豆粕替代鱼粉对牛蛙生长、体组成、消化酶活力及肝脏生化指标的影响

为减少牛蛙饲料鱼粉使用量以降低养殖成本,研究了豆粕替代饲料中不同比例的鱼粉对牛蛙的生长性能、体组成、肠道消化酶活力和肝脏生化指标的影响。用豆粕分别替代0%、20%、40%、60%、80%和100%的鱼粉配制出6种等氮等能的实验饲料,每组饲料设3重复,养殖牛蛙60 d。结果显示,豆粕替代鱼粉对牛蛙摄食率、成活率、肝体指数、脏体指数、蛙体水分和灰分含量、蛙腿肌肉组成以及肝脏丙二醛含量的影响不显著;豆粕100%替代鱼粉显著降低牛蛙增重率、特定生长率、饲料系数、蛋白质效率、蛋白质累积率;随豆粕替代鱼粉比例的提高,牛蛙的肥满度和后腿指数呈下降趋势,替代100%鱼粉显著降低牛蛙肥满度,替代60%鱼粉显著降低牛蛙后腿指数;替代80%鱼粉显著降低牛蛙全体粗蛋白的含量;牛蛙全体粗脂肪含量随替代鱼粉比例的提高呈上升的趋势,替代100%鱼粉组粗脂肪含量最高;随着替代比例的提高,牛蛙肠道蛋白酶的活力显著降低,而肠道淀粉酶和脂肪酶活力显著提高。豆粕替代鱼粉显著影响肝脏超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活力,其中超氧化物歧化酶活力最低值出现在替代80%鱼粉组,过氧化氢酶活力最低值出现在替代100%鱼粉组。基于以上实验结果,建议牛蛙饲料中豆粕可替代鱼粉的比例为60%~80%。     

Effect of dietary protein level and source on digestive proteolytic enzyme activity in juvenile Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis Kaup 1850

The effect of dietary protein level and protein source on growth and proteolytic activity of juvenile Solea senegalensis was studied. In Experiment 1, fish were fed on four experimental diets containing increased protein levels (36, 46, 56 and 67%). In Experiment 2, Senegalese soles were fed on five diets with partial substitution of fish meal by soybean meal, soybean protein concentrate, soybean protein isolate, wheat gluten meal or pea protein concentrate. Results prove that growth and proteolytic activity in the distal intestine of fish were affected by the quantitative increase in dietary protein. The origin of protein source used in the elaboration of experimental diets affected both the amount and composition of the alkaline proteases secreted into the intestinal lumen; however, it did not decrease animal growth. Juvenile Senegalese sole showed capability to modulate digestive protease secretion when the concentration and/or source of dietary protein were modified. Quantity and quality of dietary protein affected protein hydrolysis in Senegalese sole intestine. This study establishes that 30% fish meal protein can be replaced by soybean derivatives without affecting intestinal proteases. Replacement with wheat gluten meal or pea protein concentrate should be taken cautiously, but further research is needed to establish whether growth performance and digestive enzyme physiology of Senegalese sole are affected by plant protein-supplemented diets in a long-term trial.     

Supplemental effect of bile salts to soybean meal-based diet on growth and feed utilization of rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>

A feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the supplemental effect of bile salts to a defatted soybean meal-based non-fish meal diet for rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. A fish meal-based diet (FM) and two non-fish meal diets with and without bovine bile salts (SC+B and SC, respectively) were fed to fish (13 g initial weight) for 10 weeks. Fish fed diet SC showed inferior growth and feed efficiency, while bile salt supplementation improved the parameters to the same levels as fish fed diet FM. Crude fat and starch digestibility of diet SC-fed fish decreased after the 10-week feeding trial compared to the data obtained with fish that had no experience of the diet. Total biliary bile salt content and intestinal maltase activity of fish fed diet SC were the lowest among treatments, while these parameters were improved by bile salt supplementation. Morphological changes occurred in the distal intestine and liver of the diet SC group, although the histological features of fish fed diet SC+B were similar to those of fish fed diet FM. These results suggest that bile salt supplementation to a soybean meal-based diet improves the nutrient utilization by normalizing digestive processes in rainbow trout.     

Using Bacillus subtilis E20‐fermented soybean meal as replacement for fish meal in the diet of orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides,Hamilton)

The potential of Bacillus subtilis E20‐fermented soybean meal (FSBM) as a partial alternative component of fish meal (FM) in fed diets of orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) was evaluated in this study. An FM‐based diet and seven diets containing 10%, 20% and 30% and 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of FM replaced by soybean meal (SBM) and FSBM, respectively, were fed to grouper for 84 days to evaluate possible substitution levels of FM by tracking growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and morphological changes in the liver and distal intestine. No significant differences in survival and muscle composition of grouper were found between controls and treatments. Growth performance and feed efficiency of fish fed diets with FM replaced by FSBM up to 30% were not significantly different from controls, whereas significantly decreased growth performance and feed efficiency occurred with diets containing >20% of SBM. Based on the feed efficiency, the maximum substituted levels of FM by SBM and FSBM in grouper diets were 18.36% and 29.32%, respectively, based on broken‐line analyses. Histopathological changes in the liver and distal intestine, and significantly lower activity levels of digestive enzymes, including pepsin in the stomach and trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase in the distal intestine, were found in fish fed a diet containing 30% of FM replaced by SBM. However, these parameters were improved by the substitution of FSBM. It is therefore believed that FSBM has great potential to be used as a protein source in grouper diets in partial replacement of FM.     

Effects of replacement of animal protein by soybean meal on growth and carcass composition in juvenile Australian freshwater crayfish

A feed trial was conducted for 59 days with juvenile Cherax destructor, mean weight (se) 0.61 (0.01) g, reared communally and maintained on 16 isoenergetic diets containing crude protein levels of 15, 20, 25, and 30%. For each protein level the fish meal component was replaced by soybean meal to produce diets in which 0, 20, 40, or 60% of the protein originated from soybean meal. Mean percentage weight gain per day ranged from 2.98% (15% protein, 60% soybean meal diet), to 11.75% (30% protein, 40% soybean meal diet). When soybean meal was included at a level of 40–60%, growth rate was reduced relative to that achieved with control diets at 15% and 20% protein levels. In no case did a 20% substitution significantly affect growth over that achieved with controls. A two-way interaction occurred between dietary protein and the level of dietary soybean meal. Feeds of higher protein content appeared to permit higher soybean meal inclusion levels without significantly affecting growth. Increases of 5% protein produced a significant improvement in growth when soybean meal contributed from 40–60% of the total protein. This effect was less pronounced in the control diets and the 20% soybean meal series. The percentages of protein increased and lipid decreased in the carcass as the level of dietary protein increased. A similar effect occurred by increasing the soybean meal substitution level to 60%. An obvious trend in carcass moisture, energy, and ash did not occur. A protein requirement of 30% is apparent when fish meal and soybean meal are included in diets at levels of 20% and 24% respectively. A maximum weight of 14.13 g was recorded for an individual fed the 30% protein, 20% soybean meal diet.     

Effects of butyrate glycerides supplementation in high soybean meal diet on growth performance,intestinal morphology and antioxidative status of juvenile black sea bream,Acanthopagrus schlegelii

This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded butyrate glyceride (BG) supplementation levels in high soybean meal diet on juvenile black sea bream. Three hundred and sixty fish were fed diets containing 199 g/kg fishmeal and 450 g/kg soybean meal, with increasing levels of BG at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 16 g/kg for eight weeks. The growth performance of the fish increased with increasing dietary BG supplementation up to 6 g BG/kg, beyond which growth rate reduced significantly (p < .05). Dietary BG supplementation increased the intestinal protease activity, but had no significant (p > .05) effect on lipase and amylase activities. Fish fed the basal diet exhibited villus shortening with a decrease in the number of goblet cells and a reduction in absorptive and digestive epithelial surface, while fish fed ≥4 g BG/kg diets showed a well‐integrated gut, with large absorptive and digestive epithelial surface. Dietary BG supplementation also improved antioxidative capacity by increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities while decreasing malondialdehyde content. The inclusion of BG in high soybean meal diets can improve growth performance, maintain healthy gut morphology and enhance antioxidative capacity of black sea bream.     

The effects of a dietary protease‐complex on performance,digestive and immune enzyme activity,and disease resistance of Litopenaeus vannamei fed high plant protein diets

The effects of a dietary protease‐complex on growth performance, body composition, digestive and immune enzyme activity of Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance to a pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus were assessed in a 9‐week trial. A high fish meal diet (HF) containing 200 g kg^?1 fish meal and a low fish meal diet (LF) containing 100 g kg^?1 fish meal were designed as a positive and negative control respectively. Three other diets (LF+125P, LF+150P, and LF+175P) were manufactured by supplementing graded level of a protease‐complex (125, 150 and 175 mg kg^?1, respectively) to the LF diet. All diets were formulated to be iso‐proteic and iso‐energetic. Most performance indices of shrimp fed the LF+175P diets were similar to the HF diet. Among the digestive enzymes, trypsin, lipase and amylase activity in hepatopancreas of shrimp fed LF+175P diets (4576 U mg^?1 protein and 16, 32 U g^?1 protein, respectively) were higher than those fed the LF diets but lower than the HF diets (P < 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase and polyphenol oxidase contents in both serum and hepatopancreas were higher and serum malondialdehyde content and the cumulative mortality during disease challenge tests were lower for the diets containing the protease‐complex than those fed the LF diets (P < 0.05) with no difference with those fed the HF diets.     

Influence of certain soybean antinutritional factors supplemented to a casein-based semipurified diet on intestinal and liver morphology in fingerling rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>

To investigate the cause of morphological changes occurring in the liver and intestine of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fed defatted soybean meal (SBM)-based non-fish meal diets, morphological observations were conducted on fish fed casein-based semipurified diets supplemented with soybean antinutritional factors (soya saponin, soya isoflavone, soya lectin, oligosaccharide, Ca-phytate and their mixture). Hepatocytes and the epithelial cells in the hepatic ducts were not atrophied in any of the treatments. Lack of microvilli and pinocytotic vacuoles, and fatty degeneration of the epithelial cells were observed in the distal intestine of fish fed diets containing soya saponin. The proliferation of connective tissue in the mucosal folds and submucosa was shown in the distal intestine of fish fed the diet containing all substances including lectin. These results suggest that both saponin and lectin are the responsible factors in SBM for the occurrence of morphological changes of the distal intestine in rainbow trout fed SBM-based diets.     

Supplemental effect of cholyltaurine and soybean lecithin to a soybean meal-based fish meal-free diet on hepatic and intestinal morphology of rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>

The supplemental effects of cholyltaurine and soybean lecithin to a defatted soybean meal (SBM)-based fish meal-free diet on the hepatic and intestinal morphology of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were investigated. A fish meal-based diet (FM), three fish meal-free diets supplemented either with soybean lecithin (SL), bovine gall powder (BG) or cholyltaurine (C-tau) and an unsupplemented fish meal-free diet (NFM), were given to fish (−11 g) for 10 weeks. The growth was the lowest in fish fed diet NFM, intermediate in fish fed diet SL and the highest in fish fed diet FM, BG and C-tau. Hepatocytes of fish fed diet NFM were atrophied, and the distal intestine of these fish showed abnormal features: disintegrated microvilli and fatty degeneration in epithelial cells and increased amount of connective tissue in the submucosa. Hepatic and intestinal histological features in fish fed diets SL, BG and C-tau were similar to those in fish fed diet FM. These results indicate that soybean lecithin, bovine bile salts and cholyltaurine have similar effects on normalizing the hepatic and intestinal morphologies of rainbow trout fed the SBM-based diet, although growth promotion effect was limited in the soybean lecithin.     

低鱼粉饲料中添加酶解豆粕对凡纳滨对虾生长性能和抗胁迫机能的影响

为研究在养殖过程中降低鱼粉用量的同时保持凡纳滨对虾良好的生长性能和抗逆能力,实验在含10%鱼粉的基础饲料中,分别添加酶解豆粕(PSM) 0%(A)、2.5%(B)、3.5%(C)、4.5%(D)、5.5%(E)制成5组等氮等能饲料,分别投喂初始体质量为(0.45±0.02) g的凡纳滨对虾幼虾8周,检测对虾生长性能及抗胁迫机能。结果显示,8周养殖实验结束后,各实验组对虾的终末体质量为14.65～15.38 g/尾,各组间对虾终末均重、成活率和饲料系数指标均无显著性差异;A组对虾肌肉粗蛋白质含量显著低于其他各实验组;C组、D组和E组对虾肌肉粗脂肪含量显著高于A组;各组间灰分和水分均无显著性差异;D组和E组对虾肝胰腺蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶、血清溶菌酶和血清总超氧化物歧化酶活性(T-SOD)均显著高于A组;A组对虾血清丙二醛(MDA)含量显著高于D组和E组。人工急性感染高剂量副溶血性弧菌的胁迫实验中,A组对虾在弧菌感染48和60 h时的累积死亡率均显著高于D组对虾同期的累积死亡率;低剂量副溶血性弧菌人工急性感染后,在凡纳滨对虾鳃组织中检测Toll受体、免疫缺陷(IMD)和溶菌酶3种免疫相关基因的表达量,结果显示,对虾Toll受体、IMD和溶菌酶mRNA表达量最大峰值分别出现在添加酶解豆粕的C组、B组和D组,峰值出现时刻分别为感染后24、42和24 h。研究表明,含10%鱼粉的饲料中添加0%～5.5%酶解豆粕对凡纳滨对虾的生长性能改善效果不显著,酶解豆粕会显著提高凡纳滨对虾肌肉粗蛋白质含量和粗脂肪含量;显著降低对虾血清丙二醛含量;同时也会显著改变凡纳滨对虾对弧菌的抵抗力及其免疫相关基因的时空表达,酶解豆粕添加量达到4.5%时可使养殖的凡纳滨对虾获得最佳的抗弧菌能力。     

The suitable dose of gamma irradiation on soybean meal as a fish meal substitute in diets for golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

A 5‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of gamma ray irradiation treatment on soybean meal as a fish meal substitute in diets for golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). A diet containing 32% fish meal served as a reference (C), and 75% of the fish meal was replaced by soybean meal that either received no gamma ray irradiation (R0) or was irradiated with gamma ray at a dose of 5 (R5), 10 (R10), 15 (R15), 30 (R30) or 60 (R60) kGy respectively. All the diets were formulated to contain 46% crude protein and 6.5% crude lipid. The weight gain was higher in fish fed diets R5, R10, R15 and R30 than in fish fed diet R0. The feed intake was higher in fish fed diets R15, R30 and R60 than in fish fed diets R0, R5 and R10. No significant differences were found in feed conversion ratio, nitrogen retention efficiency, condition factor, hepatosomatic index, body composition, waste outputs of nitrogen and phosphorus between fish fed the diets with non‐irradiated soybean meal or irradiated soybean meal as the fish meal substitute. Proteins with heavy molecular weight in soybean meal were degraded, whereas the contents of proteins with light molecular weight or peptides increased with the increase in the irradiation dose. This study reveals that gamma ray irradiation at a dose of 5 to 15 kGy can significantly improve the level of soybean meal inclusion as a fish meal substitute in diets for golden pompano.     

Effects of partial substitution of dietary fish meal by fermented soybean meal on growth performance,amino acid and biochemical parameters of juvenile black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing fish meal protein with fermented soybean meal (FSM) on the growth performance, feed utilization, amino acid profile, body composition, morphological parameters, activity of antioxidant and digestive enzymes of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) juvenile. Five isonitrogenic and isolipidic diets were prepared with levels of 0 (control), 80, 160, 240 and 320 g kg^?1 FSM. Triplicate groups (40 fish per tank) of juvenile black sea bream with initial weight of 1.17 ± 0.04 g were hand‐fed to visual satiation at three meals per day for 8 weeks. The fish fed diets containing different levels of FSM had no significant differences regarding survival and specific growth rate compared with control group. Feed and protein efficiency ratios of fish fed diet containing 320 g kg^?1 FSM were significantly lower than those of control group. Daily feed intake and daily protein intake of fish fed diet containing 240–320 g kg^?1 were significantly higher than those of control group. Hepatosomatic index and condition factor of fish were not affected by different dietary FSM level. Fish fed diets containing 240–320 g kg^?1 FSM had significantly higher visceral somatic index than control group. Whole body proximate and amino acid compositions of fish were not affected by dietary FSM level. The activity of digestive enzymes in the intestine was not affected by dietary FSM level. The activity of glutathione peroxidase in liver was significantly higher for fish fed the diet containing 160 g kg^?1 FSM compared with control group. This study showed that up to 40% fish meal in the diets of juvenile black sea bream could be replaced by fermented soybean meal with supplementation of methionine, lysine and taurine.     

Inhibition of protease activities in discus Symphysodon spp. by three plant meals

Based on biochemical assays and electrophoretical methods, the inhibitory effects of three plant meals (soybean meal, wheat meal, winged bean meal) on digestive alkaline proteases of discus were investigated. Casein assays revealed that increasing levels of soybean meal caused a linear inhibitory effect on activity of protease. SDS-PAGE images revealed that trypsin and chymotrypsin were the inhibited enzymes. Soybean showed the lowest inhibition rate followed by wheat meal and raw winged bean. There was a quadratic relationship between wheat meal levels and its inhibition of protease acitivity. The highest inhibitory effect was obtained with the winged bean meal with inhibition of caseinolytic activities ranging from 3.6–98.6%. Results from this study showed the potential of both soybean meal and wheat meal as ingredients for practical diet for discus, while demonstrating the need for further improvement in processing method for winged bean meal.     

Effects of fish oil replacement by vegetable oil blend on digestive enzymes and tissue histomorphology of European sea bass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dicentrarchus labrax</Emphasis>) juveniles

The impact of replacing circa 70 % fish oil (FO) by a vegetable oil (VO) blend (rapeseed, linseed, palm oils; 20:50:30) in diets for European sea bass juveniles (IBW 96 ± 0.8 g) was evaluated in terms of activities of digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase, trypsin and total alkaline proteases) in the anterior (AI) and posterior (PI) intestine and tissue morphology (pyloric caeca—PC, AI, PI, distal intestine—DI and liver). For that purpose, fish were fed the experimental diets for 36 days and then liver and intestine were sampled at 2, 6 and 24 h after the last meal. Alkaline protease characterization was also done in AI and PI at 6 h post-feeding. Dietary VO promoted higher alkaline phosphatase activity at 2 h post-feeding in the AI and at all sampling points in the PI. Total alkaline protease activity was higher at 6 h post-feeding in the PI of fish fed the FO diet. Identical number of bands was observed in zymograms of alkaline proteases of fish fed both diets. No alterations in the histomorphology of PC, AI, PI or DI were noticed in fish fed the VO diets, while in the liver a tendency towards increased hepatocyte vacuolization due to lipid accumulation was observed. Overall, and with the exception of a higher intestine alkaline phosphatase activity, 70 % FO replacement by a VO blend in diets for European sea bass resulted in no distinctive alterations on the postprandial pattern of digestive enzyme activities and intestine histomorphology.     

Effect of Dietary Gamma‐irradiated and Fermented Soybean Meal on the Growth Performance,Body Composition,and Digestive Enzymes Activity of Caspian Brown Trout,Salmo trutta caspius,Juvenile

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of gamma‐irradiated soybean meal (SBM) as a dietary ingredient on the performance, body composition, and digestive enzyme activity of Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta caspius, juveniles. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated, in which fish meal was replaced by untreated (untreated SBM), gamma‐ray irradiated at 15 (15ISBM) and 30 (30ISBM) kGy, fermented (FSBM), fermented 15 KGy irradiated soybean meal (FISBM), respectively. Juvenile fish (2.1 ± 0.3 g) were fed with the test diets for 6 wk. Final body weight was significantly affected by dietary SBM treatment with highest values in fish fed FISBM and FSBM (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in hepatosomatic and visceral indexes, condition factor, and survival among experimental groups (P > 0.05). The carcass proximate composition of lipid and protein in Caspian brown trout in FSBM and FISBM groups was higher than that of other groups. Levels of most whole‐body amino acids were not significantly different among Caspian brown trout fed the five diets. Results of this experiment showed that replacing SBM with FSBM and FISBM in the diet significantly increased the activities of proteolytic enzymes activities (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in both amylase and lipase activities among dietary treatments. Results of this study indicated that the level of gamma radiation used did not work but fermentation of SBM did increase some growth parameters of Caspian brown trout.     

Inclusion of blue mussel extract in diets based on fish and soybean meals for tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes

Inclusion of the water-soluble fraction of blue mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis as a feed additive was examined with tiger puffer Takifugu rupbripes. The control diet mainly consisted of fish meal, potato starch, and pollack liver oil. Experimental diets were formulated to replace 30% and 40% of the fish meal protein with defatted soybean meal (SBM), and were supplemented with 0–20% mussel extracts. Fish of 18 g initial body weight were fed each diet to satiation, twice daily, 6 days per week for 7 weeks at 20°C. Weight gain and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the diet containing SBM without the extract were significantly lower than those of the control at the 30% replacement level. Addition of 5% or 10% extract improved the growth and feed utilization to levels comparable to those of the control. At 40% substitution, statistically identical growth and feed performance to the control were obtained for diets supplemented with 10% or 20% extract; however, performance for 5% addition was significantly lower. Thus, the water-soluble fraction of blue mussels would be an effective feeding stimulant in aquaculture feed for tiger puffer that makes it possible to replace 30–40% of fish meal protein with SBM.     

In vitro assay of plant protease inhibitors from four different sources on digestive proteases of rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

The in vitro inhibitory effect of protease inhibitors from four seed extracts (soybean, grasspea, black gram and horse gram) on digestive proteases of rohu was assessed by enzyme inhibition assay and substrate sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. High proteolytic activity was detected in the intestinal extract of rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings at two different pH ranges (8–8.5 and 10–11). That protein digestion occurs mainly in the alkaline condition in this fish without a stomach is evident from very high trypsin activity (0.95±0.04 benzoyl‐dl ‐arginine‐p‐nitroanilide U mg protein⁻¹) in the intestine. In case of grass pea seed, more than 50% inhibition of alkaline protease activity was recorded when the ratio of inhibitor to enzyme was 9.41 μg U⁻¹. More than 40% inhibition of protease activity was recorded in case of horse gram seed when the ratio of inhibitor to enzyme was 5.51 μg U⁻¹. Black gram at 11.0 μg U⁻¹ and soybean seed proteins at 62.75 μg U⁻¹ resulted in 50% and more than 30% inhibition of digestive protease activity in rohu fingerlings respectively. A plot of the inhibition values obtained by changing the relative concentrations of enzyme/inhibitor resulted in different dose–response curves for different protein sources. The use of substrate gel electrophoresis allowed the visualization of the aforementioned differences in inhibition. Each seed extract produced a characteristic profile of protease inhibition. It is concluded that protease inhibitors present in plant protein sources adversely affect the digestive proteases in fish and hence there is a need to eliminate/reduce the amount of such inhibitors through proper processing before incorporation into aquafeeds.     

Evaluation of Low‐protein Alternative Diets for Pond‐raised Hybrid Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus × Ictalurus furcatus

A study was conducted to evaluate low‐protein traditional or alternative diets for pond‐raised hybrid catfish, Ictalurus punctatus × Ictalurus furcatus. Three 24% protein diets containing decreasing levels of soybean meal (30, 20, and 15%) and increasing levels of cottonseed meal and corn germ meal were compared with a 28% protein control diet. Hybrid catfish fingerlings (mean initial weight = 71 g/fish) were stocked into 20 earthen ponds (0.04 ha) at a density of 14,826 fish/ha with five ponds per dietary treatment. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation for a 191‐d growing season. There were no significant differences in total diet fed, net yield, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, or fillet proximate nutrient composition among dietary treatments (P ≥ 0.10). However, regression analysis showed for fish fed 24% protein diets there was a linear increase in FCR as soybean meal levels decreased (P = 0.06). Compared with fish fed the 28% protein control diet, fish fed 24% protein diets had lower carcass and fillet yield. Results demonstrate a 24% protein alternative diet containing 20% soybean meal may be substituted for 28% protein diets for hybrid catfish during food fish production.     

Evaluation of different protein sources in fingerling grey mullet <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mugil cephalus</Emphasis> practical diets

An eight-week experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of different protein sources (fish and haemoglobin meal, soybean meal and torula yeast), in practical diets, on growth, body composition and gut morphology of fingerling grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). Weight gain (%), SGR, FCR, N retention, PER, PGR, FDR and carcass composition of fish were not significantly affected by the dietary protein source. Fish fed the torula yeast based diet showed reduction in growth performance. Histological examinations performed on the alimentary tract of the fish showed a normal structural pattern in the experimental groups, as fundamental histological and histochemical aspects were similar if compared to the control group. The lower growth performance observed in fish fed a torula yeast based diet may be tentatively correlated with the presence of some detrimental morpho-functional aspects in the gut of these fish if compared to fish fed the other diets. Further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.     

Effect of Dietary Lipids on Macrophage Function,Stress Susceptibility and Disease Esistance in Atlantic Salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo salar</Emphasis>)

As the supply of marine fish oil is becoming a limiting factor in the production of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), new diets and alternative sources of energy are being tested. Plant oils are natural potential candidates to replace fish oil, but the different levels of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids may influence the health and growth of salmon. In this study, we have investigated the resistance to transport stress and bacterial infection, phagocytic activity in head kidney macrophages and eicosanoid metabolism in salmon fed three different diets. In high-energy fishmeal based diets, 50% and 100% of the supplementary fish oil (FO) was replaced with soybean oil (SO). The three dietary groups were fed for 950 day-degrees at 5 °C (27 weeks) and 12 °C (11 weeks) before challenging the fish with Aeromonas salmonicida, analyzing the lipid composition of head kidney and examining macrophage function in vivo and in vitro. Dietary fatty acids affected the lipid composition of the kidney. The level of eicosanoid precursor’s 20:4n-6 and 20:3n-6 were 3 and 7-fold higher in the 100% SO group compared with the FO group. The total fraction of n-3 lipids in kidney was 19% in the SO group, compared to 16% and 12% in the 50% or 100% SO groups, respectively. However, the production of leucotriene B₄ (LTB) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE) immunoreactive materiel from exogenously added arachidonic acid in head kidney macrophages was only affected by the composite diet (increased) at 5 °C. In addition, the phagocytic activity of kidney macrophages in vivo and in vitro was not affected by diet. No effect of diet was observed on transport stress or susceptibility to a bacterial infection with Aeromonas salmonicida. Atlantic salmon therefore seems to tolerate a diet solely based on soybean oil as lipid source, without any detrimental effects on growth, health and immune functions.