%,FCR升高了32.14%~42.86%,MPH6、FPH6差异显著,在PRR和FRR方面,MPH6、FPH3、FPH6组PRR降低了21.11%~27.78%,MPH6组FRR降低了41.51%;全鱼水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪和灰分各组间差异不显著,FPH3、FPH6、FPH12肌肉多种游离氨基酸水平显著高于FM,其中Thr、Val、His与其在日粮中的水平显著相关;FPH6组HSI显著低于FM,鱼蛋白水解物对CP、VSI、肠体比的影响不显著;血清AST、ALT、HDL、LDL、TP、CHOL、TG无显著差异,FPH3组ALB显著低于FM。研究表明:黄颡鱼日粮中,12%鱼蛋白水解物(干物质)与30.5%鱼粉在生长速度、饲料效率、血清生理指标等方面具有一定的等效性;过高的植物蛋白日粮影响了黄颡鱼的生产性能;饲喂鱼蛋白水解物日粮使黄颡鱼肌肉游离氨基酸的含量升高,特别是呈味氨基酸的含量增加。     

Nutrient utilization in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fed increased levels of fish protein hydrolysate during a period of fast growth

The present work was designed to study whether changes in dietary protein quality by means of partial inclusion of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) would alter fish growth, feed utilization, protein retention and metabolism and fish health in general. FPH was produced after hydrolysing whole minced herring using the industrial enzyme Alcalase®. The dietary protein source, low‐temperature‐dried (LT) fishmeal nitrogen was exchanged with FPH nitrogen at six levels of inclusion ranging from 0 to 300 g kg^?1. The experimental diets were fed to post‐smolt (1+) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), with mean initial weight of 174 g for a period of 68 days. All diets were iso‐nitrogenous, iso‐energetic and contained the same amount of amino acids. Fish fed medium inclusion of FPH (180–240 g kg^?1) showed a tendency to have higher feed intake than fish fed lower and higher levels of FPH inclusions. Significant higher individual specific growth rates were present in fish fed diets with 180 and 240 g kg^?1 FPH when compared with those fed 300 g kg^?1. Feed conversion ratio increased significantly (R² = 0.61) and protein efficiency ratio decreased significantly (R² = 0.59) in fish fed increased levels of FPH. Further, apparent digestibility of crude protein and the amino acids arginine, lysine, methionine and phenylalanine increased significantly with increased dietary inclusion of FPH. Plasma free amino acids, ammonium and urea indicated that FPH amino acids was absorbed earlier and nonsynchronously, and may thus be more prone to be catabolized than in those fish fed the less solubilized protein. FPH inclusion did not have an impact on fish health, as evaluated by haematology and clinical parameters.     

动植物蛋白对日本沼虾生长、肌肉组成、抗氧化、TOR信号通路及食欲调节相关基因表达的影响

为探讨动植物蛋白对日本沼虾生长、肌肉组成、抗氧化、TOR信号通路及食欲调节相关基因表达的影响,实验配制了3组等氮等能饲料,分别为鱼粉组(FM)、混合植物蛋白组(豆粕,菜粕,玉米蛋白粉)(PPB)和混合植物蛋白添加氨基酸组(PPB/Aa),投喂饲养日本沼虾8周。结果发现,PPB和PPB/Aa组日本沼虾增重率和摄食率显著低于FM组,而饲料系数显著高于FM组,各组之间成活率和肌肉必需氨基酸组成无显著差异;FM组肝胰腺丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性显著低于PPB组和PPB/Aa组,各组谷草转氨酶(AST)和谷丙转氨酶(ALT)无显著差异,PPB与PPB/Aa组血清碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)和ALT的活性均显著高于FM组;与FM组相比,PPB与PPB/Aa组显著降低了雷帕霉素靶蛋白(TOR)、核糖体蛋白S6激酶(S6K)及神经肽(NPY)基因的表达,但各组瘦素(leptin)基因的表达无显著差异。研究表明,鱼粉与混合植物蛋白对日本沼虾肌肉中氨基酸组成无显著影响,但混合植物蛋白源降低了虾的生长和抗氧化能力及TOR信号通路与NP...     

The assessment of the chemical composition of fishmeal by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was investigated as an alternative method for predicting moisture (M), oil, crude protein (CP), ash, salt as NaCl, total volatile nitrogen (TVN) and buffer capacity in fishmeal. The NIRS calibration models were developed using the modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression technique. One thousand and ten ( n =1010) fishmeal samples were used to predict chemical composition for quality control in the fishmeal industry. Equations were selected based on the lowest cross validation errors (SECV). The coefficient of determination in calibration ( R ²) and SECV were 0.93 and 3.9 g kg^–1 dry matter (DM); 0.85 and 5.7 g kg^–1 DM; 0.92 and 3.7 g kg^–1 DM; 0.91 and 4.7 g kg^–1 DM; 0.88 and 6.7 g kg^–1 DM; 0.94 and 1.8 g kg^–1 DM; for M, CP, oil, ash, TVN and NaCl, respectively. It was concluded that NIRS can be used as a method to monitor the quality of fishmeal under industrial conditions.     

Protein Synthesis in Juvenile Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus

A method for measuring protein synthesis has been developed for small juvenile fish. A flooding dose of [³H] phenylalanine (Houlihan et al. 1988b) was added to the water containing the animals. Using juvenile tilapia O. mossambicus of approximately 15 mg, stability of the phenylalanine free pool specific radioactivity was achieved within 10 h. A linear increase in the whole body specific radioactivity of protein-bound phenylalanine occurred 3 h after [³H] phenylalanine was added to the water. In larger animals the flooding dose was injected into the peritoneum, and stable free pool phenylalanine specific radioactivities were achieved over 2 h. In the small fish the rate of protein synthesis exhibited a diurnal pattern. Scaling relationships for growth, protein synthesis and protein degradation were similar. The energy cost of protein synthesis in small juvenile animals, determined from the difference before and after the addition of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, was close to the theoretical minimal cost.