Feed discrimination and selection in self-fed European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L.

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate feed discrimination and preference of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L., taking into account the effects of feed location, previous feeding experience and light conditions. Fish (63 g) were held in tanks and exposed to a 12L:12D photoperiod and ambient temperature. The following feeding practices were applied in triplicate: three‐choice feeding (self‐ feeding with feeds formulated for carnivorous, herbivorous and omnivorous fish rotated on a weekly basis) and monofeeding (self‐feeding with one of these feeds). After 9 weeks (phase I), fish previously held in monofeeding, were subjected to three‐choice feeding for 2 weeks (phase II). In phase I, fish discriminated between feeds after their rotational displacements and preferred the feed formulated for carnivorous species. This also supported the best growth. Fish used in phase II preferred the same feed. There was no preference for any location within tanks. Feeding was generally diurnal, although in some tests with the feeds for herbivores and omnivores, diurnal and nocturnal feed demands were similar and fewer in number than with the feed formulated for carnivores.     

Influence of dietary fat level and whole-body adiposity on voluntary energy intake by juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) under self-feeding conditions

The influence of dietary fat level and whole‐body adiposity on voluntary energy intake of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) was examined using self‐feeders. Groups of lean fish [crude fat (CF) = 7%] and fat fish (CF = 11%), pretreated with a commercial diet with or without supplemental pollock oil, were self‐fed one of three fat level diets (CF = 8%, 13.5% and 19%) for 48 days at 17 °C. Final body weight (BW) and total digestible energy (DE) intake (kJ per fish) were positively affected by the initial BW. Relative to the initial BW, however, fat fish consumed less DE than lean fish. Although the effect of dietary fat level was not significant, percentage weight gain and daily DE intake per BW (kJ kg^?1 BW day^?1) of fat fish were significantly lower than those of lean fish (ancova with initial BW as a covariate, P < 0.05). Energy digestibility, feed efficiency and protein retention were improved with the dietary fat level; however, there was no difference resulting from body fat level. The whole‐body fat levels at the end of the experiment increased with the dietary fat level. Between groups self‐fed the same diet, fat levels of the initially fat fish were still higher than those of the lean fish. The results of the present medium‐term study suggest that rainbow trout adjust DE intake from diets with fat levels ranging from 8% to 19%. Although body fat level affects neither energy digestibility nor protein utilization, a high body fat level may reduce DE intake and consequently depress growth.     

Influence of reward level on vertical distribution and growthof rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fed on demand with self-feeders

ABSTRACT:   The influence of reward level on vertical distribution and growthwas examined in rainbow trout fed on demand with self-feeders. Groupsof 15 trout with initial body weight of 140 g were maintainedat 14°C and feed access was restricted to a 12-h photophase.The trout received three reward levels with triplicates: 0.051 (low),0.089 (medium) and 0.267 g/kg fish/triggeractuation (high). Vertical distribution in the higher reward groupswas generally more even than that in the lower-reward groups, butthe behavioral characteristics of some individuals in a group couldplay an important role in determining vertical distribution. Moreover,no fish including the individuals responsible for trigger actuation,occupied the vicinity of a trigger. The small groups of 15 troutreceiving the medium-reward level obtained as much feed and grewas fast as the high-reward groups, but this was not the case forthe low-reward groups.     

Photic and circadian regulation of self-feeding activity in ayu

ABSTRACT:   The self-feeding rhythms of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis were examined. Individual ayu (mean body weight 40 g) were held in 60-L glass tanks equipped with self-feeders. Six of 14 fish learned self-feeding during the experiment. Under two different light–dark (LD) conditions (16 h:8 h and 8 h:16 h LD), self-feeding was synchronized to the LD cycle, and feeding occurred almost exclusively during the light phase. During exposure to constant light (LL), circadian feeding rhythms were observed. These results indicate self-feeding rhythms in ayu are restricted to the light phase under LD conditions and are controlled by the circadian clock under LL conditions.     

不同养殖模式肉羊供给反应行为差异研究——基于Dynamic Panel Nerlove模型

为了解不同养殖模式的肉羊供给反应差异及其背后的原因,以保障农牧民收入和我国羊肉的长期稳定供给,利用2012年1月—2016年12月养殖户层面的动态面板数据,建立相应Nerlove模型,对不同养殖模式下肉羊供给反应行为进行研究,结果表明:专业育肥户肉羊长短期供给弹性均高于自繁自育户;仔畜价格、饲草料折价以及政策环境因素对专业育肥户肉羊存栏规模的影响也均比自繁自育户显著。在剖析差异原因的基础上,提出应从提高专业育肥门槛、重点扶持优质能繁母羊、强化草业支撑保障能力、建立重大动物疫病监测预警体系、完善肉羊生产与价格监测预警体系等方面着手,保障我国肉羊产业健康发展。     

Effect of light intensity on self-feeding of rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis> reared individually

The self-feeding abilities of individually reared rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were investigated under four different light intensities (7×10⁻², 1×10°, 5×10¹, and 7×10² lx). There was no significant effect of light intensity on self-feeder learning ability and food wastage (which did not exceed 0.5%). However, there was high individual variability in the ability irrespective of light intensity. The total number of trigger actuations was significantly higher at 1×10° lx than at 7×10⁻² and 5×10¹ lx. Feeding patterns during the light phase of a day were classified as early or late in relation to the timing of significant peaks in fish feeding, or non-steady. The last pattern was defined when significant peaks were not observed. Under 7×10⁻², 1×10°, or 7×10² lx, a non-steady feeding pattern was the most common. Early feeding appeared only under the 1×10° lx regime with the random pattern, while the late pattern was observed under 7×10⁻², 5×10¹, and 7×10² lx. Under 5×10¹ lx regime half of the fish fed in the afternoon. These results suggest that light intensity can affect the timing of feeding judged from the frequency of pulling bite tags, but does not affect waste or learning period.     

Effect of different feeding strategies on gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) demand-feeding behaviour and nutritional utilization of the diet

We have studied the effects of time‐restricted food access and ration restriction on gilthead sea bream demand‐feeding behaviour and nutritional use of the diet (Sparus aurata), and also compared the nutritional efficiency of three different feeding systems: manual, automatic and modulated‐automatic. In the first trial, fish were allowed to feed from self‐feeders under three different conditions: ad libitum, ration restriction, and time‐restricted food access, and their demand‐feeding pattern, diet utilization and body composition were analysed. In the second trial, animals were fed by hand or using an automatic system, either fixed or modulated, and diet utilization and body composition were analysed as before. Restricting the amount of food modifies gilthead seabream self‐feeding behaviour, with fish increasing the number of demands provided these are rewarded with food. However, demand‐feeding activity does not increase if rewards are restricted to a certain time. Feeding gilthead sea bream by hand versus automatically, and distributing the daily food ration in two or three equal or unequal‐size daily meals, have no effect on the animals’ growth, nutritional use of the diet or body composition.