The effect of dietary protein source on growth and carcass composition in juvenile Australian freshwater crayfish

A feed trial was conducted for 12 weeks on juvenile Australian freshwater crayfish (Cherax destructor) (mean weight (SE) 0.82 (0.02)g) maintained on five isoenergetic diets with a protein content of 30%. Diets differed in the primary source of protein used, with meat, snail, soybean, yabby, and zooplankton meals comprising the major protein ingredient, varying from 56–60% of total protein. Mean percentage weight gain per day ranged from 7.57% (yabby meal diet), to 9.42% (snail meal diet). No significant difference occurred in mean weight, percentage weight gain, specific growth rate (%), or survival among diets. A maximum size of 16.44g was attained on the yabby meal diet. Largest mean weight was 8.27g on the snail-based diet. Food conversion ratios were all good, with a minimum value of 0.95 recorded for the snail-based diet. Initial food consumption per day was approximately 5% of mean animal weight, decreasing to around 2.4%, and is collectively described by a power curve. Protein retention ranged from 29.57% in the zooplankton meal diet to 41.15% in the snail-based diet. Carcass composition was influenced by feed type, with the most marked difference occurring in carapace colour. Animals fed the zooplankton-based pellets developed the strongest pigmentation. Recommendations are made for including certain protein-based ingredients in manufactured yabby diets.     

Electrical stunning followed by decapitation or chilling of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus): assessment of behavioural and neural parameters and product quality

The objective of this study was to assess neural and behavioural responses in farmed African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) upon electrical stunning in combination with decapitation or chilling. To assess the possibility of scaling up one or both experimental methods, two trials were performed in an experimental setting. The product quality of the collected samples was compared with the currently applied industrial method: live chilling. After electrical stunning in combination with decapitation, the fish showed spikes alternated with theta and delta waves on the EEG, followed by minimal brain activity after 20±10 s. The same traces on the EEGs were observed after electrical stunning in combination with chilling. Here, minimal brain activity occurred after 22±11 s. Within a confidence level of 95%, the percentage of African catfish that was effectively stunned after administration of an electrical current of 1.5 A dm⁻², 300 V (50 Hz a.c.), followed by decapitation or chilling was above 91%. The analysis yield and evolution of liquid loss showed significant (P<0.05) differences among the batches, which could be explained by the stunning method used. The course values of the pH in the different batches were significantly (P<0.05) dependent on the stunning method, sex and location (visceral or skin side). It is concluded that African catfish can be stunned effectively using electrical stunning in a water tank, followed by decapitation or chilling in ice. Dutch commercial processors prefer to combine electrical stunning with chilling in flake ice in a rotating tumbler, as the outer slime layer is then removed, which facilitates further processing.     

Yield, growth and mortality rate of the Thai river sprat, Clupeichthys aesarnensis, in Sirinthorn Reservoir, Thailand

The Thai river sprat, Clupeichthys aesarnensis Wongratana, is a clupeid with a short life span, and supports artisanal fisheries in a number of reservoirs in the Mekong Basin. The growth parameters, mortality rates and the status of the Thai river sprat in Sirinthorn Reservoir (28 800 ha), NE Thailand (15°N; 105°E), are presented. The fishery is based on lured lift‐nets, operated 7–14 days in the new moon period, September to April each year. It was shown that the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) model was L_t (mm) = 78.43[1 ? exp{?0.211[t ? (?0.7996)]}] and its growth conformed to an isometric pattern. Natural mortality rate (month^?1) was 0.13 month^?1. Total mortality rates ranged from 0.69 to 1.53 month^?1 depending on the weather and the fishing season. Recruitment was continuous throughout the year but peaked in June and July. The yield per recruit model indicated that the exploitation rate of this fishery is probably too high.     

Studies on fish heterosis with DNA fingerprinting

One Tilapia hybridization, Oreochromis aureus, (Steindachner) ♂ × Oreochromis niloticus, (Linnaeus) ♀, and two common carp, Cyprinus carpio, (Linnaeus) ♂, hybridizations, Russian mirror carp ♂ × Xingguo red carp ♀, and German mirror carp ♂ × Xingguo red carp ♀ were used to study the feasibility of predicting heterosis using genetic distance from DNA fingerprinting. The results indicated that highly polymorphic DNA fingerprints could be obtained with human minisatellite 33.6 as a probe on the studied varieties. The within‐population similarity indices of O. aureus, O. niloticus, Russian mirror carp, German mirror carp and Xingguo red carp were 0.785, 0.577, 0.432, 0.348 and 0.339 respectively. The similarity indices between F1 and their parents of three hybridization combinations were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There were larger genetic distances between two hybridization combinations, O. aureus♂ × O. niloticus♀ and Russian mirror carp ♂ × Xingguo red carp ♀, which showed heterosis in production and were extensively used in Chinese aquaculture. The genetic distance between O. aureus♂ and O. niloticus♀ was 0.338, and that between Russian mirror carp and Xingguo red carp was 0.344. However, the genetic distance between German mirror carp and Xingguo red carp was 0.129; this corresponded with the fact that their F1 generation did not show heterosis in the Chinese fish hybridization experiment. The study suggested that genetic distance could be used to predict fish heterosis.     

Population structure of the migratory fish Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes) from rio Grande basin (Brazil), an area fragmented by dams

• 1. Prochilodus lineatus (Prochilodontidae, Characiformes) is a migratory species of great economic importance both in fisheries and aquaculture that is found throughout the Jacuí, Paraíba do Sul, Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay river basins in South America. Earlier population studies of P. lineatus in the rio Grande basin (Paraná basin) indicated the existence of a single population; however, the range of this species has been fragmented by the construction of several dams. Such dams modified the environmental conditions and could have constrained the reproductive migration of P. lineatus, possibly leading to changes in the population genetic structure.
• 2. In order to evaluate how genetic diversity is allocated in the rio Grande basin, 141 specimens of P. lineatus from eight collection sites were analysed using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) with 15 restriction enzymes.
• 3. Forty‐six haplotypes were detected, and 70% of them are restricted. The mean genetic variability indexes (h = 0.7721 and π = 1.6%) were similar to those found in natural populations with a large effective size. Fst and Exact Test values indicated a lack of structuring among the samples, and the model of isolation by distance was tested and rejected.
• 4. The haplotype network indicated that this population of P. lineatus has been maintained as a single variable stock with some differences in the genetic composition (haplotypes) between samples. Indications of population expansion were detected, and this finding was supported by neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses.
• 5. The present study focused on regions between dams to serve as a parameter for further evaluations of genetic variability and the putative impact of dams and repopulation programmes in natural populations of P. lineatus. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

草鱼出血病细胞培养灭活疫苗的研究——疫苗株的免疫原性及其有效免疫剂量的比较

本文比较了疫苗株FR—854和FR—836—w的免疫原性,及其对三寸左右草鱼种的有效免疫剂量。疫苗株FR—854和FR—836—w均有较强的免疫原性,其保护力可达70％以上。但试验结果初步证明,FR—854疫苗比FR—836—w疫苗免疫原性更强。经统计分析,FR—854疫苗的免疫保护力可达88.9±12.0(6)％,血清中和抗体效价为160.5±58.9(6);而FR-838-W疫苗分别只有71.3±14.2(6)％、88.3±26.2(6);二者有显著的差异(0.05>P>0.01)。注射免疫三寸左右的草鱼种,FR—854的免疫剂量在3—5×10~(4.5)TCID_(50)/尾左右,FR—836—w在3—5×10~(7.5)TCID_(50)/尾左右,其免疫保护力可达80％左右,同时我们测得ER—854的半数免疫量为10~(5.1)TCID_(50)/ml。     

海水工厂化养鱼水处理系统工程的研究——工艺流程、综合气浮、接触氧化池

对海水工厂化养殖牙鲆、大菱鲆的循环水处理系统工程进行了研究，对循环水系统各环节的设备性能及水质指标进行了测试和研究，确定了工艺流程及系统设施设备，对水处理系统各单元分别进行了设计计算。为我国海水工厂化养殖走向产业化打下了良好的基础。     

Influence of alkaline metal ions on flame retardancy and thermal degradation of cellulose fibers

Cellulose-Na and cellulose-K fibers are obtained by alkalization and etherification of viscose fiber. Flame retardancy and thermal degradation of cellulose-Na and cellulose-K fibers are investigated using limiting oxygen index (LOI), cone calorimetry (CONE), thermal gravimetry (TG), and differential TG (DTG). The LOI values of cellulose-Na and cellulose-K fibers are 33 and 30, compared with about 20 for viscose fiber. In CONE studies, cellulose-Na and cellulose-K fibers show much lower heat release rates, total heat release and effective heats of combustion than viscose fiber does. In addition, TG and DTG studies reveal that the second initial degradation temperature, the temperature of maximum degradation rate and the maximum degradation rate for cellulose-Na and cellulose-K fibers are much lower than those of viscose fiber. Cellulose-Na and cellulose-K fibers generate much more residue or carbonaceous char than viscose fiber does. Scanning electron microscopy studies of combustion residues after LOI testing indicate that cellulose-Na and cellulose-K fibers produce massive, thick residue crusts.     

Meeting demands for increased cereal production in China

Meeting demands for increased cereal production in China is a great challenge and this paper provides updated information on cereal production and the potential adaptation of cropping systems to climate change, as well as on progress in improving yield potential and developing molecular markers and GM cereals in China. Maize production and soybean imports are increasing significantly to meet the strong demand for feed by a rapidly growing livestock industry. Extension of the rice and maize growing seasons in northeastern China and improvement of the cropping system through delayed wheat planting have contributed to improving cereal productivity despite changing climatic conditions. Significant improvements in yield potential of rice, maize, and wheat have been achieved. Comparative genomics has been successfully used to develop and validate functional markers for processing quality traits in wheat, and also for developing new varieties. Although transgenic Bt rice and maize, and maize expressing phytase have been developed, their commercialization has not been officially permitted. International collaboration has contributed significantly to cereal production by providing germplasm and improved crop management practices. Full integration of applied molecular technologies into conventional breeding programs and promotion of lower-input technologies, will play a key role in increasing and sustaining future cereal production.