Dietary arginine requirement of Heteropneustes fossilis fry (Bloch) based on growth,nutrient retention and haematological parameters

Dietary arginine requirement of Heteropneustes fossilis fry (3.0 ± 0.5 cm; 5.1 ± 0.3 g) was determined by feeding casein‐gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (400 g kg^?1 crude protein) and isocaloric (17.97 kJ g^?1) amino acid test diets containing graded levels of l ‐arginine (15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 g kg^?1 dry diet) for 12 weeks. Maximum absolute weight gain (AWG) (44.4), best feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1.22), highest protein retention efficiency (PRE%) (41%), energy retention efficiency (ERE%) (75%), best condition factor, hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index were noted at 21 g kg^?1 arginine of the dry diet. Maximum body protein (189.8 g kg^?1) was also obtained in fish fed above diet. Highest haematocrit value (35%), Hb concentration (9.54 g dL^?1), RBC count (3.44 × 10⁹ mL^?1) and lowest Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (1.93 mm h^?1) were obtained at the above level of arginine in the diet. AWG, FCR, PRE% and ERE% data were analysed using broken‐line and an exponential fit to obtain more precise dietary arginine requirement. On the basis of broken‐line and exponential analyses of AWG, FCR, PRE and ERE data, inclusion of dietary arginine in the range of 20.4–22.6 g kg^?1 dry diet, corresponding to 51–56.5 g kg^?1 dietary protein, is recommended for formulating arginine‐balanced feeds for rearing H. fossilis fry.     

Dietary histidine requirement of Singhi,Heteropneustes fossilis fry (Bloch)

Amino acids are vital for all living organisms including fish and histidine is an essential amino acid for fish. In view of this, dietary histidine requirement of fry Heteropneustes fossilis was determined by feeding casein–gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (430 g kg^?1 CP) and isocaloric (17.9 MJ kg^?1 GE; 15.5 MJ kg^?1 DE) amino acid test diets (10 to 20 g histidine kg^?1 dry diet) to quadruplicate groups of randomly assigned fish to apparent satiety for 12 weeks. Maximum absolute weight gain (AWG; 44 g fish^?1), protein retention efficiency (PRE; 20%), protein efficiency ratio (PER; 1.04), haemoglobin (Hb; 11.24 g dL^?1), haematocrit (Hct; 35.11%), red blood count (RBCs; 2.98 × 10⁹ mL^?1) and lowest erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; 1.92 mm h^?1) were obtained at 16 g histidine kg^?1 dry diet. The 95% maximum quadratic response of above data exhibited the requirement to be at 15.2, 15.1, 15.6 and 15.5 g histidine kg^?1 diet. As histidine is found in higher concentration in haemoglobin, requirement obtained for Hct% and Hb is 4% greater than that required for maximizing weight gain and protein retention. Based on these results, dietary histidine requirement of H. fossilis fry is recommended between 15.1 and 15.6 g kg^?1, corresponding to 35.1–36.3 g kg^?1 protein.     

Dietary l‐lysine requirement of fingerling stinging catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) for optimizing growth,feed conversion,protein and lysine deposition

Dietary lysine requirement of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (6.96 ± 0.05 g) was quantified by conducting 12‐week feeding trial in a flow‐through system at 28°C. Casein–gelatin based isonitrogenous (38% CP) and isocaloric (14.7 kJ g^?1 DE) amino acid test diets with six levels of dietary lysine (1.5%, 1.75%, 2.0%, 2.25%, 2.5%, 3.0% dry diet) were fed to apparent satiation in triplicates. Broken‐line and second‐degree polynomial regression analyses at 95% plateau of absolute weight gain (AWG; g fish^?1), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein deposition (PD; g fish^?1) and lysine deposition (LD; g fish^?1) exhibited lysine requirement between 2.0% to 2.3% of the dry diet, corresponding to 5.3–6.1% protein.     

Response of fingerling stinging catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) to varying levels of dietary l‐leucine in relation to growth,feed conversion,protein utilization,leucine retention and blood parameters

Growth response of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (6.8 ± 0.2 g; 11.2 ± 0.3 cm) to dietary l ‐leucine levels was assessed by conducting 8‐week feeding trial in a flow‐through system (1–1.5 L min^?1) at 28 °C water temperature. Casein–gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (380 g kg^?1; crude protein) and isoenergetic [17.9 MJ kg^?1; gross energy (GE)] basal diet was supplemented with different levels of l ‐leucine to achieve desired leucine levels ranging between 10 and 22.5 g kg^?1 dry diet. Analysed values were 9.9 (Lc_9.9), 12.4 (Lc_12.4), 15.1 (Lc_15.1), 17.4 (Lc_17.4), 20.1 (Lc_20.1) and 22.4 (Lc_22.4) g leucine kg^?1 diet. Fishes were stocked randomly in quadruplicates and fed to satiation at 07:00 and 17:30 h. Maximum absolute weight gain (AWG g fish^?1), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein utilization efficiency (PUE%), leucine retention efficiency (LRE%) and haematological parameters were found in fish fed diet Lc_17.4. For precise determination of dietary leucine requirement of Singhi, AWG g fish^?1, FCR, PUE% and LRE% were subjected to broken‐line and second‐degree polynomial regression analysis. Second‐degree polynomial regression analysis fitted the data more accurately (P > 0.05) exhibiting high R² values. Hence, based on this analysis, dietary leucine requirement of fingerling H. fossilis is recommended to be 16.5 g kg^?1 of the diet, corresponding to 43.4 g kg^?1 protein for developing leucine‐balanced commercial feeds.     

Growth,feed conversion and body composition of fingerling stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) fed varying levels of dietary l‐threonine

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of dietary l ‐threonine on growth, protein utilization, threonine retention efficiencies, nucleic acid indices and body composition of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (6.6 ± 0.1 g; 10.9 ± 0.2 cm). Casein–gelatin based isonitrogenous (38% crude protein; CP) and isocaloric (15.3 kJ g^?1 digestible energy; DE) amino acid test diets with six levels of dietary l ‐threonine (0.75%; 1.0%; 1.25%; 1.5%; 1.75%; 2.0% dry diet) were prepared and hand‐fed to quadruplicate groups of fingerling to apparent visual satiation twice daily. Weight gain (WG; 46.3 g fish^?1), feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.98), protein utilization efficiency (PUE; 0.25), threonine retention efficiency (TRE; 0.69), lipid productive value (LPV; 0.45), body protein (18.2%) and RNA/DNA ratio (3.6) of fish fed graded levels of dietary threonine increased significantly (P < 0.05) up to 1.49% threonine of dry diet. To generate precise information, the WG, RNA/DNA and LPV data were subjected to broken‐line and quadratic regression analyses. The two models were superimposed and requirement was determined by establishing the point, where the quadratic curve first intersected the plateau of broken‐line. Based on the above mathematical analyses, optimum dietary threonine requirement of fingerling H. fossilis was estimated to range between 1.62% and 1.69% of the diet, corresponding to 4.26–4.44% protein.     

Quantifying the dietary niacin requirement of the Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), fingerlings

A growth study was conducted to determine the dietary niacin requirement of the Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), fingerlings (Mean weight 9.41 ± 0.18 g). Semi‐purified diets with five levels (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg kg^?1 diet) of supplemental niacin were fed to H. fossilis for 15 weeks. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of fish. Results indicated that the highest (P < 0.05) weight gain was for the fish fed the diet supplemented with 20 mg niacin kg^?1, followed by fish fed the diets with 40, 10 and 5 mg niacin kg^?1, and the lowest in fish fed the unsupplemented control diet. Patterns of specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were similar to those of the weight gain. Survival of fish fed the control diet and niacin‐supplemented diet was 58% and 91–100% respectively. Niacin deficiency signs such as anaemia, anorexia, lethargy and skin haemorrhage were observed in fish fed the control diet. The haematocrit values (Ht) were higher (P < 0.05) in fish fed the diets supplemented with niacin than in fish fed the control diet. The hepatosomatic indexes (HSI) of fish fed with or without niacin‐supplemented diets were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from each other. Both body protein and lipid content were higher (P < 0.05) in fish fed the diet supplemented with 20 and 40 mg niacin kg^?1, respectively, than those fish fed other diets. The niacin content in liver significantly (P < 0.05) reflected the supplementation level in the diet and ranged from 29.11 to 40.31 mg g^?1 tissue. The associated liver niacin content for growth was about 47 μg g^?1 tissue. Quadratic regression analysis showed that the dietary niacin requirement for maximal growth of H. fossilis under these experimental conditions was about 25 mg kg^?1 diet.     

Effects of dietary protein levels on growth,feed utilization,protein retention efficiency and body composition of young <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heteropneustes fossilis</Emphasis> (Bloch)

An 8-week growth trial was conducted to assess the effect of dietary protein on growth, feed utilization, protein retention efficiency, and body composition of young Heteropneustes fossilis (10.02 ± 0.09 g; 9.93 ± 0.07 cm). Isocaloric (4.15 kcal g⁻¹, GE) diets with varying levels of protein (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50% of the diet) were fed near to satiation to triplicate groups of fish. Optimum dietary protein was determined by analyzing live weight gain (LWG%), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), specific growth rate (SGR%), and protein retention efficiency (PRE%) data. Maximum LWG% (167), best FCR (1.42), PER (1.75), SGR (1.76), and PRE (31.7%) were evident in fish fed 40% protein diet (Diet 4). Body protein data also supported the above level. However, second-degree polynomial regression analysis of the above data indicated that inclusion of dietary protein in the range of 40–43% is optimum for the growth of young H. fossilis.     

Induction of triploidy and tetraploidy in stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), using heat shock

Induction of triploidy and tetraploidy was attempted in Heteropneustes fossilis using heat shock. The optimal age of zygote, temperature level and duration of thermal shock required for effective induction of triploidy and tetraploidy was investigated in a series of experiments. A maximum of 82±7% triploids (3n=87) were obtained when fertilized eggs (2.5‐min old) were heat shocked at 40°C for 4‐min duration. A maximum of 40±8% tetraploids (4n=116) was obtained when the fertilized eggs (30‐min old) were heat shocked at 40°C for 4‐min duration. The triploid and tetraploid red blood cells (RBCs) nucleus volumes were 1.4 and 2.1 times greater, respectively, than that of the diploid RBC nucleus.     

Dietary methionine requirement of Indian major carp fry,Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) based on growth,feed conversion and nitrogen retention efficiency

This study was aimed at quantifying methionine requirement of Indian major carp fry, Cirrhinus mrigala (2.2 ± 0.2 cm; 0.19 ± 0.02 g) by conducting a 12‐week feeding trial. Casein–gelatine‐based isonitrogenous (40 g 100 g^?1 crude protein) and isoenergetic (15.42 kJ g^?1 DE) amino acid test diets were prepared to contain six levels of l ‐methionine (1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.9 and 2.1 g 100 g^?1 dry diet) at a fixed level of cysteine (0.85 g 100 g^?1 dry diet) and fed to apparent satiation thrice daily to triplicate groups of fish. When absolute weight gain (g per fish), feed conversion ratio, protein deposition (g per fish) and nitrogen retention efficiency data were subjected to broken‐line and second‐degree polynomial regression analysis, 95% of the plateau of above parameters was achieved at dietary methionine concentrations between 1.60 and 1.69 g 100 g^?1 dry diet or 0.10 to 0.11 g methionine kJ^?1 DE, corresponding to 4.1–4.22 g 100 g^?1 protein or 0.44–0.47 g methionine kJ^?1 DE. Based on these results, dietary methionine requirement of fry C. mrigala is recommended 1.60–1.69 g 100 g^?1 diet or 0.10–0.11 g methionine kJ^?1 DE.     

Dietary L‐tryptophan requirement of fingerling stinging catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

To quantify dietary L‐tryptophan requirement of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (6.66 ± 0.08 g), casein–gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (38% CP) and isoenergetic (14.72 kJ g^?1 DE) purified diets with eight levels of L‐tryptophan (0.12%, 0.16%, 0.20%, 0.24%, 0.28%, 0.32%, 0.36%, 0.40% dry diet) were fed to triplicate groups of fish twice daily to apparent satiation for 12 weeks. Incremental levels of dietary tryptophan from 0.12 to 0.28% significantly (P < 0.05) improved absolute weight gain (AWG; 14.3–65.9 g fish^?1), feed conversion ratio (FCR; 5.9–1.5), protein retention efficiency (PRE; 6.2–32.2%), haemoglobin (Hb; 6.5 to 11.9 g dL^?1) and haematocrit (Hct; 23.5–33.8%). To determine the precise information on tryptophan requirement, data were subjected to broken‐line and second‐degree polynomial regression analysis. Broken‐line regression analysis reflected highest R² values for AWG g fish^?1 (0.999), PRE% (0.993), Hb g dL^?1 (0.995) and Hct% (0.993) compared with R² values obtained using second‐degree polynomial regression analysis of AWG g fish^?1(0.949), PRE% (0.890), Hb g dL^?1(0.969) and Hct% (0.943), indicating that data were better fit to broken‐line regression analysis. Hence, based on broken‐line regression analysis at 95% maximum response, tryptophan requirement of fingerling H. fossilis is recommended between 0.24% and 0.27% dry diet (0.63–0.71% protein).     

Determination of dietary phosphorus requirement of stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis based on feed conversion,growth, vertebrae phosphorus,whole body phosphorus,haematology and antioxidant status

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary phosphorus requirement of Heteropneustes fossilis fingerlings (7.7 ± 0.04 g). Fish were fed casein–gelatine‐based purified diets in triplicate groups near satiation with seven different levels of dietary phosphorus (3.2, 5.2, 7.2, 9.2, 11.2, 13.2 and 15.2 g/kg dry diet). All diets were formulated to be isoproteic (400 g/kg) and isoenergetic (17.89 kJ/g). Highest absolute weight gain (68.38 g/fish), best feed conversion ratio (1.48), protein retention efficiency (30.74%), protein gain (12.44 g/fish), haemoglobin (11.19 g/dL), RBCs (3.12 x10⁶/mm³), haematocrit (33.44%) and serum phosphate (2.82 mg/L) were found at 9.2 g/kg phosphorus. Hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were also significantly influenced by the dietary phosphorus levels. Whole body and vertebrae phosphorus concentrations increased significantly as the amount of dietary phosphorus increased from 3.2 to 11.2 g/kg dry diet and then plateaued. More accurate information on dietary phosphorus requirement was obtained by subjecting the AWG, FCR, vertebrae phosphorus and whole body phosphorus concentrations data against various levels of dietary phosphorus to broken‐line analysis, which yielded the requirement in the range of 9.0–11.0 g/kg for optimum growth and mineralization of H. fossilis.     

Effect of Sanitizers on Planktonic Edwardsiella tarda Isolated from Asian Stinging Catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch 1794)

Incidence of Edwardsiella tarda in Asian stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), and its sensitivity to antibiotics and sanitizers was studied. Five out of 10 representative lots of H. fossilis were positive for E. tarda. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of sanitizers (hydrogen peroxide, glutaraldehyde, benzalkonium chloride, sodium hypochlorite, and iodophor) on planktonic E. tarda varied with strains, suspending media (distilled water, physiological saline, pond water, and tryptic soy broth), and combination of factors. The time taken by the sanitizers to achieve 5-log reductions varied greatly between 1 min and 180 min at X and 2X MBCs of sanitizers. Benzalkonium chloride, glutaraldehyde, and sodium hypochlorite were effective in reducing the planktonic E. tarda at concentrations ranging from 3.13 ppm for glutaraldehyde to 25 ppm for sodium hypochlorite. Edwardsiella tarda strains were highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin and exhibited varying degrees of resistance to other antibiotics.     

Induction of meiotic gynogenesis in the stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) and evidence for female homogamety

This study reports the results on induced meiotic diploid gynogenesis and female homogametic nature in the Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. The eggs of H. fossilis were inseminated with conspecific sperm. The sperm suspension was diluted to 1 × 10⁷ sperm mL⁻¹ in Hanks balanced salt solution. Sperm were irradiated under UV light, with the exposure time ranging from 15 to 360 s (7500 ergs mm⁻² for 60 s). The genetic inactivation of paternal chromosomes was confirmed by chromosome counting from the larval cells and the larvae also had a characteristic haploid syndrome. A typical ‘Hertwig effect’ in the yield of hatched larvae was observed with doses of UV exposure >75 s (9375 ergs mm²). Larvae resulting from sperm UV irradiated above 120 s (15 000 ergs mm²) were 100% haploids. Application of heat shock to the activated eggs was effective in suppressing the release of the second polar body (meiotic gynogenesis) and resulted in diploid gynogenetic larvae morphologically identical to those of the control. The best yield of diploid gynogens (49.3% with respect to the control) was found to be at 6 min after egg activation and the heat shock at 41 °C for a 1-min duration, at an ambient water temperature of 27 °C. A total of 113 diploid gynogenetic fry from seven different female fish were reared and subjected to sexing. All gynogenetic fish were female in contrast to the control, which had a mean sex ratio of 56.7% females (which was not significantly different from 50% female). From these results, the sex determination mechanism in H. fossilis was presumed to be female homogamety.     

Dietary amino acid l‐methionine requirement of fingerling Indian catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch‐1974) estimated by growth and haemato‐biochemical parameters

An 8 weeks feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary methionine requirement of fingerling Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (6.08 ± 0.95 cm; 4.33 ± 0.52 g). Six isonitrogenous (40%) and isoenergetic (17.90 kJ g^?1 GE) amino acid test diets were formulated with gradation of 0.25 g 100 g^?1containing graded levels of _L‐methionine (0.30, 0.55, 0.80, 1.05, 1.30 and 1.55 g 100 g^?1, dry diet) with 0.40 g 100 g^?1 constant level of cystine. Twenty fish were stocked in triplicate groups, in 75‐L circular trough with continuous flow‐through system and fed experimental diets at 4% BW/day twice daily, at 08:00 and 18:00 hours. Maximum live weight gain (296%), best feed conversion ratio (1.56) and protein efficiency ratio (1.60) were occurred at 1.05 g 100 g^?1 methionine, beyond which they showed declining tendency. However, quadratic regression analysis of weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and body protein deposition (BPD) data indicated requirement for methionine at 1.15, 1.08, 1.06 and 1.05 g 100 g^?1 of dry diet respectively. Significantly (P < 0.05), higher whole body protein content, minimum moisture and intermediate fat contents were recorded at 1.05 g 100 g^?1 dietary methionine level. Ash content remained insignificantly (P > 0.05) low among all the treatments, excepting at diet I and diet II. Body protein deposition was also found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 1.05 g 100 g^?1 methionine level. Best somatic and haematological indices values were also obtained at the requirement level. Based on above results, it is recommended that the diet for young H. fossilis should contain methionine at 1.09 g 100 g^?1 dry diet, corresponding to 2.73 g 100 g^?1 dietary protein with 0.40 g 100 g¹ cystine concentration for optimum growth and efficient feed utilization. Thus, the total sulphur amino acid requirement of H. fossilis would be (1.09 + 0.40) 1.49 g 100 g^?1 of dry diet, corresponding to 3.73 g 100 g^?1 of dietary protein.     

Effects of dietary arginine levels on growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and carcass composition of stinging catfish fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying levels of dietary arginine on growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and carcass composition of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (10.11?±?0.14?cm; 5.87?±?0.07?g). Casein and gelatin-based isonitrogenous (38% crude protein) and isocaloric (14.72 kJ?g^?1 digestible energy) amino acid test diets with varying levels of l-arginine (1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00 and 2.25?g 100?g^?1 of dry diet) were fed to randomly assigned triplicate groups of fish to apparent satiation twice daily at two feeding schedules (08.00 and 17.30?h). Thermal growth coefficient (TGC; 0.86), feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.97) and protein productive value (PPV; 0.25) were best attained by the group fed diet containing 1.75?g arginine 100?g^?1 of dry diet (D4). Carcass protein content also peaked at the above level of dietary arginine whereas carcass lipid showed consistent drop with the increase in dietary arginine level up to 1.75?g 100?g^?1 of dry diet. Second-degree polynomial regression analysis at 95% maximum and minimum response of thermal growth coefficient, feed conversion, protein productive value, carcass protein and lipid productive value against varying levels of dietary arginine yielded that dietary arginine in the range of 1.51–1.66?g 100?g^?1 of dry diet, corresponding to 3.97–4.37?g 100?g^?1 protein is adequate to optimize growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and improve carcass quality in fingerling H. fossilis.     

Effect of dietary cadmium on growth and haematological parameters of juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli (Hilgendorf)

Experiments were carried out to investigate the growth and haematological parameters in juvenile rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, exposed to sub‐chronic dietary cadmium (Cd) (0, 0.5, 5, 25, and 125 mg kg^?1) for 60 days. The daily growth rates of weight and length of the rockfish were significantly different from control, and a significant inverse relationship was observed between weight gain and the exposure concentration of dietary Cd at 25 and 125 mg kg^?1 (P<0.05). Glucose in serum was also increased significantly (P<0.05). The concentration of total protein in serum was significantly lower than control at 5, 25, and 125 mg kg^?1. No differences were observed in serum calcium concentration. The magnesium concentration in serum was increased significantly with dietary Cd concentration.     

Effect of dietary isoleucine level on growth,protein retention efficiency,haematological parameter,lysozyme activity and serum antioxidant status of fingerling Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Isoleucine requirement of fingerling Channa punctatus (6.74 ± 0.09 g) was estimated by feeding seven trial diets (450 g/kg CP, 14.73 kJ/g DE) containing 3.8, 7.5, 11.3, 15.1, 19.3, 23.2 and 27.4 g/kg of isoleucine for 12 weeks. Growth and haematological parameters increased with the increasing concentrations of dietary isoleucine up to 16 g/kg. Carcass protein and fat increased significantly with the increasing concentrations of dietary isoleucine up to 16 g/kg and then stabilized. Moisture content showed reverse trend to that of carcass fat. Hepatosomatic index was found to be highest at 4 g/kg of dietary isoleucine. Viscerosomatic index and condition factor increased significantly with increasing levels of isoleucine up to 16 g/kg dry diet. Serum protein, lysozyme and superoxide dismutase activities were also found to increase significantly up to 16 g/kg dry diet. Significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities was observed by increasing concentrations of dietary isoleucine up to 16 g/kg. Based on quadratic regression analysis of absolute weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein retention and isoleucine retention efficiencies against varying concentrations of isoleucine, the optimum isoleucine requirement ranging between 17.95 and 18.39 g/kg dry diet, corresponding to 39.88–40.86 g/kg dietary protein, is recommended for maximizing growth of C. punctatus.     

Quantitative l‐lysine requirement of juvenile black sea bream (Sparus macrocephalus)

An 8‐week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the quantitative l ‐lysine requirement of juvenile black sea bream Sparus macrocephalus (initial mean weight: 9.13 ± 0.09 g, SD) in eighteen 300‐L indoors flow‐through circular fibreglass tanks provided with sand‐filtered aerated seawater. The experimental diets contained six levels of l ‐lysine ranging from 20.8 to 40.5 g kg^?1 dry diet at about 4 g kg^?1 increments. All the experiment diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Each diet was assigned to triplicate groups of 20 fish in a completely randomized design. Weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) increased with increasing levels of dietary lysine up to 32.5 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05) and both showed a declining tendency thereafter. Feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio was poorer for fish fed the lower lysine level diets (P < 0.05) and showed no significant differences among other treatments (P > 0.05). All groups showed high survival (above 90%) and no significant differences were observed. The whole body crude protein and crude lipid contents were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by dietary lysine level, while moisture and ash showed no significant differences. The composition of muscle and liver also presented similar change tendency. Total essential amino acid and lysine contents in muscle both obtained the highest value when fish fed 32.5 g kg^?1 lysine diet (P < 0.05). Serum protein, cholesterol and free lysine concentration were affected by different dietary treatments (P < 0.05), triacylglyceride and glucose contents were more variable and could not be related to dietary lysine levels. Dietary lysine level significantly affected condition factor and intraperitoneal fat ratio of juvenile black sea bream (P < 0.05) except for hepatosomatic index. There were no significant differences in white blood cell count and red blood cell count (P > 0.05), however, haemoglobin level was significantly influenced by different diets (P < 0.05). Analysis of dose (lysine level)‐response (SGR) with second order polynomial regression suggested the dietary lysine requirement of juvenile black sea bream to be 33.2 g kg^?1 dry diet or 86.4 g lysine kg^?1 protein.     

A study on dietary l‐lysine requirement of juvenile yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine lysine requirement of juvenile yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) by feeding formulated diets containing crystalline l ‐lysine. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets (405 g kg^?1 protein, 18 kJ g^?1 gloss energy) containing fish meal together with soybean protein concentrate as protein sources and fish oil together with soybean oil as lipid sources were formulated. Crystalline l ‐lysine was added into the six diets to acquire lysine concentrations of 17.3, 21.8, 26.0, 31.3, 35.5 and 41.9 g kg^?1 dry diets, respectively. Mixture of crystalline amino acid was supplemented to simulate the amino acid profile in muscle of yellow catfish. The results indicated that final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency (PE) increased with the increase in dietary lysine level from 17.3 to 31.3 g kg^?1 of diet and then decreased as the dietary lysine levels further increased. No significant difference in survival rate was found among all the dietary treatments. One‐slope, quadratic broken‐line analysis on the basis of SGR showed that the dietary l ‐lysine requirement of juvenile yellow catfish was 33.1 g kg^?1 of dry diet (83.2 g kg^?1 of dietary protein).     

Effect of varying levels of dietary protein on the growth performance and feed conversion efficiency of snakehead Channa striata fry

Six isocaloric test diets, based on fishmeal-groundnut oil cake and containing 350–600 g kg^?1 protein at 50 g kg^?1 incremental levels were fed to snakehead, Channa Striata (Bloch), fry at a rate of 10% of body weight per day under laboratory conditions to determine the effect of varying level of dietary protein on the growth response. On the basis of percentage weight gain, daily weight gain, specific growth rate and daily tissue protein deposition, the dietary protein requirement of fry was found to be 550 g kg^?1 when fish meal was used as the major source of protein. There was a significant increase in carcass protein and a significant decrease in ash content with progressive dietary protein substitution. Fry fed with high protein diets tended to have lower carcass lipid contents and higher moisture contents.