Estimation of dietary vitamin A requirement of juvenile soft‐shelled turtle,Pelodiscus sinensis |
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Authors: | L.‐P. Chen C.‐H. Huang |
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Affiliation: | Department of Aquatic Biosciences, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan |
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Abstract: | A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the dietary vitamin A requirement of the soft‐shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis. Turtles with an approximate body weight of 6.8 g were fed diets containing 0–4.58 mg kg?1 (15 251 IU) vitamin A (retinyl acetate) for 8 weeks. Turtles fed diets without vitamin A showed the lowest growth performance. The animals gradually gained weight when dietary vitamin A increased from 0 to 3.6 mg kg?1. Liver vitamin A gradually increased with supplementation of dietary vitamin A of up to 2.7 mg kg?1. Beyond this concentration, the vitamin A in the liver significantly increased. Data analysis using a polynomial regression or exponential model showed that the estimated dietary vitamin A requirement for juvenile soft‐shelled turtles based on weight gain, red blood cell count and liver vitamin A measurements was 3.48, 2.84 and 2.58 mg kg?1, respectively. |
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Keywords: |
Pelodiscus sinensis
retinol retinyl acetate soft‐shelled turtle vitamin A requirement |
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