Effects of different dietary wheat starch levels on growth, feed efficiency and digestibility in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary wheat starch on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) in terms of growth performance, feed efficiency and digestibility. Five isoproteic (23.5%) and isolipidic (5.7%) diets with five supplemented levels of wheat starch (D20, D26, D33, D40 and D47 with 20, 26, 33, 40 and 47%, respectively) were fed to triplicate groups of grass carp (mean initial wet weight 6.9 ± 0.1 g) for 8 weeks. Results showed that weight gain (WG, %), feed efficiency (FE, %) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) in D20, D26 and D33 treatments were significantly higher than those in D40 and D47 treatments (P < 0.05). Digestibility of carbohydrate and protein was significantly higher in D20, D26 and D33. No significant differences were found in serum glucose and triglyceride contents between treatments. Serum lipase activity of fish fed D40 and D47 was significantly higher than that of fish fed other diets. Whole-body, muscle and liver lipid contents increased with dietary starch level as did mesenteric fat index, hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index. In conclusion, when dietary protein level was 23%, the level of dietary wheat starch should maximum be 33% to support normal growth of grass carp. Fish growth was hampered by higher wheat starch (>33%) despite fish ate increasing levels of dietary digestible energy. Furthermore, excess digestible carbohydrate was to some extent converted to lipid that was deposited in various tissues. Most importantly, grass carp could endure high levels of cellulose without any negative effect on growth and digestibilities of dietary protein and carbohydrate.     

青鱼饲料最适能量蛋白比的研究

用酪蛋白和明胶作为饲料蛋白源，配以豆油、糊精和纤维素粉及适量的维生素和矿物混合剂组成精制试验饲料。将其调制成五个蛋白水平，每个蛋白水平分别包括五个能量级，以青鱼(Mylopharyngodon piceus)鱼种为试验对象，经过60天的喂养试验，用净增率、蛋白质效率(PER)和饲料系数等作为评定指标。结果表明：青鱼鱼种配合饲料中的蛋白质含量为35～40％；饲料能量蛋白比(即C／P值)为9．1千卡／克蛋白；每公斤饲料的总能量为3185～3640千卡是最为适宜的。上述这些数据是制定应用饲料配方的主要理论依据。试验还发现，青鱼鱼种对糊精之类的碳水化合物具有较大的利用能力；试验证明：可利用的碳水化合物具有较好的节约饲料蛋白的作用。     

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.     

Effect of dietary carbohydrate sources on growth performance and utilization for gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Günther)

The nutritional function of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides for omnivorous gibel carp and carnivorous Chinese longsnout catfish were investigated and the ability of these two species to utilize carbohydrates was compared. For each species, triplicate groups of fish were assigned to each of five groups of isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets with different carbohydrate sources: glucose, sucrose, dextrin, soluble starch (acid‐modified starch) and α‐cellulose. The carbohydrates were included at 60 g kg^?1 in Chinese longsnout catfish diets and at 200 g kg^?1 in gibel carp diets. A growth trial was carried out in a recirculation system at 27.8 ± 1.9 °C for 8 weeks. The results showed that fish with different food habits showed difference in the utilization of carbohydrate sources. For gibel carp, better specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency (FE) were observed in fish fed diets containing soluble starch and cellulose, but for Chinese longsnout catfish, better SGR and FE were observed in fish fed diets containing dextrin and sucrose. Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter (ADC_d) and apparent digestibility coefficient of energy (ADC_e) were significantly affected by dietary carbohydrate sources in gibel carp. ADC_d and ADC_e significantly decreased as dietary carbohydrate complexity increased in Chinese longsnout catfish except that glucose diet had medium ADC_d and ADC_e. In both species, no significant difference of apparent digestibility coefficient of protein was observed between different carbohydrate sources. Dietary carbohydrate sources significantly affected body composition, and liver phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and malic enzyme (ME) activities also varied according to dietary carbohydrate complexity. Fish with different food habits showed different abilities to synthesize liver glycogen, and the liver glycogen content in gibel carp was significantly higher than in Chinese longsnout catfish. The influence of carbohydrate source on gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis was also different in the two fish species.     

Comparative study on the effect of high dietary carbohydrate on the growth performance,body composition,serum physiological responses and hepatic antioxidant abilities in Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) and black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus Richardson, 1846)

A 90‐day trial investigated the effect of dietary carbohydrate level on growth performance, body composition, serum physiological responses and hepatic antioxidant abilities of a herbivorous fish, Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) and a carnivorous fish, black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus Richardson, 1846). For each species, two isonitrogenous and isolipidic semi‐purified diets (28.6% crude protein and 5.3% crude lipid for Wuchang bream) were formulated to contain 30.4% and 52.9% carbohydrate (WB‐NCHO and WB‐HCHO); Two isonitrogenous and isolipidic semi‐purified diets (32.6% crude protein and 5.3% crude lipid for black carp) were formulated to contain 20.5% and 40.5% carbohydrate (BC‐NCHO and BC‐HCHO). It was shown that, compared to Group WB‐NCHO, Wuchang bream in Group WB‐HCHO had lower weight gain rate, specific growth rate, serum total protein, hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidative capacity, while higher feed conversion ratio, serum triglyceride and cortisol levels (P < 0.05). Compared to Group BC‐NCHO, black carp in Group BC‐HCHO had lower final weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, serum alkaline alkaline phosphatase activity, serum total protein, hepatic superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidative capacity, while higher feed conversion ratio, whole body crude lipid, serum triglyceride, cholesterol, glutamic‐oxaloacetic transaminase activity and cortisol levels (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggested that Wuchang bream had better capacity of utilizing dietary carbohydrate than that of black carp, while high levels of dietary carbohydrate might not only be detrimental to growth performance and feed utilization but also the immune response and health for both species.     

Influence of decreasing water temperature and shortening of the light phase on macronutrient self-selection by rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and common carp Cyprinus carpio

SUMMARY: Macronutrient self-selection patterns in rainbow trout and common carp, which were maintained in groups, were examined when both water temperature and duration of light phase gradually decreased. Three semipurified macronutrient diets composed mainly of protein (casein and gelatin; crude protein (CP) = 65%), fat (pollock oil and soybean oil; crude fat (CF) = 38%), or digestible carbohydrate (dextrin and gelatinized starch; crude starch (CS) = 57%) were offered to five groups of trout (20 fish/group, 51 g/fish) and carp (15 fish/group, 36 g/fish) using three self-feeders. A standard diet (ST) containing the three macronutrients at an appropriate ratio (CP = 47%, CF = 14%, CS = 25%) was also offered to three groups each by a single self-feeder. After an initial 3 weeks of experiencing a long photoperiod (14 h light : 10 h dark cycle) and high water temperature (trout, 17°C; carp, 25°C), the light phase and temperature were gradually decreased in the following 3 weeks to 10 h light : 14 h dark, and 8°C for trout and 13°C for carp, and feeding was continued for a further 3 weeks under low temperature and short photoperiod conditions. Growth and protein utilization parameters between the ST diet self-fed groups and macronutrient diet self-selection groups were not different ( P > 0.05) for both trout and carp. Trout preferred the high-protein diet (HP) to the high-fat and the high-carbohydrate diets ( P < 0.05) regardless of the changes in water temperature and photoperiod. Carp also preferred the HP diet ( P < 0.01) under the high temperature and long photoperiod conditions; however, this preference gradually disappeared with lower temperatures and shorter photoperiods. These results suggest that the most appropriate macronutrient ratios in carp diets change with environmental conditions.     

夏花青鱼饵料中的最适蛋白质含量

用酪蛋白、结晶氨基酸、鱼肝油、糊精、纤维素粉等加上适量的维生素、矿物混合剂所组成的精制饵料，以青鱼夏花为试验对象，经过八个星期的喂养试验，从生长、增重和饵料利用率等指标来评定，青鱼夏花的最适蛋白质含量应为41％。蛋白质含量太高，反而减慢生长，降低成活率，同时似乎还对鱼类有毒害影响。蛋白质含量较低，虽然能很好地利用蛋白质，但鱼生长缓慢。6％以下的蛋白质含量甚至出现减重现象。根据本次试验结果，可以认为二龄青鱼和老口青鱼应用饵料中蛋白质的含量为33％和28％是适当的。     

饲料糖水平对点篮子鱼生长性能的影响

以鱼粉为蛋白源,糊精为糖源,配制等蛋白质(含量为35%)、等能量糖水平分别为5%,10%,15%,20%,25%,35%(标号分别为T1、T2、T3、T4、T5、T6)的6组配合饲料,对点篮子鱼(Siganus guttatus)投喂56d,研究了饲料中糖水平变化对体重为34.45±10.61 g点篮子鱼生长、体成分和生物学指标的影响。结果显示,随着饲料糖水平的增加,点篮子鱼的摄食率和生长率呈先增加后降低的趋势,特定生长率(SGR)与饲料糖水平之间适宜的二次方程:y=0.455 1+0.012 5x-0.000 3x2(R2=0.913 7),点篮子鱼饲料中糖的最适添加水平为20.83%;饲料系数(FCR)和肌肉中粗脂肪含量与饲料中糖水平变化成正相关;高糖组(T6)鱼的肝脏中粗脂肪含量显著高于低糖组(P<0.05)。综合实验结果认为:点篮子鱼饲料糖适宜添加量为15%～25%。     

鲤鱼饲料添加剂的研究

根据鲤鱼的基本营养需求，确定基础饲料（蛋白质，脂肪，碳水化合物）配方后，对１２种无机盐和１２种维生素用数理统计正交试验，设计三个水平Ｌ２７（３＾１３），求出它们的电佳添加量，从而得出符合鲤鱼生理需求的无机盐，维生素综合配方－ＧＳ８９１添加剂。该添加剂经生产规模试验（池塘养鲤，水库网箱养鲤）证实，具有明显的促生长和节约饲料的功效。同期对比，增重率提高３０％以上，饲料系数降低７．９％以上。     

Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of black carp (Mylopharyngdon piceus Richardson) and allogynogenetic crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio ♀?×?Cyprinus carpio ♂) fed different carbohydrate diets

Oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of black carp (Mylopharyngdon piceus Richardson) (4.6 ± 0.3 g) and allogynogenetic crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio ♀ × Cyprinus carpio ♂) (5.7 ± 0.5 g) were examined when fish fed two types of carbohydrate (dextrin and glucose) at two levels (20 and 40%) each. The diets were isonitrogenous (40% dry matter) and isocaloric at 18.5 kJ g⁻¹ (dry matter) by adjusting the oil content to 10.1 and 1.5%, respectively. In black carp, the interactions between the carbohydrate type and level were found in oxygen consumption at 3 and 6 h and in ammonia excretion at 6 h after feeding. At 20% carbohydrate, no significant difference was observed between dextrin and glucose in oxygen consumption. However, at 40% carbohydrate, oxygen consumption in fish fed glucose was significantly higher than that in fish fed dextrin at 3 and 6 h after feeding. Within the dextrin diets, no significant differences in both oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion were detected between the two carbohydrate levels. Within the glucose diets, however, fish fed 40% glucose showed significantly higher oxygen consumption than those fed 20% glucose at 3 and 6 h after feeding. Ammonia excretion in black carp fed 40% glucose was higher than that in black carp fed 40% dextrin at 6 h and also found higher than those in the other three treatments at 24 h after feeding. The postprandial oxygen consumption and the ammonia excretion in crucian carp fed 40% glucose were the highest, but no significant differences were observed. Our data indicate that the escalation of glucose to 40% in a fish diet results in high oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion in black carp, suggesting that the efficiency of glucose as an energy source for this fish is compromised by the high metabolic expenditure after feeding. Crucian carp, on the other hand, have a better ability to cope with dietary carbohydrates.     

Apparent digestibility of Asian carp‐ and common carp‐derived fish meals in feeds for hybrid striped bass Morone saxatilis ♀ × M. chrysops ♂ and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of nutrients (crude protein, amino acids, crude lipid, fatty acids, and minerals) were determined for fish meals derived from menhaden, Asian carp (combination of silver and bighead carps), and common carp in feeds for hybrid striped bass and rainbow trout. Extruded test diets were formulated to contain a 70 : 30 mixture of reference diet and test ingredient with yttrium oxide (1 g kg^?1) serving as the inert marker. Diets were randomly assigned to triplicate tanks and fish were fed once per day at 2% body weight. Fecal samples were collected by manual stripping. The ADCs were calculated according to standard procedures. The composition and digestibility of Asian carp and common carp meals was broadly similar to menhaden meal. Protein digestibility ranged from 86.5% (Asian carp meal) to 93.1% (common carp meal). Lipid was highly digestible with ADCs >100% for all ingredients. Although the Asian carp meal was less digestible than the other two fish meals, it was still a highly digestible ingredient. Our data suggest that fish meals derived from Asian or common carp would be valuable feedstuffs in diets for hybrid striped bass, rainbow trout, and possibly other cultured fishes.     

Response of juvenile tench (Tinca tinca L.) fed practical diets with different protein contents and substitution levels of fish meal by soybean meal

A basal practical diet for juvenile tench (Tinca tinca) was formulated and elaborated to test several protein contents and substitution possibilities of fish meal (FM) by soybean meal (SBM) in a 90‐day trial with 5‐month‐old juveniles (30.54 mm TL, 0.30 g W). A factorial design included nine feeding treatments: three protein contents (50%, 40% or 30%) and three levels of replacement (0%, 25% or 45%) of FM protein by SBM protein. In addition, a commercial carp feed was used as reference. Final survival ranged from 98.2% to 99.4%. The 50% dietary protein with 0% or 25% replacement and 40% dietary protein with 25% replacement diets enabled higher growth (P < 0.05) and lower FCR (P < 0.05) than the rest of practical diets. Fish fed 50% dietary protein had similar growth than those fed carp feed (63.8% protein). Deformed fish averaged 1% for the practical diets and 87.6% for the carp feed. The basal practical diet has showed to be feasible and levels of 40–50% dietary protein with 25% replacement of FM protein by SBM protein can be recommended for juvenile tench aged 5–8 months.     

饲料糖种类和水平对青鱼、鲫生长和体成分的影响

用分别含20%（低）、40%（高）葡萄糖和糊精的等氮（粗蛋白为35%干物质）,等能（16.4 kJ/g）饲料分别饲养青鱼（Mylopharyngodn piceus）和鲫鱼（Carassius auratus）8周,研究饲料糖种类和水平对青鱼和鲫的生长、体成分的影响.青鱼和鲫鱼平均体质量分别为2.14 g和6.75 g.结果表明,两种鱼都是糊精组增重率、饲料效率、蛋白质效率显著高于葡萄糖组,提示两种鱼对糊精利用效率比葡萄糖高.饲料糖含量低时增重率、饲料效率、蛋白质效率相对高,提示两种鱼对脂肪作为能源的利用效率高于糖.两种鱼糊精组脂肪蓄积率显著高于葡萄糖组,体脂、肝脂、肌脂含量也高于葡萄糖组,提示糊精比葡萄糖更容易以脂肪形式积累在体内.青鱼对实验饲料的利用效率高于鲫鱼,推测这与能量代谢有关.[中国水产科学,2006,13（3）：452-459]     

Different combinations of protein ingredients in carp diets for reducing phosphorus loading

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to gather data on the reduction of environmental phosphorus (P) loading through the formulation of carp diets with different combinations of protein ingredients. Five experimental diets were formulated by substituting fishmeal (FM; 10–20%) with alternative protein sources such as meat meal (MM; 5–15%), blood meal (BM; 5–7%), and defatted soybean meal (dSBM; 6–10%). The control diet used was a commercial carp diet selected based on earlier experiments. Each diet was fed to duplicate groups of juvenile carp three times a day, until satiation for 12 weeks. Feed performance was proportional to the increase in dietary FM levels. Phosphorus absorption ranged between 41.6% and 52.0% among the experimental groups and was 42.6% for the control group, but there were no marked differences in nitrogen (N) absorption rates. Phosphorus retention ranged from 31.4% to 35.7% for the test diets, whereas N retention increased proportionally with dietary FM levels and ranged from 34.7% to 41.7%. The P and N retention values of the control diet were 27.6% and 41.2%, respectively. The total P loading (T-P) increased at the higher FM levels (9.1–10.7 kg/t production), whereas lower FM levels produced higher total N loading (T-N, 34.6–43.1 kg/t production), the figures for the control being 13.9 T-P kg/t production and 35.6 T-N kg/t production. These results indicate that the reduction of FM levels to 10–20% by replacing it with MM, BM, and dSBM in carp diets was effective in reducing the loading of P and N.     

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。     

Dietary arginine requirement of juvenile grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1844)

This experiment was conducted to estimate the optimum requirement of arginine for juvenile grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella. Six isonitrogenous (38%) and isoenergetics (16 MJ kg^?1) semi‐purified diets containing casein and gelatine with graded level of arginine (0.93, 1.20, 1.51, 1.84, 2.10 and 2.41 g 100 g^?1 DM) were formulated. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 fish each tank (initial weight: 3.84 ± 0.01) for 10 weeks. The highest weight gain (WG, %) was recorded when arginine level was 2.10% of the diet. Dietary arginine level higher than 1.84% significantly increased the protein contents of whole body. Whole body amino acid composition of juvenile grass carp was not significantly affected by the dietary arginine level. Plasma‐free arginine level was increased linearly with increasing of arginine level in the diets, and the plasma‐free ornithine level was significantly higher when the dietary arginine level was 2.41% compared with other groups. Quadratic model analysis of SGR data indicated that the minimum recommended dietary arginine requirement for grass carp was 2.17% of the diet, corresponding to 5.71% of dietary protein.     

The response of thick-lipped grey mullet, Chelon labrosus (Risso), to diets of varied protein-to-energy ratio

Six experimental diets were designed containing two lipid levels (approximately 12% and 24%) and three protein levels (approximately 38%, 49% and 59%) with protein-to-energy ratios ranging from 19.72 to 29.83 mg protein kJ^-1 gross energy. At both lipid levels, an increase in the protein content of the diet was achieved by decreasing the carbohydrate input. After 84 days of feeding to appetite, the fish (juvenile thick-lipped grey mullet, Chelon labrosus (Risso)) fed the high-oil diets of low and medium protein content were significantly larger than those fed low-lipid diets containing similar amounts of protein. The greatest weight gain and optimum apparent net protein utilization (ANPU) were recorded for the fish fed the diet with a P:E ratio of 19.72 mg protein kJ^-1 gross energy. At both lipid levels, increasing dietary protein supplementation led to a decrease in voluntary feed consumption and ANPU. Whole-body lipid appeared to increase in response to a higher dietary oil component. At low levels of dietary lipid, the carcass protein content increased in response to elevated protein supply. This trend was less obvious at the higher level of lipid supplementation. Hepatic glycogen deposition was significantly lower amongst the fish fed the low-carbohydrate diets at both levels of supplemental oil. A significant increase in hepatosomatic index was also recorded which was not directly correlated with either dietary carbohydrate or protein:energy level. It can be concluded from the present experiment that the optimum protein-to-energy ratio for C. labrosus juveniles is in the order of 19.72 mg protein kJ^-1 gross energy when fed the present diets containing 37.9% crude protein and 22.8% lipid. Additionally, for this species, lipid was seen as a more effective source of non-protein energy than a corn starch/dextrin mixture.     

Effect of water temperature and short-term fasting on macronutrient self-selection by common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The influence of water temperature (17 and 25 °C) and a period of fasting on the self-selection of macronutrients were examined in common carp held on a 12:12-h light/dark cycle. Eight replicate groups of juvenile carp (ca. 15 g body weight at 17 °C and 25 g at 25 °C) were fed with three test diets [high-protein (HP), high-fat (HF) and high-carbohydrate (HC) diets] by individual self-feeders for 3 weeks, followed by a 2-week period of fasting and then 3 weeks of refeeding. At 17 °C, the carp initially selected the HP and HF diets [HP/HF/HC (%)=38:40:22], whereas at 25 °C, the carp selected the HP diet over the others (55:21:24). After fasting, the carp tended to increase their demand for the HF diet at 17 °C and for the HC diet at 25 °C, but the overall self-selection of the test diets did not differ markedly from that prior to fasting. Carp held at 17 °C had higher relative whole body fat content and plasma triglyceride concentration; the latter decreased markedly during fasting. These results suggest that water temperature influences the macronutrient selection by carp: a relatively high demand for both protein and fat at 17 °C and for protein at 25 °C. Two weeks of fasting, however, did not markedly alter their macronutrient selection.     

Further studies on the use of mixed feeding schedules with plant- and animal-based diets for common carp Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus)

A growth trial was conducted on common carp Cyprinus carpio (L.) fry in cement tanks for 100 days in order to test the efficacy of mixed feeding schedules. The diets tested were a fishmeal‐based diet (diet D with 30.9% protein) and three Colocasia esculenta‐based diets (diet A with 16.7% protein, diet B with 19.7% protein and diet C with 25.8% protein) separately and in three mixed feeding combinations of diet A, B and C with D on alternate 2 days (2A/2D, 2B/2D and 2C/2D, where the numeral indicates the number of days that the particular diet was offered continuously). The results revealed no difference in growth of common carp fed the plant protein‐based diets A and B (P > 0.05). Although the fish fed on diets C and D and mixed feeding combinations 2A/2D and 2B/2D performed comparably and higher than those on diets A and B, the schedule 2C/2D resulted in the highest final weight. Specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and RNA/DNA ratios were the highest in the 2C/2D schedule. Among the mixed feeding schedules, the highest saving in protein and cost was recorded with the 2A/2D schedule, followed by 2B/2D and 2C/2D. An increase in dietary protein led to decreased protein and increased fat deposition in the carcass. An increasing trend in the protease and amylase activities was recorded with increased dietary protein level. The study highlighted the efficient utilization of plant proteins by common carp under mixed feeding schedules.     

Formulation of low phosphorus loading diets for carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

This study focuses on reducing total phosphorus loading (T-P) from carp culture through improved feed formulation. Since phosphorus (P) contained in fish meal (FM) mainly in the form of tricalcium phosphate is not available to carp, which lack a stomach, the reduction of FM from their diets is effective for lowering T-P. Thus in this experiment, six diets (crude protein < 35%, digestible energy > 3.5 kcal g⁻¹) were designed by substituting FM (10%−25%) with alternate protein ingredients such as poultry feather meal (PFM; 5%−10%), blood meal (BM; 5%−7%) and defatted soybean meal (dSBM; 4%−9%). All diets followed the Kasumigaura ‘Feed Standard’. The total dietary P was 1.0%−1.4% and water extractable P available to carp was 0.66%−0.71%, the levels meeting the dietary requirement of carp. A feeding trial was conducted with juvenile carp (4.6 ± 0.7 g) for 12 weeks at a mean water temperature of 23.7°C. The T-P loading from fish fed the different diets was estimated based on absorption and retention of dietary P. Growth performance corresponded to increasing levels of FM inclusion, being highest in the fish fed 25% FM diet; however, the decrease in T-P was achieved at the lower FM levels. The T-P (based on P retention) ranged from 8.9 to 11.7 kg t⁻¹ production, much lower than that from the commercial diets (9.1–26.4 kg t⁻¹ production). These results indicated that the reduction of FM levels in carp diets to 15%−20% through the combined use of PFM, BM and dSBM effectively lowered T-P. Moreover, the formulated diets were also found to be better than commercial diets in lowering the N loading from carp culture.