Compensatory growth response of Sparus aurata following different starvation and refeeding protocols

A feeding trial evaluated the influences of different cycles of starvation and refeeding protocols for 7 weeks on growth and feed intake in 14‐g gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata. Following 7 weeks of alternated cycles, all the groups were fed to apparent satiation for a further 3 weeks. Three groups of fish were fasted for 2, 4 or 7 days (S2, S4 and S7, respectively) and then refed until their relative feed intake differed by less than 20% of fed controls until the end of the week 7, while a fourth group (S7/Rf14) experienced three cycles, each consisting of 1 week of food deprivation followed by 2 weeks of satiation feeding. Control (C) fish were fed to satiation throughout the trial. The fish were fed a sea bream diet (450 g kg^?1 crude protein) according to the protocols, twice a day for 7 weeks. Growth performance and feed intake in continuously fed control group were significantly higher than those of the deprived groups (S2, S4, S7 and S7/Rf14) (P < 0.05). Weight gain highly correlated with total feed intake (R² = 94), and feed efficiency was the highest in the control group than other deprived groups (P < 0.05). The juveniles of gilthead sea bream demonstrated only a partial compensation during the cycling period and even after being fed to satiation for another 3 weeks. The convergence of growth trajectories and subsequent hyperphagic responses of the groups fed according to protocols are discussed in terms of possible costs of compensatory growth.     

不同循环饥饿投喂模式对尼罗罗非鱼补偿生长的影响

为了探讨尼罗罗非鱼对不同循环饥饿投喂模式的补偿生长效应,本实验分别采用每天投喂(S0)及饥饿1 d+投喂3 d(S1F3)、饥饿1 d+投喂5 d(S1F5)、饥饿1 d+投喂7 d(S1F7)、饥饿2 d+投喂3 d(S2F3)、饥饿2 d+投喂5 d(S2F5)和饥饿2 d+投喂7 d(S2F7)6种不同的循环投喂模式,用含33%蛋白质和8%脂肪的饲料饲养尼罗罗非鱼(均重13.50 g),饲喂期为43 d。结果显示,S0组的增重率(806.74%)最高,与S1F3、S1F5和S1F7组差异不显著,但分别比S2F3、S2F5和S2F7组显著提高40.3%、33.6%和10.4%;S0组的特定生长率最低(5.36%),显著低于其他各组;与对照组相比,采用循环投喂模式没有改善饲料转化率和蛋白质效率,但却能明显提高日摄食率;各实验处理组肝体比、脏体比、肥满度、鱼体灰分含量、肌肉RNA/DNA比值及血清总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和尿素氮含量与对照组差异不显著;S1F3、S1F5和S1F7组鱼体蛋白质和脂肪含量、血清甘油三酯含量及血清谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性与S0组差异不显著,但S2F3、S2F5和S2F7组鱼体蛋白质和脂肪含量及血清甘油三酯含量显著低于S0组,血清谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性显著高于S0组。研究表明,尼罗罗非鱼在S1F3、S1F5和S1F7模式下获得了完全补偿生长,而在S2F3、S2F5和S2F7模式下仅获得了部分补偿生长,且均是通过提高恢复投喂期间的摄食量来实现补偿生长。在获得完全补偿生长的3组中,S1F3组的实际投喂天数最短,仅为33 d,比每天投喂模式缩短了23.3%,因此在本实验条件下,饥饿1 d+投喂3 d是最佳的循环饥饿投喂模式。     

Starvation before slaughtering as a tool to keep freshness attributes in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Instrumental quality parameters related to freshness were evaluated for gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) after different storage periods on ice (2, 4, 7 and 11 days of storage) for one, four and eight days of pre-slaughter starvation. The study was carried out on 360 gilthead sea bream from five different groups reared on a commercial fish farm. Starvation period had a significant effect on fish texture: the force necessary to compress 4 mm of flesh after two days ice storage in 1 day starved fish (16.50 ± 0.59 Newtons) was less than that for four day (18.98 ± 0.63 Newtons) and eight day starved fish (20.43 ± 1.12 Newtons). Significant differences in flesh puncture and flesh compression were not detected, although these values did increase with increasing starvation period. A significant increase in pH and myofibrilar protein solubility was also detected for fish starved for one day.     

Effects of Restricted Feeding Regimes on Growth and Feed Utilization of Juvenile Gilthead Sea Bream, Sparus aurata

The effect of restricted feeding on growth, feed efficiency, and body composition was studied in juveniles of gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata. Juveniles (6.4 g) were stocked into 12 tanks at a density of 16 fish per tank. Four different feeding schedules were tested on triplicate groups of juvenile fish: (1) control fed for 48 d without deprivation, (2) starvation for 1 d and then refed for 2 d (S1), (3) 50% satiation for 2 d and then refed to apparent satiation for 2 d (R2), and (4) 50% satiation for 6 d and then refed to apparent satiation for another 6 d (R6). Results indicated that all fish subjected to cycled restricted feeding regimes were unable to achieve catching up with control group. The specific growth rate of fish in the control was significantly higher than those in S1, R2, and R6, which were not significantly different from each other. Protein efficiency and protein productive value were significantly higher in R2 compared to control, S1, and R6. Fish in R2 had lowest feed conversion ratio (1.12) compared to the control (1.17). Body protein composition in R6 was less than that of the control, S1, and R2, while moisture, lipid, and ash content were not significantly different compared to the control.     

中华鲟幼鱼循环饥饿后的补偿生长和体成分变化

研究中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)幼鱼循环饥饿后的补偿生长和体成分变化。实验设4个循环饥饿组(T1:饥饿1 d,饱食投喂3 d;T2:连续饥饿2 d,饱食投喂4 d;T3:连续饥饿4 d,饱食投喂6 d;T4:连续饥饿7 d,饱食投喂8 d)和1个对照组(T0:每天饱食投喂)。结果显示:在水温21.5～25.4℃条件下,T1组末重和特定生长率均超过对照组,表现为超补偿生长;T2组末重和特定生长率均接近对照组,表现为完全补偿生长,T1、T2组食物转化率均显著高于对照组;T3、T4组实际摄食水平均明显高于对照组,但表现为不能补偿生长。4个循环饥饿组幼鱼肝体比及脏体比均显著高于对照组。各组肌肉蛋白质和脂肪含量下降,同时水分和灰分含量上升;从饥饿2 d组开始,蛋白质和脂肪含量显著低于对照组,且蛋白质含量比脂肪含量下降幅度更大。     

Somatic and physiological responses to cyclic fasting and re‐feeding periods in sobaity sea bream (Sparidentex hasta,Valenciennes 1830)

Different fasting and re‐feeding cycles were tested in a 60‐day trial in sobaity sea bream (Sparidentex hasta) juveniles to evaluate their effects on growth, physiological and biochemical parameters. Fish were exposed in triplicate to the following feeding regimes: control (fed everyday); F‐RF₁₊₁ (1 day of starvation followed by 1 day of re‐feeding); F‐RF₂₊₂ (2 days of starvation followed by 2 days of re‐feeding); F‐RF₃₊₃ (3 days of starvation followed by 3 days of re‐feeding); F‐RF₆₊₆ (6 days of starvation followed by 6 days of re‐feeding); and F‐RF₁₊₂ (1 day of starvation followed by 2 days of re‐feeding). A reduction in body mass between 10.0% (F‐RF₁₊₁) and 24.3% (F‐RF₆₊₆) was found in comparison with the control group after 60 days. As the length of fasting increased, the compensation coefficients in feed intake and weight gain decreased. Body lipid content decreased as fasting cycles increased. Haemoglobin, plasma protein, lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase activities were the most reliable biomarkers for assessing the nutritional condition in sobaity sea bream. A feeding strategy based on 1 day of starvation followed by 2 days of re‐feeding (F‐RF₁₊₂ group) may be advisable for on‐growing sobaity sea bream without reduction in growth and alteration of their haematological and physiological parameters.     

Olive oil by-product as a natural antioxidant in gilthead sea bream (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sparus aurata</Emphasis>) nutrition

The aim of the study reported here was to evaluate the efficiency of a natural antioxidant substance in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) feeds. An olive oil by-product, olive mill vegetation water (VW), contains polyphenols, which have a strong antioxidant activity. A 147-day growth trial was conducted (monofactorial balanced, 4 × 3) with diet as the experimental factor. Two diets [isonitrogenous (crude protein 40%) and isoenergetic (gross energy = 18MJ kg⁻¹ on a dry weight basis] were formulated with 1 and 5% of VW (VW1, VW5); the control diet did not contain VW. A total of 600 juvenile gilthead sea breams (mean body weight 114.1 ± 5.7 g) were utilised. Production parameters and somatic indexes were calculated at the end of the growth trial. Antioxidant activity in fish fillets was investigated using TBARS and DPPH assays. A number of haematological parameters and digestive enzyme patterns were measured in fish in the middle and at the end of the experiment. The TBARS values showed slight delays in the development of oxidation in the fillet of fish fed with VW. There was no statistical difference between fish fed with the experimental diet and the control group, except for maltase activity, which increased with increasing VW in the feed. We found that the use of VW in a gilthead sea bream diet did not have any detrimental effects on gilthead sea bream production and physiological parameters and slightly improved the conservation of the fish fillets.     

Dietary supplementation with Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) from Bio‐Mos enhances growth parameters and digestive capacity of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Dietary mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) from commercial product, Bio‐Mos supplementation, has been examined for its effects on weight gain and feed conversion of domestic mammals and birds, but very few studies have evaluated the responses of aquacultural species to MOS. A feeding and digestibility trial was performed to asses the potential beneficial effect of two levels of Bio‐Mos on growth, feed utilization, survival rate and nutrients’ digestion of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) with an initial average weight of 170 g. Bio‐Mos was added at 2 or 4 g kg^?1 to a fish meal–based control diet, and each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 1‐year‐old gilthead sea bream. After 12 weeks, there were no differences in survival rate among fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). It was observed that a significant improvability existed for both growth and feed utilization in fish fed diets supplemented with Bio‐Mos (P < 0.05). Body proximate composition remained unaffected by Bio‐Mos supplementation in fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). Apparent digestibility values for protein, carbohydrate and energy were appreciably affected by the inclusion of two different levels of Bio‐Mos, only lipid digestibility was the exception. In conclusion, the results of this trial indicate that 2 g kg^?1 dietary supplementation with BIO‐MOS seem to be most positive for gilthead sea bream production.     

Compensatory Growth of Olive Flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus,Fed the Extruded Pellet with Different Feeding Regimes

This study was performed to determine compensatory growth of juvenile olive flounder fed the extruded pellet (EP) with different feeding regimes. Seven treatments with triplicates of different feeding regimes were prepared; α fish was daily fed for 6 d a week throughout 8 wk (8WF); α fish was starved for 1 wk and then fed for 3 wk twice [(1WS + 3WF) × 2]; β fish was starved for 2 wk and then fed for 6 wk (2WS + 6WF); χ fish was starved for 5 d and then fed for 9 d four times [(5DS + 9DF) × 4]; δ fish was starved for 10 d and then fed for 18 d twice [(10DS + 18DF) × 2]; δ fish was starved for 2 d, fed for 5 d, starved for 3 d, and then fed for 4 d four times [(2DS + 5DF + 3DS + 4DF) × 4]; and φ fish was starved for 4 d, fed for 10 d, starved for 6 d, and then fed for 8 d twice [(4DS + 10DF + 6DS + 8DF) × 2], respectively. Total feeding day was all same, 36 d except for control group (48 d). Weight gain of flounder in the 8WF treatment was higher than that of fish in other treatments. And weight gain of flounder in the 2WS + 6WF treatment was higher than that of fish in the (5DS + 9DF) × 4 and (4DS + 10DF + 6DS + 8DF) × 2 treatments. Feed consumption of flounder in the 8WF treatment was higher than that of fish experienced feed deprivation. Feed efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and protein retention (PR) were not significantly different among treatments. Chemical composition of the whole body of fish with and without liver, except for moisture content of liver, was not different among treatments. T₃ level of fish in the 8WF and 2WS + 6WF treatments was higher than that of fish in the (5DS + 9DF) × 4 treatment. It can be concluded that juvenile olive flounder achieved better compensatory growth at 6‐wk refeeding after 2‐wk feed deprivation compared with that of fish with different feeding regimes. And T₃ level of fish seemed to partially play an important role in achieving compensatory growth.     

Evaluation of micronized lupin seed meal as an alternative protein source in diets for gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. juveniles

A 12‐week growth trial was performed to evaluate the effect of lupin seed meal as a protein source in diets for gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) juveniles. Six experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and to contain 10%, 20% and 30% of raw lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) seed meal protein or 20% and 30% lupin (L. angustifolius) seed meal processed by infrared radiation (micronized) in place of fish meal protein, the only protein source of the control diet. Fish accepted all diets well and no significant differences in feed utilization among groups were noticed during the trial. Final weight of fish fed the experimental diets was identical or higher than the control group. Final weight of fish fed diets including 20% micronized lupin protein was even significantly higher than that of fish fed the fish meal‐based control diet. Moreover, at the same dietary lupin seed meal protein inclusion levels, final weight of fish fed diets including micronized lupin was significantly higher than with raw lupin. A trend was also noticed for a decrease of final weight with the increase in lupin seed meal in the diets. At the end of the trial no significant differences in proximate whole‐body composition, hepatosomatic and visceral indices were observed among groups. It is concluded that lupin seed meal can replace up to 30% fish meal protein in diets for gilthead sea bream juveniles with no negative effects on growth performance. Furthermore, micronization of lupin seeds improves its dietary value for gilthead sea bream juveniles. At the same dietary lupin inclusion levels, diets including micronized lupin seeds promote significantly higher growth rates than raw lupin seeds.     

Effects of dietary soybean oil concentration on growth, nutrient utilization and muscle fatty acid composition of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

A 309 days feeding experiment was carried out on gilthead sea bream fingerlings (initial weight 14.7±4.4 g) to evaluate effects of substitution of fish oil with soybean oil in diets on growth and sensory characteristics and muscle fatty acid composition. Duplicate groups of fish were hand fed with four isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets (46% protein, 14% lipid and 22 MJ kg⁻¹) in which 0%, 24%, 48% or 72% of the fish oil was replaced by soybean oil. Fish fed diet 72% reached a lower final weight (324 g) than fish fed diets 0%, 24% and 48% (349, 343 and 338 g respectively). Feed intake, protein efficiency ratio, body composition and economic profitability were not influenced by the amount of soybean oil in the diets, but muscle fatty acid composition differed with diets. Panellists observed significant sensory differences between fish fed diet 0% and diet 72%. These results verified the possibility of feeding sea bream until they reached commercial weight with a 48% dietary substitution of fish oil for soybean oil.     

Self-feeding activity patterns in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) and their reciprocal hybrids

This study was conducted to monitor feeding activity of gilthead sea bream (Sa) and red porgy (Pp) and to investigate the hereditary effects on feeding in their hybrids (female Sa×male Pp, female Pp×male Sa), obtained after artificial crosses. All fish groups were held in 500-l tanks under ambient temperature (15–25°C) and light conditions (daylength from 9 h 30 min to 14 h 48 min). Fish (initial body weight 100–165 g) were fed by means of self-feeders, which were connected to a computer, recording fish feeding activity for a year. Results showed that there was a 24-h periodicity in all fish types over the experiment. In their daily feeding patterns, both parental species were diurnal: red porgies had a stable daily pattern over the experiment, while gilthead sea bream shifted their activity from a general daylight fluctuation in warm periods to an afternoon peak in cold periods. The Sa×Pp hybrids showed intermediate feeding patterns compared to their parents in warm periods and a pattern that was similar to the red porgy in cold periods, while the Pp×Sa hybrids had rather unchangeable daily feeding patterns, which were not related to the parental ones. The proportion of night feed demands increased in cold periods independent of fish group. The relationship between temperature and feed intake was species-dependent. Finally, this study indicated that feeding expression in hybrids was related to the combination of the parental genome, supporting our hypothesis for a hereditary influence on feeding activity in fish.     

Effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides in early weaning diets on growth,survival, fatty acid composition and gut morphology of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata,L.) larvae

Early weaning of marine fish larvae with dry diets delays gut maturation and reduces growth rates. In juvenile and adult forms of several marine fish species, inclusion of dietary mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) improves gut integrity and functionality, but the effects of MOS inclusion in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L.) larval diets have not been addressed yet. Thus, this study assesses the effects of dietary MOS inclusion on survival, growth performance, gut morphology, feed acceptance and quality of gilthead sea bream larvae. For that purpose, 16 days post‐hatched gilthead sea bream larvae were fed four graded levels of MOS (Biomos^®, Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA) in weaning diets as follows: 0 g kg^?1 MOS, 0.5 g kg^?1 MOS, 1.5 g kg^?1 MOS and 2 g kg^?1MOS. Dietary MOS did not affect feed acceptance in gilthead sea bream larvae (P > 0.05). MOS supplementation was correlated in a dose‐dependent way with higher larval survival (P = 0.026). After 15 days of feeding, dietary MOS increased whole larvae (P < 0.01) arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Gilthead sea bream larvae fed 2 g kg^?1 MOS presented higher gut occupation with goblet cells after feeding compared with larvae fed the other dietary treatments. Overall, the results suggest that inclusion of MOS in early weaning diets for gilthead sea bream improves essential fatty acid utilization and may promote growth and final survival.     

饥饿对真鲷生长及生化组成的影响

在２０℃条件下,对真鲷进行了不同时间的饥饿处理后再投饵的恢复生长实验。饥饿１５ｄ的真鲷体重下降７．０５％,鱼体水分含量略有上升,蛋白质含量的比能值略有下降,脂肪含量和灰分含量没有明显改变。这表明真鲷在饥饿过程中主要消耗蛋白质作为身体的能量来源。分别给饥饿处理０（对照）、３、６、９、１２和１５ｄ的真鲷投饵,在饱足摄食的条件下生长２周。各饥饿处理组的鱼体生化组成及比能值均接近,并恢复到对照组水平。饥饿３、６ｄ处理组在恢复生长的特殊生长率、摄食率明显高于对照组,而食物转化率与对照组无显著差异;饥饿９、１２和１５ｄ处理组的特殊生长率和食物转化率均显著高于对照组,而摄食率与对照组无显著差异。结果表明真鲷幼鱼具有超补偿生长能力,短期饥饿的真鲷在恢复生长中通过显著提高摄食水平来达到补偿生长;而继续延长饥饿时间则通过显著提高食     

Effects of chronic confinement on physiological responses of juvenile gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata L., to acute handling

Understanding how gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata L., an important Mediterranean Sea species for aquaculture, respond physiologically to stressors commonly encountered in intensive rearing is important for effective production, as managing for stress is a major factor in maintaining healthy fish stocks. Our objective was to determine whether holding juvenile gilthead sea bream at a high density (HD), as a chronic stressor, would affect their physiological responses to a subsequent acute handling stressor. After acclimation at a low density (LD) of 6 kg m^?3 in 200‐L circular tanks containing 33–36 g L^?1 recirculating seawater at 19°C under a normal photoperiod, juvenile 37‐g gilthead sea bream were confined for 14 days at a HD of 26 kg m^?3 and then subjected to 30‐s aerial emersion in a dipnet. Plasma levels of cortisol, glucose, lactate, osmolality and chloride were determined in fish held in separate lots during LD (control) and HD confinement at 0, 1, 2, 7 and 14 days, and then after handling at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 h. Although plasma cortisol levels were similar in LD and HD fish groups after 14 d of confinement (15 and 23 ng mL^?1, respectively), the cortisol response in fish from the HD treatment at 1 and 2 h following acute handling (70 and 37 ng mL^?1, respectively) was only about half of that measured in the control group (139 and 102 ng mL^?1); plasma cortisol was similar in both groups by 4 and 8 h. In contrast, plasma glucose elevations in response to handling were higher at 4 and 8 h in the HD‐held fish (94 and 72 mg dL^?1, respectively) than in those from the LD treatment (59 and 51 mg dL^?1); glucose responses were similar in both groups at 1 and 2 h after handling and throughout confinement. Plasma lactate levels were higher in LD fish than in the HD group at the beginning of the experiment but were similar after 14 d confinement and responses to handling were similar (e.g. 33 and 35 mg dL^?1 at 1 h). Plasma osmolality showed increases during the first 2 h after acute handling but no differences were evident between the two density treatments at any time during confinement or posthandling. Plasma chloride levels did not change throughout the experiment. The reduced plasma cortisol response to acute handling likely resulted from negative feedback of mildly but chronically elevated circulating cortisol caused by the confinement stressor on the hypothalamic–pituitary–interrenal axis. While other post‐handling physiological changes also showed differences between treatment groups, the suppressed cortisol response in the HD‐held fish suggests a reduction in the gilthead sea bream's normal capacity to respond to an acute stressor.     

Effects of starvation on kidney melano-macrophage centre in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck and Schlegel)

We investigated the influence of nutritional conditions on histological changes in melano‐macrophage (MM) accumulation in the kidney caused by long‐term starvation. These data were used to determine nutritional indices for olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck and Schlegel). Experimental groups were established: control, fed and starved. All fish were fed daily with commercial feed at 1–3% of their total body weight for 2 weeks before the start of the experiment (initial control). The control group received feed at 1–3% of their total body weight and the fed group received feed ad libitum, while the starved group fasted throughout the experiment. Ten fish were removed from the initial control at the start of the experiment and each of the three groups every 4 weeks during the 12 weeks of the experiment to examine to investigate kidney MM accumulation. Kidney MMs with dark brown pigment were randomly distributed in the kidneys of starved fish, increasing rapidly after week 4, while deposition levels remained low throughout the experiment in the control and fed groups. These results suggest that catabolic tissue breakdown is a major factor contributing to the formation of pigments within MMs. These results suggest that the degree of MMs deposition in the kidney can be used as alternative indicators to identify starvation in wild and cultured olive flounder.     

Optimization of Feeding Rate for Hatchery-Produced Juvenile Gilthead Sea Bream Sparus aurata

Abstract.— A 61-d growth trial (five 11-d feeding periods) was conducted to determine the effects of feeding rate on growth, feed utilization, morphology, and body composition of the gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata . Gilthead sea bream juveniles with an average initial body weight of 3 g were fed a commercial diet (51% crude protein, 11% crude fat) at rates of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0% of their body weight (BW) per day in two equal meals. Water temperature was approximately 21.4 C throughout the experiment. Each ration was administered to triplicate groups of 60 fish, with ration readjusted every 11 d. Growth rate was measured as specific growth rate (SGR). Survival rate and coefficient of variation did not differ significantly among the groups fed different rates. Body weight, condition factor, and hepatosomatic and viscerosomat-ic indices displayed significant increases with increasing feeding rate from 0.5 to 3.0% BW/d. Fish fed 0.5% BW/d had significantly higher moisture and ash and lower protein contents than those fed at higher rates. Moisture and protein contents were not significantly different for fish fed at the highest feeding rates (2.0, 2.5, and 3.0% BW/d). Lipid contents increased significantly with increasing feeding rate from 0.5 to 3.0% BW/d. The SGR showed a curvilinear significant increase when the feeding rate was increased from 0.5 to 3.0% BW/d. Feed efficiency (FE) increased significantly to a maximum value with increasing feeding rate from 0.5 to 2.0% BW/d and decreased significantly with increasing feeding rate from 2.5 to 3.0% BW/d. Based on the data obtained, feeding rates of 2.3% and 0.6% BW/d are recommended as optimum and maintenance rations, respectively.     

The effect of demand feeding on swimming speed and feeding responses in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. and European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L. in sea cages

Abstract Using underwater cameras, data were collected on the feeding behaviour and swimming speeds of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. and European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L. in sea cages. Comparisons were made between the behaviours of fish fed on demand using interactive feedback systems and those of fish fed under the standard feeding practice of each farm (control). In all three species, swimming speeds were similar before feeding , but they were significantly higher in the control regimes during feeding. When fed on demand, sea bass had reduced swimming speed just before and during feeding compared with that observed during the non‐feeding periods. Higher proportions of feeding fish were observed in the control regime cages than in fish fed on demand for all three species, indicating a greater feeding intensity during meals in the control regimes. This was further supported by observations of an increase in the density of sea bass in the upper water in the control cages during feeding. The results suggest decreased levels of competition between the on demand‐fed fish during feeding, which might be hypothesized to lead to improved growth and production efficiency in aquaculture.     

Effect of high-level fish meal replacement by plant proteins in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) on growth and body/fillet quality traits

Juvenile gilthead sea bream (initial body weight ca. 100 g) were reared in an indoor flow through marine water system for 1 year. Fish were fed two isoenergetic [19.2 kJ g⁻¹ dry matter (DM)] and isoproteic (426 g kg⁻¹ DM) diets either based on fish meal (diet FM) or on a mixture of plant protein sources (diet PP), replacing 75% of fish meal protein. The growth trial was conducted in duplicate, two tanks for each dietary treatment. Growth performance and feed utilization were registered. Fillet quality parameters were evaluated and sensory analyses on cooked fillet were performed. Both groups had similar weight gain and specific growth rates. Feed intake was higher in sea bream fed diet FM (0.48 versus 0.44), while feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were significantly higher in sea bream fed PP (0.83 versus 0.77 and 2.0 versus 1.76, respectively). Sea bream fed diet FM had a lower hepatosomatic index (0.80 versus 0.87%), and a higher fillet yield (45.9 versus 44.9%). The fillet from sea bream fed diet FM had higher moisture (696 versus 682 g kg⁻¹), lower lipid levels (91 versus 100 g kg⁻¹) with higher levels of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), while the PP fed sea bream presented a higher level of PUFA n‐6. There were minor differences in muscle free amino acid levels between the two diet groups. As regards sensory evaluation of cooked fillet, the judges were unable to discriminate the two dietary groups of fish. Summarizing, the results demonstrate the possibility to use diets containing high levels (750 g kg⁻¹) of plant ingredients in gilthead sea bream without affecting growth performance and with minor effects on quality traits of commercial size sea bream.     

Maslinic acid and ration size enhanced hepatic protein‐turnover rates of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Maslinic acid (MA) is a natural triterpene that can be used as an additive in the diet of trout. We investigated the effects of feeding with MA and a fixed ration (10 g kg^?1 body weight) with respect to growth, protein‐turnover rates and nucleic‐acid concentration in the liver of gilthead sea bream grown under fish‐farm conditions. Five groups of 12 g of a mean body mass were fed for 210 days with diets containing 0 (control), 0.05 and 0.1 g of MA per kg of diet. Two groups were fed ad libitum (control AL and MA₁₀₀AL), and three with a fixed ration (control R, MA₅₀R and MA₁₀₀R). At the end of the experiment, higher body weights, liver weight, feed‐efficiency and PER were found in MA₁₀₀AL and MA₁₀₀R fish. Fractional and absolute protein‐synthesis rates in liver of MA₁₀₀R fish were higher than in the control, resulting in a higher absolute protein‐accumulation rate and tissue growth. Total DNA content in MA₁₀₀AL and MA₁₀₀R was higher than in control. Studies of light and electron microscopy corroborated these results. These findings indicate that MA added to the diet can stimulate growth, hepatic protein‐turnover rates and tissue hyperplasia in gilthead sea bream.