Effects of dietary animal proteins on growth and body composition of the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Two experiments were conducted to determine the nutritional value of various dietary proteins for juvenile red drum. In the first 8-week feeding trial, diets containing similar quantities of lipid, carbohydrate, available energy and ash with 35% crude protein from either lyophilized whole-body croaker (Micropogon undulatus), striated beef muscle, red drum processing waste or commercially processed menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) fish meal were fed to juvenile red drum in brackish (6 ppt) water along with a control diet containing lyophilized muscle of red drum. The control diet produced significantly (P<0.05) greater weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) values than all other diets; intermediate responses were observed for fish fed diets containing protein from red drum waste and whole-body croaker, while diets containing striated beef muscle and menhaden fish meal yielded the lowest values. Some differences in tissue indices and body composition of red drum including hepatosomatic index, whole-body ash and lipid, as well as liver lipid and glycogen were induced by the various diets. In the second 8-week feeding trial, the control diet containing red drum muscle was compared with similar diets containing protein from whole-body croaker and menhaden fish meal. Again the control diet produced the greatest WG, FE, and PER values followed by whole-body croaker and then menhaden fish meal. Effects of the dietary proteins on tissue indices and body composition were limited. The excellent protein quality and low-temperature processing of lyophilized red drum muscle resulted in superior performance of red drum relative to the other evaluated protein products, and lyophilized whole-body croaker provided better performance than commercially processed menhaden fish meal.     

The use of locally produced fish meal and other dietary manipulations in practical diets for rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

The aim of this trial was to compare the performance of rainbow trout fed diets including local or imported fish meal as the main protein sources, and to test the effect of reducing the fish meal content or including a fish protein hydrolysate in the diets. Two experimental diets were formulated to include 35% (diet 2) or 20% (diet 3) of a local processed whole fish meal; two other diets were formulated similar to diets 2 and 3 but with 5% fish protein hydrolysate replacing the same amount of fish meal (diets 4 and 5 respectively); a diet similar to diet 2, but including Norwegian fish meal, was used as a control (diet 1). The growth trial lasted 14 weeks and was carried out in floating net cages (325‐L capacity), with duplicate groups of 20 rainbow trout of an initial average weight of 58 g. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of the diets were evaluated in a separate laboratory trial. At the end of the growth trial, there were no significant differences in growth rate and protein efficiency ratio among groups. Feed conversion ratios were significantly better in groups fed diets 3, 4 and 5 than in the other groups. Nitrogen retention (% of N intake) was significantly higher in fish fed diets 4 and 5 than in those fed diet 2. There were no significant differences in energy retention (% of energy intake) among groups. At the end of the trial, there were no significant differences among groups in proximate composition of whole fish. The ADC of protein, energy and phosphorus of diets 1 and 2 were significantly lower than those of diets 3 and 5. It was concluded that, under the experimental conditions tested, performance of rainbow trout fed practical diets including good quality local processed fish meal is similar to that of fish fed diets including Norwegian fish meal. A reduction in the fish meal from 35% to 20% of the diet or the inclusion of a fish protein hydrolysate had no negative effects on growth performance and improved feed utilization.     

Effects of dietary phosphorus and lipid levels on utilization and excretion of phosphorus and nitrogen by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). 1. Laboratory-scale study

Nutritional strategies to reduce both phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) excretion relative to growth of rainbow trout were tested in a 2 × 3 factorial experiment. The two factors were `dietary P level' and `dietary lipid level.' Reduction in dietary P from 14 to 8 g kg^–1 dry diet was achieved by partial substitution of dietary fish meal with a combination of full-fat soyabean meal, corn gluten and spray-dried blood meal. Triplicate tanks of 35 rainbow trout per tank were fed experimental diets for 16 weeks and grew from approximately 40 to 250 g, in 15 °C spring water. All tanks were fed the same percent biomass per day. Diets were isonitrogenous, and dietary energy varied with dietary lipid. Diet digestibility data and results of the experiment were used to construct N and P budgets for the fish fed the various diets. A reduction in dietary fish meal from 500 to 200 g kg^–1 dry diet, corresponding to a reduction in dietary P from 14 to 8 g kg^–1 dry diet, resulted in >50% reductions in both solid and dissolved P waste, but did not affect growth, feed efficiency ratio (FER) or sensory characteristics of rainbow trout. Increasing dietary lipid from 170 to 310 g kg^–1 dry diet led to higher growth rate and FER, and lower total N waste relative to weight gain, but did not change protein retention. Increasing dietary lipid level increased deposition of lipid in whole bodies of rainbow trout, and resulted in discernible differences in sensory characteristics of trout fillets.     

Evaluation of corn gluten meal as a protein source in diets for gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) juveniles

A 12‐week growth trial was conducted to evaluate corn gluten meal as an alternative protein source to fish meal in diets for gilthead sea bream juveniles. The experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and to have 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of fish meal protein, the only protein source in the control diet, replaced by corn gluten meal. At the end of the growth trial only the group fed the diet with 80% corn gluten protein exhibited significantly reduced growth and feed efficiency compared with the fish meal‐based diet. This was most likely due to a dietary amino acid deficiency in that diet. A trend was noticed for feed efficiency to improve with the replacement of fish meal protein in the diets up to 60%. There were no significant differences among groups in protein and energy retention (as percentage of intake). At the end of the trial whole body water content of the experimental groups was significantly lower and the lipid content of groups including 60% and 80% corn gluten protein was significantly higher than that in the control. No other differences were observed in whole body composition among groups. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of the diets were evaluated in a separate trial. The ADC of dry matter of the experimental diets was significantly higher than in the control diet; there were no significant differences among diets in the ADC of energy and protein, except for the ADC of protein of diet with 80% corn gluten protein, which was significantly lower than the control. The results of this study indicate that corn gluten meal can replace up to 60% fish meal protein in diets for gilthead sea bream juveniles with no negative effects on fish performance.     

Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Blue Mussel Extract on Growth and Body Composition of Japanese Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Dietary inclusion of a water-soluble fraction of blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was examined as a feeding stimulant for juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus . The control diet mainly consisted of fish meal, potato starch, and pollack liver oil. Five, 10, and 20% (weight/weight) of the control diet was exchanged with aqueous extracts of blue mussel meat in experimental groups. Fish of about 10 g in initial body weight were fed each diet to satiation, twice daily, 6 d per wk for 6 wk at 20 C. The final body weight, weight gain, and feed efficiency of fish fed the diets containing blue mussel extracts were significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet. However, these parameters were not different among experimental groups containing blue mussel extract independent of the inclusion level of extract. A similar trend was shown in protein efficiency ratio as fish fed the control diet had a significantly lower protein efficiency ratio than the other dietary groups. Compared to the control diet, higher plasma protein and lower triglyceride were found in fish fed the diets with the extract, while other blood constituents were relatively similar for the dietary groups tested. On the other hand, whole-body crude lipid content and lipid retention of fish fed the diets with the extract were generally significantly higher than those of fish fed the control diet. Whole body crude protein was identical regardless of the dietary composition; however, protein retention of fish showed a similar trend to lipid retention.     

Effects of fish oil and partial fish meal substitution with oilseed oils and meals on growth performance, nutrient utilization and health of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of the replacement of dietary fish meal and fish oil with oilseed meals (soybean or canola) and canola oil on growth, nutrient utilization, body composition, diet digestibility and hematological parameters of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Seven diets were used; the control diet (designated FM) contained fish meal and fish oil as the main protein and lipid sources. For the experimental diets, 40% of fish meal protein was substituted with soybean meal, canola meal or a soybean/canola meal mixture, and these diets (designated SM, CM and SCM, respectively) contained fish oil as the lipid source. Three additional diets (SM?+?CO, CM?+?CO and SCM?+?CO) were formulated with the same vegetable protein meals but with fish oil replaced by canola oil. Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation for 11?weeks. The growth of fish fed the CM?+?CO diet was significantly lower than that of fish fed the FM, SCM, SM?+?CO and SCM?+?CO diets. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly better in fish fed the FM and SCM?+?CO diets than in fish fed the CM and CM?+?CO diets. Furthermore, feed intake was significantly lower for fish fed the CM?+?CO diet than in fish fed the SCM diet, and lipid digestibility of the CM?+?CO diet was significantly lower than that of all other diets. No significant differences of body composition were observed. Circulating leukocyte levels, leukocyte ratios and serum lysozyme activity remained unaffected by dietary treatment. However, it was observed that fish fed the CM?+?CO diet displayed hematocrit levels significantly lower (P?<?0.05) than that of fish fed the other diets. The results indicate that when diets contain either fish oil or canola oil, canola meal and soybean meal can be incorporated into rainbow trout feeds at a combined 32% inclusion level (replacing 40% of fish meal protein) without inducing significant negative effects on growth, nutrient utilization or health.     

Protein requirement of juvenile Manchurian trout Brachymystax lenok

SUMMARY: This study was conducted to determine the dietary protein requirement for the growth of juvenile Manchurian trout Brachymystax lenok . Three replicate groups of fish weighing 3.44 g were fed the five isocaloric diets containing various protein levels from 29% to 57% for 10 weeks. White fish meal was used as the sole protein source. Weight gain and feed efficiency of fish improved with increasing dietary protein level up to 43% and 49%, respectively, and reached a plateau above these levels. Dietary protein requirement using a broken-line model was estimated at 43.6% for weight gain of the fish. The protein efficiency ratio tended to decrease with increasing dietary protein level, but there was no significant difference among the diets containing 29%, 35% and 43% protein levels ( P > 0.05). The protein content of fish fed the 29% protein diet was significantly lower than that of fish fed the 57% protein diet ( P < 0.05). However, moisture, lipid and ash contents of fish were not significantly affected by dietary protein level ( P > 0.05). These findings indicate that 43–44% dietary protein level with 10% lipid and 19.2 MJ gross energy/kg diet could be recommended for the optimum growth and efficient protein utilization of juvenile Manchurian trout.     

Size-fractionated fish hydrolysate as feed ingredient for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed high plant protein diets. I: Growth, growth regulation and feed utilization

Six experimental diets were fed to rainbow trout to examine the effect of fish hydrolysate and ultra filtered fish hydrolysate on growth performance, feed utilization and growth regulation using diets low in dietary fish meal inclusion. One diet contained a high level of plant protein sources (90.6% of total dietary protein) and a low level of fish meal (9.4% of dietary protein). Two diets contained different levels of hydrolysate in exchange for the plant protein sources, reducing the plant protein level to 73.9% and 57.2%, respectively. Two further diets were identical in composition except that the hydrolysate was ultra filtered to remove low molecular weight compounds. A moderate level of fish meal was used in the sixth diet which had a dietary plant protein level of 57.0%. All diets were made equal in protein, lipid, energy and lysine. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days and for the fastest growing group, fed moderate level of fish meal, the fish increased in weight from 149 g at start to a final weight of 443 g. All groups showed significant differences in growth and feed utilizations. Specific growth rates were; 0.30% day^− 1 for the plant protein diet, 0.98% day^− 1 for the high hydrolysate diet, 0.72% day^− 1 for the group containing the high level of ultra filtered hydrolysate, and 1.21% day^− 1 for the moderate fish meal diet. Feed efficiencies (g fish weight gain per g feed intake) were found to be 0.57 for plant protein diet, 0.97 for high level of hydrolysate, 0.83 for ultra filtered hydrolysate and 1.03 for the moderate fish meal diet. Half dietary inclusions of hydrolysate and ultra filtered hydrolysate revealed values between the plant protein diets and high levels of these ingredients, respectively. Feed consumption in percentage of average fish weight per day, correlated with the feed efficiency for all groups. PER, PPV and BV correlated with the differences in growth. Protein digestibilities were equal for all groups, while the moderate fish meal diet showed higher lipid and energy digestibilities than the plant protein diets. Although some of the differences may be due to growth inhibitors in plant resources other explanations may be relevant. Plasma growth hormone (GH) levels were significantly higher in fish fed the plant protein diet than fish fed the fish meal or high hydrolysate diet, which is most likely a result of their poor feeding status. Plasma IGF-I levels were not affected by diet. Comparisons of groups with similar inclusion of plant ingredients, and thus equal level of growth inhibitors, show that in removing small molecular weight compounds from fish hydrolysate, the growth and feed efficiency were significantly reduced. Some of these small compounds in fish hydrolysate thus seem to be essential for biological performance. Further, as fish meal revealed the best performance, fish muscle protein is not the only nutrient that makes fish meal an essential ingredient in aqua feed for carnivorous fish. This information is important in the work to find replacement of fish meal in a sustainable growing global aquaculture industry.     

Dietary Lipid Utilization by Juvenile Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus

The ability of juvenile summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus to utilize dietary lipid as energy, and the effect of dietary lipid on weight gain and body composition was investigated in a 12-week feeding trial. Diets were formulated to provide 55% crude protein from herring meal and casein. Menhaden oil was added to produce diets with 8, 12, 16 or 20% total lipid while providing 16.0 kJ available energy/g dry diet. The diet containing 20% total lipid supplied 16.7 kJ available energy/g dry diet due to the high levels of protein and lipid. An additional diet was included to reproduce currently available commercial diet formulations for flounder, providing 55% crude protein supplied solely from herring meal and 16% total dietary lipid. Juvenile summer flounder (initial weight 23 g) were stocked into triplicate aquaria in a closed, recirculating system maintained at 20 C. Fish were fed 2% of body weight each day divided into two equal feedings. Upon termination of the study, effects of dietary lipid on weight gain, body condition indices, and proximate composition were determined. Weight gain (96–149% of initial weight), feed efficiency ratio values (0.43–0.48). fillet yield, and whole-body composition all were unaffected by dietary lipid level. High levels of dietary lipid did increase the lipid content in the finray muscle, as fish fed diets containing 16 and 20% dietary lipid had significantly higher lipid levels than fish fed the diet containing 8% lipid. No apparent protein sparing effect of lipid was observed. These data indicate that currently available commercial feeds for summer flounder may be over-formulated and show a need for further research to determine specific and accurate nutritional information for this species.     

Carbohydrate utilization by juvenile silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). III. The protein-sparing effect of wheat starch-based carbohydrates

The ability of juvenile silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) to utilize dietary raw wheat meal, raw wheat starch, gelatinized wheat starch and dextrin as energy sources to spare protein for growth was quantified. Energy utilization and protein sparing were assessed by comparing the weight gain, energy retention efficiency, protein retention and body composition of silver perch that had been fed a series of diets in which the basal diet (low carbohydrate) was systematically replaced with graded levels of each carbohydrate ingredient or an inert diluent, diatomaceous earth. The protein content decreased as the carbohydrate content increased, giving four different protein to energy ratios for each of the four carbohydrate sources (except for the 60% inclusion level, at which only three carbohydrate sources were tested). Silver perch were efficient at utilizing carbohydrate for energy to spare protein. Silver perch fed diets containing up to 30% wheat meal, raw wheat starch, gelatinized wheat starch or dextrin exhibited similar growth, protein retention and energy retention efficiency to the fish fed the basal diet. Weight gain of silver perch fed diets containing wheat meal or carbohydrates at 45% inclusion content had significantly reduced weight gain when compared with fish fed the basal diet. However, protein retention and energy retention efficiency were similar or better. Whole‐body protein levels of silver perch remained constant regardless of carbohydrate sources, and there was no evidence of increasing whole‐body lipid concentrations for fish fed diets with up to 60% dietary carbohydrate. Silver perch were more efficient at utilizing processed starch (either gelatinized starch or dextrin) than wheat meal or raw wheat starch.     

Effects of diets containing a bacterial protein meal on growth and feed utilisation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Triplicate groups of rainbow trout with initial weight 361 g were fed either a fish meal based control diet or diets containing 9, 18 or 27% bacterial protein meal (BPM) or 9% of an autolysate (AU) of the BPM. No significant treatment effects were found on specific growth rates (SGR), feed intake, feed efficiency ratio (FER), or retention of nitrogen, amino acids or energy. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of nitrogen, energy and most indispensable amino acids decreased when BPM was included in the diet. The ADC of lipid, sum of amino acids, arginine, lysine, threonine and most of the dispensable amino acids were reduced at 27% BPM inclusion compared to the control, 9% and 18% BPM diets. None of the ADC estimated was different in the 9% AU diet compared to the 9% BPM diet. The loss of nitrogen and energy in faeces per kg gain increased as the dietary BPM or AU levels increased, and the energy used for activity and maintenance was higher in fish fed the 27% BPM diet than in fish fed the other diets (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the urea concentrations in plasma, liver and muscle, whereas the uric acid level in plasma was elevated in trout fed the 27% BPM diet. Histological evaluation of tissue from the stomach, pyloric caeca, mid-intestine and distal intestine did not reveal any diet-related morphological changes.In conclusion, no significant differences in growth and feed efficiency were found in the rainbow trout fed diets containing up to 27% BPM, and the AU did not increase fish performance compared to the BPM. Based on the data from this study, at levels up to 27% dietary inclusion, BPM is a good replacement for fish meal in diets for rainbow trout.     

Partial replacement of soybean meal with Methylobacterium extorquens single‐cell protein in feeds for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum)

A feeding trial was conducted with juvenile rainbow trout (15–16 g initial weight) to assess the effects of including single‐cell protein (SCP) produced from Methylobacterium extorquens in trout feeds. Three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were produced: a control diet and two experimental diets containing 5% or 10% bacterial protein meal replacing soybean meal. Triplicate tanks, each containing 35 fish, were fed each diet to apparent satiation in a constant‐temperature (15°C), flow‐through tank system for 12 weeks. No statistically significant differences in final fish weight or other fish growth parameters were observed. Similarly, feed efficiency parameters showed no significant differences among groups. Nutrient retention indices (protein, fat, energy) were relatively high and similar among fish in each dietary treatment group, as were whole body proximate compositions. Fish survival was high, with a small but statistically significant increase for the 10% SCP diet. Overall, results demonstrate that SCP from M. extorquens is a safe and effective alternative protein for rainbow trout diets at the low inclusion levels tested. Slightly lower weight gain in fish fed the 10% SCP diet was largely due to lower feed intake, suggesting that adding palatability‐enhancing ingredients to feeds may allow higher levels of M. extorquens SCP to be used without compromising fish growth.     

Growth, feed efficiency, digestibility and nutrient distribution in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fed two different fish meal qualities at three dietary levels of vegetable protein sources

Atlantic cod were fed six diets where the ratio of protein from fish meal to vegetable protein were varied from 91%, 67% to 46%, respectively. The experimental groups were performed in triplicate in a 20 week growth trial, increasing fish weight from about 167 g to 690 g. The vegetable protein sources constituted full-fat soybean meal and corn gluten meal at a fixed ratio of 1:2, and replaced either a high quality fish meal (DC_Mink 92.3%) or a lower quality fish meal (DC_Mink 85.6%) in the diet. All diets were extruded and balanced to be equal in gross energy, crude protein, lipid, carbohydrate, lysine and phosphorus. No difference in growth (SGR 1%) was observed comparing the two fish meal qualities. However, feed intake was significantly higher (9%) and feed efficiency lower (10%) for lower quality fish meal compared to high quality fish meal. Protein and amino acid digestibility was significantly reduced in the lower quality fish meal, while unaffected by vegetable protein inclusion for both fish meal qualities. Protein utilization as measured by protein efficiency ratio and net protein value was not affected by fish meal inclusion, except in the diet using lower quality fish meal and high vegetable protein inclusion. Lipid and energy digestibility was significantly reduced by vegetable protein inclusion for both fish meals. The lower fish meal quality increased lipid deposition in the liver and affected slaughter quality of cod by increasing HSI and dressing out percentage at low and intermediate substitution levels. Muscle composition showed small dietary changes except for arginine, while liver fatty acid composition clearly reflected fatty acid profile of full-fat soya in the diets. Corn gluten meal and full-fat soybean meal (2:1) can replace approximately 50% of dietary protein without affecting feed intake, growth, protein digestibility or slaughter quality of cod when exchanging high quality fish meal. For the lower quality fish meal diets some lower inclusion of vegetable protein sources seem to be acceptable.     

Phosphorus retention efficiency in rainbow trout fed diets with low fish meal and alternative protein ingredients

ABSTRACT:   Two experiments were conducted to evaluate feed quality and body phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) retention by rainbow trout fed test diets with low amounts of fish meal content and alternative low-P protein sources. A fish meal (FM) diet was used as control. Fish weighing 2.0 g and 134.7 g on average were reared with the experimental diets for 30 weeks and 15 weeks, respectively. The experimental diets had a good growth rate and feed utilization. In the first experiment the P retention was higher in the group of fish fed test diets (56 and 69%) compared to the FM-based diet (36%); N retention rates were similar for all groups. In the second experiment, fish were fed the test diet that had the best P retention in the earlier experiment. The P retention was lower than the values obtained in the first experiment (smaller fish), but still higher in the group of fish fed the low FM diet in comparison with the control group (36.0% and 22.2%, respectively). This represents a P loading into the water of 5.9 kg/t and 12.8 kg/t production for the test and the control diet, respectively. Therefore, low-P-loading diets for rainbow trout can be developed through the appropriate combination of alternative protein sources.     

Fisheries By-Catch and By-Product Meals as Protein Sources For Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

Abstract— Fisheries by-catch and by-product meals are portrayed as ingredients having a great potential as ingredients in aquaculture feeds. The present study was designed to evaluate the nutritional value of shrimp by-catch meal, shrimp processing waste meal, and two fish meals made from Pacific whiting (meal with and without solubles) for rainbow trout by determining apparent digestibilityof these ingredients and conducting a 12-wk feeding trial with juvenile fish (average initial weight 20 g/fish). Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for protein in diets containing by-catch and processing by-products were 76% for shrimp by-catch meal, 79% for shrimp processing waste meal, 88% for Pacific whiting meal without solubles, and 92% for Pacific whiting meal with solubles. ADCs for lipid were higher than 94% for all the diets. ADCs for energy were 57% for shrimp by-catch meal, 73% for shrimp processing waste meal, 70% for Pacific whiting meal without solubles, and 73% for Pacific whiting meal with solubles. Growth performance was significantly affected by dietary protein source. Fish fed the shrimp by-catch meal diet had weight gain and feed conversion ratios similar to that of fish fed the control diet with anchovy fish meal. Fish fed diets containing shrimp processing waste and Pacific whiting meal with solubles had significantly lower weight gain and higher feed conversion ratios than the control diet. Growth was significantly lower in fish fed the Pacific whiting meal diet compared to fish fed the anchovy fish meal. The lower growth of fish fed diets containing Pacific whiting meal appeared to be a result of lower feed intake, indicating perhaps a lower palatability of this ingredient. Additional research addressing processing methods, nutritional manipulations, and palatability enhancement is needed to improve potential of some fisheries byproduct meals as ingredients in the diets of rainbow trout.     

Evaluation of 100% Fish Meal Substitution with Chicken Concentrate,Protein Poultry By‐Product Blend,and Chicken and Egg Concentrate on Growth and Disease Resistance of Juvenile Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

The ability of poultry products to replace fish meal in diets for rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, depends on their nutrient composition, cost, and consistency. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of three commercially available poultry products (chicken concentrate, CC, poultry by‐product blend, PBB; or chicken and egg concentrate, CE) to maintain growth and disease resistance when substituted for fish meal in a rainbow trout starter diet. A control diet was formulated to contain 48% crude protein and 18% crude lipid; 100% of the fish meal in test diets was replaced with CC, PBB, or CE. At stocking, fry were counted into groups (50 fish/tank) with six replicate tanks for each diet and fed their respective diets four times daily for 8 wk. All the poultry‐based diets supported growth (over 1600% increase over initial weight), nutrient retention, and feed conversion ratios of rainbow trout fry equal to or greater than those observed for fry fed with the fish meal‐based diet. No effect of diet on survival was observed following subcutaneous injection challenge with Flavobacterium psychrophilum. These data suggest that the examined products can be used in place of fish meal for rainbow trout fry without lowering growth and disease resistance.     

The effect of dietary ribonucleic acid incorporation in performance of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary ribonucleic acid (RNA) on the performance of European sea bass juveniles. Two diets containing fish meal as the only nitrogen source were formulated with 39% or 50% of crude protein (LP and HP diet, respectively). Two other diets were formulated similarly to LP diet, but included yeast-RNA extract at 6.2% and 12.4% levels (LP6 and LP12 diets, respectively) by replacing dextrin. Total nitrogen content of the LP12 diet was equivalent to that of the HP diet. The four experimental diets were isoenergetic (22 kJ GE g⁻¹ DM). Triplicate groups of 25 fish (IBW=13 g) were fed the test diets for 10 weeks. The reduction of dietary protein level did not significantly affect growth rate but significantly increased feed intake and decreased feed efficiency. However, nitrogen retention (%N intake) was significantly improved with the decrease in dietary protein level. Dietary RNA incorporation did not affect feed intake or feed efficiency, although it reduced growth rate of fish fed the highest dietary RNA level. Nitrogen retention (%N intake) significantly decreased with the dietary supplementation of RNA. Dry matter, nitrogen and energy digestibilities were not significantly affected by dietary treatments. Final whole-body composition was also unaffected by dietary treatments, except for ash content which was significantly higher in the LP12 group. Hepatosomatic index was significantly increased by the dietary incorporation of RNA. The dietary supplementation of RNA had no protein sparing effect and significantly reduced energy retention. It may be concluded that dietary RNA supplementation had no nutritive value for European sea bass.     

Effect of nucleotides supplementation to low‐fish meal feed on long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of nucleotides supplementation to low‐fish meal feed on growth and fatty acid composition of rainbow trout. Six isonitrogenous (42% crude protein) and isolipidic (18% crude lipid) diets were formulated containing fish meal and plant ingredients as main protein sources. The control diet was a basal diet without supplementation of nucleotides, and five experimental diets were prepared by supplementing one of the five different nucleotides in the form of 5′‐monophosphate (0.15%), that is inosine (IMP), adenosine (AMP), guanosine (GMP), uridine (UMP) and cytidine (CMP) onto basal diet. Two hundred forty juvenile rainbow trout with an initial average body weight 9.8 g were randomly distributed into twelve aquaria. After 15 weeks of feeding period, growth performance and feed utilization of rainbow trout were not significantly different among dietary treatments. Dietary GMP, UMP and CMP tended to accumulate crude lipid in the muscle and whole fish body. Moreover, dietary GMP, UMP and CMP significantly increased hepatic 18:3n‐3 and long‐chain homologue 18:4n‐3 and 20:4n‐3 contents. Hepatic 18:2n‐6 content showed also increase in fish fed GMP, UMP and CMP diets, but decreased in long‐chain homologue 20:3n‐6 and 20:4n‐6 contents. Decrease in 20:4n‐6, 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 contents was also found in the muscle of fish fed IMP, GMP and CMP diets. The present study clearly showed that there was no positive effect of dietary nucleotides on growth of fish, but dietary nucleotides particularly GMP, UMP and CMP altered polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of rainbow trout.     

Evaluation of Experimental and Practical Diets for Walleye Stizostedion vitreum

Culture of walleye Sfizostedion vitreum is one of the largest components of public sector aquaculture in the eastern U.S. and there is increasing interest in private sector culture. However, the nutritional requirements of walleye are unknown and experimental diets for use in quantifying nutritional requirements have not been identified. We formulated four experimental and four practical diets and fed those to triplicate groups of walleye with an initial weight of 13 g per fish. The experimental diets contained either casein (CAS), casein + gelatin (CG), casein + arginine (CA), or casein + gelatin + crystalline amino acids (CGAA) as sources of amino acids. The practical diets were formulated to mimic salmon grower (SG) and trout grower (TG) diets, a fish meal‐free diet for trout (TFMF), and a walleye grower (WG) diet. Fish were fed twice daily to satiation for 9 wk. Feed consumption, percent weight gain, specific growth rates, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, and protein retention efficiency were not significantly different among fish fed CGAA, SG, and TG, but those values were significantly higher than in fish fed other diets. Weight gain of fish fed CGAA was approximately 80% of that in fish fed SG and 91% of that in fish fed TG. Protein retention efficiency of fish fed CGAA was approximately 69% and 81% of that observed for fish fed SG, and TG, respectively. In general, the carcasses of fish fed diets CGAA, SG and TG had significantly lower moisture and ash concentrations, and higher lipid levels than fish fed other diets. There were no significant differences in carcass protein concentration, muscle proximate composition, or liver lipid concentration among treatments. Livers from fish fed all diets were characterized by microvesicular degeneration and glycogen accumulation in hepatocytes. Results from the study indicate that CGAA can be used as a basal experimental diet in future nutritional research with juvenile walleye and confirms the benefits of trout and salmon grower diets. Fish meal‐free diets formulated around the requirements for rainbow trout were consumed at approximately 80% of the values in fish fed TG and SG, but weight gain was approximately 20% of that in fish fed TG and SG. It appears the nutritional requirements for walleye are different than those of rainbow trout.     

The effect of dietary protein replacement by crystalline amino acid on growth and nitrogen utilization of turbot Scophthalmus maximus juveniles

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of dietary fish meal by crystalline amino acids on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition and nitrogen utilization of turbot juveniles.

Four diets were formulated to be isolipidic (12% DM) and isonitrogenous (8% DM). A fish meal based diet was used as control. In the experimental diets, a crystalline amino acid (AA) mixture was used to partially replace fish meal, corresponding to a non-protein nitrogen content of 19, 37 and 56%, respectively (diets 19AA, 37AA and 56AA, respectively). The overall amino acid profile of the experimental diets resembled that of the whole-body protein of turbot. Each experimental diet was fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish (initial body weight of 31.8 g) twice daily to apparent satiation for 42 days. During the trial water temperature averaged 18 °C.

Final body weight, weight gain (g kg ABW^− 1 day^− 1) and specific growth rate were not different between the control and 19AA diet but significantly decreased with the increase of crystalline-AA inclusion from 19 to 56%. Feed intake and feed efficiency of fish fed the control and diet 19AA were similar and significantly higher than those of fish fed the 56AA diet. At the end of the growth trial, there were no significant differences in whole-body composition among groups. Hepatosomatic index was also unaffected by dietary treatments.

Nitrogen retention (g kg ABW^− 1 day^− 1) of fish fed the control and the 19AA diets were similar and significantly higher than that of fish fed the other diets. Expressed as a percentage of the nitrogen intake, N retention was significantly higher with the control than with the 37AA and 56AA diets.

Daily ammonia excretion (mg kg ABW^− 1 day^− 1) of fish fed the control diet was significantly higher than that of fish fed the 37AA and 56AA diets, while daily urea excretion (mg kg ABW^− 1 day^− 1) did not significantly differ among treatments. Non-fecal nitrogen (ammonia + urea) excretion (mg kg ABW^− 1 day^− 1) was significantly higher for fish fed the control diet than in those fed the 37AA and 56AA diets. However, as percent of N intake, ammonia excretion and non-fecal N excretion were significantly higher in fish fed the 56AA diet than in those fed the control and 19AA diets.

Specific activity of glutamate dehydrogenase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases did not significantly differ among experimental groups.

In conclusion, in diets with an overall amino acid profile resembling that of the whole-body protein of turbot, crystalline-AA may replace 19% of dietary protein without negatively affecting growth performances or feed utilization efficiency. However, higher protein replacement levels of protein-bound-AA by crystalline-AA severely depressed growth performance.