Diversification of shrimp products in the Japanese and US markets during the 1990s

Abstract

During the 1990s the major producers of farmed shrimp in the world included countries such as Thailand, Ecuador, Indonesia, China and India. These countries exported shrimp products in frozen form. The major importers were Japan, the United States and European Union countries. This study reports changes in the trend of exported shrimp products of 10 countries by using the ‘revealed comparative advantage’ method. The selected producers were 10 shrimp exporters to the Japanese and US markets. The results of the study showed that there was a gradual increase in the export quantity of shrimp‐exporting countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and China. These countries have developed processing technology with the advantage of low production costs, as well as abundant and inexpensive labour.     

Influence of decreasing water temperature and shortening of the light phase on macronutrient self-selection by rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and common carp Cyprinus carpio

SUMMARY: Macronutrient self-selection patterns in rainbow trout and common carp, which were maintained in groups, were examined when both water temperature and duration of light phase gradually decreased. Three semipurified macronutrient diets composed mainly of protein (casein and gelatin; crude protein (CP) = 65%), fat (pollock oil and soybean oil; crude fat (CF) = 38%), or digestible carbohydrate (dextrin and gelatinized starch; crude starch (CS) = 57%) were offered to five groups of trout (20 fish/group, 51 g/fish) and carp (15 fish/group, 36 g/fish) using three self-feeders. A standard diet (ST) containing the three macronutrients at an appropriate ratio (CP = 47%, CF = 14%, CS = 25%) was also offered to three groups each by a single self-feeder. After an initial 3 weeks of experiencing a long photoperiod (14 h light : 10 h dark cycle) and high water temperature (trout, 17°C; carp, 25°C), the light phase and temperature were gradually decreased in the following 3 weeks to 10 h light : 14 h dark, and 8°C for trout and 13°C for carp, and feeding was continued for a further 3 weeks under low temperature and short photoperiod conditions. Growth and protein utilization parameters between the ST diet self-fed groups and macronutrient diet self-selection groups were not different ( P > 0.05) for both trout and carp. Trout preferred the high-protein diet (HP) to the high-fat and the high-carbohydrate diets ( P < 0.05) regardless of the changes in water temperature and photoperiod. Carp also preferred the HP diet ( P < 0.01) under the high temperature and long photoperiod conditions; however, this preference gradually disappeared with lower temperatures and shorter photoperiods. These results suggest that the most appropriate macronutrient ratios in carp diets change with environmental conditions.     

Influence of dietary fat and carbohydrate levels on growth and body composition of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss under self-feeding conditions

SUMMARY: An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to examine the influence of fat and carbohydrate levels in a 40% protein level diet on growth and body composition of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss under self-feeding conditions. Five fish meal-based diets were prepared to include gelatinized potato starch at four levels (9, 18, 27, and 36%) and dextrin (34%). Dietary fat levels were isoenergetically reduced from 18 to 7% by the digestible carbohydrates. Each diet was fed to four replicate groups (28 g/fish, 20–23 fish/group) using self-feeders. Specific growth rate, percentage weight gain and percentage protein retention did not differ between the treatments. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratios were higher in the 18% starch (s18) and s27 diet groups, and decreased in higher fat or carbohydrate diet groups. Although gross energy intake (kJ/kg BW per day) decreased as the starch level increased, levels of digestible energy intake did not differ between the treatments. Fat levels in the carcass, viscera and liver decreased as dietary carbohydrate level increased. These results suggest that a 40% protein diet with either 15% fat and 18% starch or 11% fat and 27% starch is appropriate for juvenile rainbow trout under self-feeding conditions.     

Antioxidant Activity of Tocotrienol Rich Fraction Prevents Fenitrothion-induced Renal Damage in Rats

Fenitrothion (FNT) is an organophosphate compound widely used as pesticide in Malaysia. The present study aims to investigate effects of palm oil tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) on the renal damage of FNT-treated rats. A total of 40 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups randomly, the control, TRF, FNT and FNT+TRF groups. FNT (20 mg/kg b.w.) and TRF (200 mg/kg b.w.) were given orally for 28 days continuously. Rats from the FNT+TRF group were supplemented with TRF 30 minutes prior to administration of FNT. Rats were sacrificed after 28 days, and the kidneys were removed for determination of oxidative stress and histological analysis. Plasma was collected for determination of blood creatinine and urea level. Statistical analysis showed that palm oil TRF has a protective effect against renal oxidative damage induced by FNT. In the FNT+TRF group, malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels were significantly lower, while the glutathione level as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly higher compared with the FNT-treated group (p<0.05). As for renal function, there was a markedly lower urea level (p<0.05) in the FNT+TRF group compared with the FNT-treated group, but there was no significant difference in creatinine level. Besides, total protein also showed no significant difference for all groups of rats (p>0.05). Histological evaluation also revealed that the FNT+TRF group had less glomerulus and renal tubule damage than the FNT-treated group. In conclusion, palm oil TRF was able to reduce oxidative stress and renal damage in FNT-treated rats.     

No Modifying Effect of Antioxidant N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine on Fenofibrate-induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats

To clarify the modifying effect of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC), which has antioxidative ability, on hepatocarcinogenesis promoted by fenofibrate (FF), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha agonist , male F344/N rats were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) as an initiator followed by administration of a diet containing 3,000 ppm of FF for 16 weeks. Two-thirds partial hepatectomy was performed 1 week after the FF treatment. Additionally, NAC treatments for 14 weeks from 2 weeks after the FF treatment were performed. Although the expression level of tumor protein p53 (Tp53) mRNA decreased in the DEN+FF+NAC group as compared with that in the DEN+FF group, no significant differences between the DEN+FF and DEN+FF+NAC groups were observed in the number of hepatocellular altered foci and activities of hepatocellular proliferation. In addition, the results of an antioxidant enzyme assay and measurement of the amounts of total glutathione in the liver revealed no significant difference between the DEN+FF and DEN+FF+NAC groups; although no significant differences were observed in many genes between the DEN+FF and DEN+FF+NAC groups, only glutathione peroxidase 2 (Gpx2) mRNA increased in the DEN+FF+NAC group as compared with the DEN+FF group. The results under the present experimental conditions indicate no obvious modifying effect of NAC on liver tumor promotion by FF in rats.     

A new taper index based on form-factor: application to three bamboo species (Phyllostachys spp.)

European Journal of Forest Research - The form-factor for the stem surface area is directly proportional to the square root of the form-factor for the stem volume, i.e., the square root law of the...     

Effects of anionic salts supplementation on blood pH and mineral status, energy metabolism, reproduction and production in transition dairy cows

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a pre-partum diet with lower than recommended (DCAD = −82 mEq/kg of dietary DM) amounts of anionic salts on metabolism, health, reproductive performance and milk production in dairy cows. Sixty Holstein multiparous cows were enrolled 21 days prior to expected calving date. The animals were randomly assigned to receive one of two rations: 30 cows received anionic ration [−82 mEq (NA + K − Cl − S)/kg of DM] for 21 d to parturition and the other group (n = 30) were fed a usual dry period ration (+192 mEq/kg of DM). Serum samples obtained at days −21, +3 and +21 relative to calving were analyzed for β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, chloride, sodium, potassium, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Urine pH declined from 8.4 at 21 d before calving (pre-treatment) to 6.2 at day 7 pre-partum in the treatment group. Repeated-measure mixed model analysis indicated that the concentrations of Ca were significantly increased and creatinine, and AST were significantly decreased by lowering DCAD. The concentrations of BHBA, NEFA and glucose were not affected by treatment. The incidence of milk fever and culling were 5 and 11 times higher in the control group in comparison with the treatment group, respectively. The intervals from calving to first breeding and to pregnancy were not influenced by treatment. There was no group effect on average daily milk yield or fat percentage.