Effects of dietary phospholipid level in cobia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rachycentron canadum</Emphasis>) larvae: growth,survival, plasma lipids and enzymes of lipid metabolism

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary phospholipid (PL) levels in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) larvae with regard to growth, survival, plasma lipids and enzymes of lipid metabolism. Fish with an average weight of 0.4 g were fed diets containing four levels of PL (0, 20, 40 and 80 g kg⁻¹dry matter: purity 97%) for 42 days. Final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG) and survival ratio were highest in the 8% PL diet group and mortality was highest in PL-free diet group. We examined the activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) in liver, lecithin-cholesterolacyltransferase (LCAT) in plasma as well as plasma lipids and lipoprotein. LCAT activity showed a decrease of more than two-fold in PL-supplemented diet groups compared with the PL-free diet group. HL activity was highest in the 8% PL diet group and the other three groups showed no difference. LPL activity was significantly higher in the PL-supplemented diet groups than in the PL-free diet group. The dietary intervention significantly increased plasma phospholipids and total cholesterol (TC) levels, and the higher free cholesterol (FC) level contributed to the TC level. However, the fish fed PL exhibited a significantly decreased plasma triglyceride (TG) level. The lipoprotein fractions were also affected significantly by the PL. The PL-supplemented diet groups had significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared with the PL-free diet group, but showed a marked decrease in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). The results suggested that PL could modify plasma lipoprotein metabolism and lipid profile, and that the optimal dietary PL level may well exceed 80 g kg⁻¹ for cobia larvae according to growth and survival.     

Free amino acid distribution in plasma and liver of juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fed increased levels of lizardfish silage

Juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum) (100 g) were fed four moist diets (447–476 g kg^?1 dry wt) where 0, 130, 260 or 390 g kg^?1 of concentrated lizardfish (Saurida undosquamis) silage replaced fresh lizardfish, respectively. Blood and livers were sampled at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h postfeeding at the end of the 3‐week experiment. At 6 h postfeeding in all groups, maximum concentrations of most plasma essential amino acids were observed, while significantly lower levels of most non‐essential amino acid levels were recorded compared to the other sampled times. At 6 and 12 h after feeding, the concentration of most plasma free amino acid (FAA) increased with an increase in dietary fish silage levels. Most FAA in livers of all groups peaked at 12 and 24 h postfeeding. However, at 48 h postfeeding, concentrations of most plasma FAA were significantly higher in fish fed 0% silage‐based diet than in fish fed the other diets (4999 versus 3390–4339 nmol AA mL^?1 plasma). Growth rates and feed utilization were significantly lower in cobia fed 26% or 39% silage‐based diets than in fish fed 0% or 13% silage‐based diets. Different levels of silage protein thus seemed to have effects on growth and feed utilization efficiency of juvenile cobia. Results from this study support the premise that fish silage can be included until 130 g kg^?1 in cobia diets.     

Dietary ascorbic acid requirement of cobia,Rachycentron canadum Linneaus

A 10‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal requirement of cobia (Rachycentron canadum Linneaus) for dietary ascorbic acid (AA). Graded levels of L‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate (LAPP) were supplemented in basal diet to formulate six semi‐purified diets containing 2.70 (the control diet), 8.47, 28.3, 80.6, 241 and 733 mg AA equivalent kg^?1 diet, respectively. Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of fish in flow‐through plastic tanks (300 L), and each tank was stocked with 25 fish with average initial weight of 4.59 ± 0.36 g. Observed deficiency signs included poor growth, higher mortality and lower feeding rate (FR) in the fish of the control group. Fish fed the control diet had significantly lower weight gain (WG), lower feed efficiency ratio (FER) and lower tissue AA concentrations in fish liver and muscle. With the increase of dietary AA, the survival, WG, FER, hepatic and muscular AA concentrations of cobia significantly increased and then levelled off. The dietary AA requirement of cobia was estimated to be 44.7 mg kg^?1 based on WG, 53.9 mg kg^?1 or 104 mg kg^?1 based on either hepatic or muscular AA concentration, respectively.     

Interactive effects of dietary vitamin C and phospholipid in micro‐bound diet for growth,survival, and stress resistance of larval red sea bream,Pagrus major

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AsA) and phospholipid (PL) and their interaction on growth, survival, and stress resistance in red sea bream larvae. Twenty‐six days old red sea bream were fed nine micro‐bound diets supplemented three levels of AsA (0, 800 and 1600 mg kg^?1 diet) and PL (0, 20 and 40 g kg^?1 diet) for 15 days. Dietary AsA and PL were both significant factors on survival rates. There was also an interaction between dietary AsA and PL on survival rate (P < 0.05). The larvae fed 800 or 1600 mg kg^?1 AsA with 40 g kg^?1 PL diets showed the highest survival rate, with values similar to those of the live‐food supplemented group. Stress resistance against low salinity exposure significantly increased with increased dietary level of AsA and PL. However, significant interaction of AsA and PL was not detected. The larvae fed 1600 mg kg^?1 AsA with 40 g kg^?1 PL diet showed the highest stress resistance among all diets, but it was not significantly different than that of larvae fed 800 mg kg^?1 AsA with 40 g kg^?1 PL diet. This study clearly demonstrated that combined use of AsA and PL can improve survival of 26–40 days posthatching red sea bream larvae. Moreover, the present study suggested that 800 mg kg^?1 AsA with 40 g kg^?1 PL in diet was needed for producing high quality seedling under the stressful conditions.     

Growth,feed efficiency and body composition of juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum Linnaeus, 1766) fed increasing dietary levels of shrimp protein hydrolysate

A shrimp protein hydrolysate (SPH) containing 894.2 g kg⁻¹ crude protein (CP) and 54.3 g kg⁻¹ total lipids was tested as a partial replacement for fish meal (FM) in diets of juvenile cobia. The effects of increasing dietary levels of SPH on the survival, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE) and daily feed intake (DFI) of cobia with initial body weight of 11.9 g were evaluated. Four isoproteic (from 431.1 to 439.7 g kg⁻¹) and isoenergetic (20 825–21 347 MJ kg⁻¹) diets were formulated to contain 0 (Control), 120, 240 or 360 g kg⁻¹ of dietary CP derived from SPH. Survival, WG, SGR, FCR, NRE and DFI ranged from 90 to 100%, 40.2–56.5 g, 4.7–6.1% day⁻¹, 1.04–1.54, 26.3–44.0% and 4.7–6.0% fish⁻¹ day⁻¹ respectively. Survival and DFI were not affected by the dietary treatments. On the other hand, fish fed the control diet and the one containing 120 g kg⁻¹ SPH had higher WG, SGR and FCR. Nitrogen retention efficiency was significantly higher for fish fed diets 0 and 120. It is concluded that up to 120 g kg⁻¹ of SPH in cobia diets can be used with no significant effects on feed utilization and fish performance.     

Effects of different dietary protein and lipid levels on growth, feed utilization and body composition of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) fingerlings

Two feeding trials were conducted to determine the minimum dietary protein level producing maximum growth, and the optimum protein to energy ratio in diets for red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) fingerlings, respectively. In the first trial, six isoenergetic diets were formulated with protein levels ranging from 400 to 650 g kg^?1 in increments of 50 g kg^?1, and fed for 11 weeks to 2.8 g average initial weight fish. Weight gain, specific growth rate and feed efficiency were significantly higher with diets containing higher protein levels, when compared with dietary levels below 500 g kg^?1. The highest protein efficiency ratios were obtained in fish fed 500 g kg^?1 dietary protein. The minimum dietary protein level producing maximum fish growth was found to be 500 g kg^?1. In the second trial, 15 g average initial weight fish were fed for 12 weeks, six diets containing three different lipid levels (100, 150 and 200 g kg^?1) combined with two protein levels (450 and 500 g kg^?1). Weight gain values increased when dietary lipids increased from 100 to 150 g kg^?1, with a further decrease for 200 g kg^?1 lipids in diets; the lowest fish growth being supported by 200 g kg^?1 dietary lipids. Fish growth was significantly higher when dietary protein increased from 450 to 500 g kg^?1. There was no evidence of a protein‐sparing effect of dietary lipids. Liver protein and lipid contents were low when compared with other fish species. All diet assayed produced high liver glycogen accumulation. The recommended protein and lipid levels in diets for red porgy fingerlings were 500 and 150 g kg^?1, respectively.     

Effect of various levels of lipid exchanged with dextrin at different protein level in diet on growth and body composition of juvenile flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

A 3 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted to determine proper levels of dietary protein, lipid and dextrin for juvenile flounder. Nine experimental diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (410, 460 and 510 g kg^?1) and three lipid levels (60, 130 and 190 g kg^?1) with corresponding dextrin levels (250, 150 and 50 g kg^?1). Triplicate groups of fish (8.9 ± 0.4 g) were hand‐fed the diets to apparent satiation for 7 weeks in flow‐through system. Specific growth rate was the highest in fish fed the 510 g kg^?1 protein diet with 60 g kg^?1 lipid, and was not significantly different from that of fish fed 460 g kg^?1 protein diet with 60 g kg^?1 lipid. Feed efficiency ratio tended to increase as dietary protein level increased. The feed efficiency ratio of fish fed the 510 g kg^?1 protein diets with 60–190 g kg^?1 lipid levels was not significantly different from that of fish fed 460 g kg^?1 protein diet with 60 g kg^?1 lipid. Daily feed intake tended to decrease with increasing dietary lipid level at each protein level. Daily protein intake increased with increasing dietary protein level at 60 g kg^?1 lipid level. Hepatosomatic index and visceralsomatic index increased with increasing dietary lipid level at each protein level. The lipid contents of liver, viscera and whole body, and concentrations of plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride increased with increasing dietary lipid levels; however, no significant difference was observed in the contents of dorsal muscle lipid. The results of this study suggest that the diet containing 460–510 g kg^?1 protein with low lipid level (60 g kg^?1) is optimal for growth and efficient feed utilization of juvenile flounder.     

Effect of dietary protein and lipid levels and protein–energy ratio on growth indices, feed utilization and body composition of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man 1879) post larvae

A grow‐out experiment was designed to determine the effect of different dietary protein, lipid levels and protein–energy (P:E) ratio on growth performance and feed utilization of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii post larvae (PL) culture in pond net enclosures (hapa, 3.75 m^?3 each) for 12 weeks (84 days). The experimental treatments were assigned in triplicate. Six test diets were formulated to contain three different protein levels (300, 350 and 400 g kg^?1 diet) and two lipid levels (100 and 140 g kg^?1 diet) in a factorial manner (3 × 2) to provided six different dietary P:E ratio: 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 mg CP kJ^?1 g^?1). The result showed that the highest significant (P≤0.05) survival rate, growth indices and feed utilization were observed for M. rosenbergii PL fed a diet with a P:E ratio of 17 mg CP kJ^?1 g¹, whereas, the lowest value was recorded for prawns fed a diet with a P:E ratio of 20 mg CP kJ^?1 g^?1. Whole body contents of protein and lipid were highest (P≤0.05) when fed diets with 21 and 17 mg CP kJ^?1 g^?1 respectively. Concerning dietary protein levels, the highest (P≤0.05) values for survival and growth indices were observed for PL fed a diet containing 300 g kg^?1 diet protein. The same trend was observed for PL fed a diet with 100 g kg^?1 diet lipid level, irrespective of dietary protein levels. A diet containing 300 g kg^?1 protein and 100 g kg^?1 lipid with a dietary P:E ratio of 17 mg CP kJ g^?1 is recommended to stimulate growth performance and nutrients utilization efficiency of M. rosenbergii PL.     

Effects of dietary starches and the protein to energy ratio on growth and feed efficiency of juvenile cobia,Rachycentron canadum

Optimization of the protein to energy ratio in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum) would allow the production of diets that maximize growth without the addition of excess energy that may increase costs or even be detrimental to the health of the fish. During a 6‐week growth trial, juvenile cobia (5.6 ± 0.5 g fish^?1 initial weight) were fed five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets containing various protein to energy ratios using starch as the energy source. At the end of the trial, some fish were analysed for body composition characteristics while the rest were used to examine the excretion of dietary starch in the feces. Survival and growth were not significantly affected, but feed efficiency (ranging from 0.64 to 0.94) and daily consumption (ranging from 45.3 to 64.1 g kg^?1 of body weight d^?1) were affected. No reduction in consumption due to excess energy was noted. Analysis of the fecal carbohydrate data showed a linear relationship between dietary inclusion and excretion of carbohydrates with no sign of reaching saturation. Results of this study suggest that cobia can utilize dietary carbohydrates up to at least 340 g kg^?1 of dry diet with an optimal protein to energy ratio of approximately 34 mg protein kJ^?1metabolizable energy.     

Influence of dietary lipid/protein ratio on survival,growth, body indices and digestive lipase activity in Snakehead (Channa striatus,Bloch 1793) fry reared in re‐circulating water system

Nine isoenergetic (18.5 kJ g^?1) diets were formulated in a 3 × 3 factorial design to contain three protein levels (350, 400 and 450 g kg^?1) for each of three lipid levels (65, 90 and 115 g kg^?1), respectively, and fed twice daily for 8 weeks to fish of mean initial weight 3.34 ± 0.02 g reared in a re‐circulatory water system. Temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) were maintained within the range 28–30 °C, 5.6–6.8 and 4.82–6.65 mg L^?1 respectively throughout. Results show that fish survival was better in the groups fed 65 g kg^?1 lipid while growth performance (% weight gain, WG; specific growth rate, SGR) and nutrient utilization (feed conversion ratio, FCR; protein efficiency ratio, PER; protein intake, PI) in the 65/450 and 90/450 g kg^?1 treatments were similar and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in fish fed the other lipid/protein ratio combinations. The body indices monitored (Hepatosomatic index, HSI and viscerosomatic index, VSI) were similar among the treatments whereas intestinal lipase activity was not significantly (P < 0.05) affected by increase in dietary lipid and protein levels. Carcass composition showed that dietary protein level affected body protein content positively in the 65 and 90 g kg^?1 lipid treatments, but dietary lipid level did not affect body lipid content. A lipid/protein ratio of 65/450 g kg^?1 is considered adequate for good growth performance and survival of Channa striatus fry.     

Dietary manganese requirement for juvenile cobia,Rachycentron canadum L

A 10‐week feeding trial was conducted to estimate the optimum dietary manganese requirement for juvenile cobia, Rachycentron canadum L. The basal diet was formulated to contain 501 g kg^?1 crude protein from vitamin‐free casein, gelatin and fish protein concentrate. Manganese sulphate was added to the basal diet at 0 (control group), 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 mg Mn kg^?1 diet providing 5.98, 7.23, 16.05, 23.87, 28.87 and 41.29 mg Mn kg^?1 diet, respectively. Each diet was randomly fed to three replicate groups of cobia for 10 weeks, and each tank was stocked with 30 fish (initial weight, 6.27 ± 0.03 g). The manganese concentration in rearing water was monitored during the feeding period and was < 0.01 mg L^?1. Dietary manganese level significantly influenced survival ratio (SR), specific growth ratio (SGR), feed efficiency ratio (FER) and the manganese concentrations in the whole body, vertebra and liver of cobia. When the dietary manganese level rose from 5.98 mg kg^?1 to 23.87 mg kg^?1, the superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) activities in liver also increased (P < 0.05). But there was no significant change in SOD activities for the groups fed with diets containing manganese level higher than 23.87 mg kg^?1. On the basis of broken‐line regression of SGR, manganese concentration in whole body and vertebra the manganese requirements of juvenile cobia were 21.72 mg kg^?1, 22.38 mg kg^?1 and 24.93 mg kg^?1 diet in the form of manganese sulphate, respectively.     

Dietary selenium requirement for juvenile cobia,Rachycentron canadum L.

A 10‐week feeding trial was conducted to estimate the optimum dietary selenium (Se) requirement for juvenile cobia, Rachycentron canadum L. The basal diet was formulated to contain 50.6% crude protein from vitamin‐free casein, gelatin. A control diet (no added seleno‐dl ‐methionine) and five experimental diets containing 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80 and 1.00 mg seleno‐dl ‐methionine kg^?1 were prepared. Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of juvenile cobia with initial weight 6.27±0.03 g in a flow‐through system. The Se concentration in rearing water was monitored during the feeding period, and was not detectable. The dietary Se level significantly influenced the survival, specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency and the Se concentrations in the whole body and vertebra of cobia. The Se‐dependent glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.119) activity increased with an increase in the dietary Se levels (P<0.05). Hepatic glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) activity was the highest in fish fed the diet with 0.21 mg Se kg^?1, and declined with an increase in the dietary Se levels. Based on broke‐line regression of SGR, the Se concentration in the whole body and vertebra, the Se requirements of juvenile cobia were 0.788, 0.811 and 0.793 mg Se kg^?1 diet in the form of seleno‐dl ‐methionine respectively.     

The effects of oligofructose on growth performance,survival and autochthonous intestinal microbiota of beluga (Huso huso) juveniles

Preliminary experiments were undertaken to investigate the effects of oligofructose on beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) growth performance, survival and culturable autochthonous intestinal microbiota. Juveniles (20 g) were fed diets containing varying levels of oligofructose (10, 20 and 30 g kg^?1) at 2–3% body weight per day for 7 weeks. Compared to the control group, no significant (P > 0.05) effect on growth performance was observed in fish fed diets supplemented with oligofructose at 10 and 20 g kg^?1. However, compared to the 20 g kg^?1 group, feeding oligofructose at 30 g kg^?1 resulted in adverse effects on growth performance. Dietary supplementation of oligofructose at 20 g kg^?1 significantly increased survival rate. Microbiological assessment indicated that the viable culturable autochthonous levels were not affected by dietary oligofructose. Although lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were not a dominant component of the endogenous autochthonous microbiota, LAB levels were significantly elevated in fish fed 20 g kg^?1 dietary oligofructose. This elevated LAB population was able to persist for at least 1 week after reverting the prebiotic group back to a control diet. This study encourages further research on different aspects of oligofructose in sturgeon culture with clear emphasis on optimizing dosage levels.     

No significant effect of additive ratios of docosahexaenoic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid on the survival and growth of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) juvenile

An experiment was conducted in the laboratory to investigate the effects of additive ratios of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the growth and survival of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) juveniles from August to October 2005. Three hundred and eighty cobia juveniles (56 days of age, body weight 6.9 ± 0.1 g, body length 9.2 ± 0.1 cm) were selected and 20 of them were freely taken for initial sample analysis in the week 0. Additional 360 juveniles were randomly assigned into eight groups with triplicate, total 24 tanks with 15 fish each. Cobia juveniles were reared in glass‐steel tanks (200‐L volume per tank) using filtered seawater with temperature 26–30.5 °C, salinity 25.4–33.0 g L^?1 and pH 7.8–8.0. Cobia juveniles were fed for 8 weeks using seven treatment diets (D‐1 to D‐7) with the same amount of DHA and EPA (15.0 ± 1.2 g kg^?1 of dried diet), but varying ratios of DHA to EPA (0.9, 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, 2.1, respectively) and a control diet (D‐0, DHA + EPA = 8.0 g kg^?1 of dried diet, DHA/EPA = 1.3). Five juveniles per tank were randomly taken for sample analysis at the end of weeks 4 and 8, respectively. The highest protein efficiency rate (PER; 1.5 in mean), average body weight (BW; 73.3 g per fish in mean) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.6 in mean) were obtained in cobia juveniles fed the control diet at the end of week 8. These parameters were significantly different (P < 0.05) among juveniles fed the control and treatment diets; however, no significant difference (P > 0.05) was found among juveniles fed the treatment diets evaluated in this study. It was concluded that the survival and growth of cobia juveniles were not greatly influenced by additive ratios of DHA to EPA in our experimental conditions.     

Dietary vitamin E could improve growth performance,lipid peroxidation and non‐specific immune responses for juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to establish the dietary vitamin E requirement of juvenile cobia. The basal diet was supplemented with 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120 mg vitamin E kg^?1 as all‐rac‐α‐tocopheryl acetate. The results indicated that fish fed the diets supplemented vitamin E had significantly higher specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, feed efficiency and survival rate than those fed the basal diet. It was further observed that vitamin E concentrations in liver increased significantly when the dietary vitamin E level increased from 13.2 to 124 mg kg^?1. Fish fed the basal diet had significantly higher thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances concentrations in liver than those fed the diets supplemented vitamin E. Fish fed the diets supplemented with 45.7 and 61.2 mg kg^?1 vitamin E had significantly higher red blood cell and haemoglobin than those fed the basal diet, while fish fed the diets supplemented with 61.2 and 124 mg kg^?1 vitamin E had higher immunoglobulin concentration than those fish fed the basal diet. Lysozyme and superoxide dismutase were significantly influenced by the dietary vitamin E level. The dietary vitamin E requirement of juvenile cobia was established based on second‐order polynomial regression of weight gain and lysozyme to be 78 or 111 mg all‐rac‐α‐tocopheryl acetate kg^?1 diet, respectively.     

Effect of dietary phospholipid level on the development of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) larvae fed a compound diet

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of dietary phospholipid (PL) levels on survival and development of first feeding gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) larvae. Larvae were fed from day 4 to 23 posthatching with an isoproteic and isolipidic formulated diet with graded levels of PL from 90–150 g kg^?1 dry matter (DM). A dietary PL content of more than 90 g kg^?1 DM seems to be necessary for sustaining growth of first feeding sea bream larvae. The survival rates of larvae fed the formulated diets (31–40% at day 23) were similar to those generally observed in marine aquaculture hatcheries with live prey feeding sequence. However, this high survival rate was not associated with high growth and the larvae showed, at the end of the study, a high proportion of individuals with abnormal liver and calculi in the urinary bladder. It is concluded that although the diets used here cannot be used in total replacement of live preys, they constitute a solid starting point for further nutritional studies with first feeding gilthead sea bream larvae.     

Dietary protein requirement of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus) juveniles

A trial was undertaken to estimate the protein requirement of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus). Five fish meal‐based diets were formulated to contain graded levels of protein (from 60 to 490 g kg^?1). Each diet was assigned to triplicate groups of 25 fish with a mean individual body weight of 22 g. Fish fed the 60 g kg^?1 protein diet lost weight during the trial, while growth improved in the other groups as dietary protein level increased up to 270–370 g kg^?1. Feed efficiency improved as dietary protein level increased. Maximum protein efficiency ratio (PER) was observed with the 17% protein diet. N retention (NR) (% N intake) was not different among groups fed diets with 17% protein and above. Ammonia excretion (g kg^?1ABW day^?1) increased as dietary protein level increased, while no differences in urea excretion were noted. An exponential model was used to adjust specific growth rate and NR (g kg^?1 day^?1) to dietary protein level. Based on that model, dietary protein required for maximum retention was 330 g kg^?1, while for maximum growth it was 270 g kg^?1. On a wet weight basis, there were no differences in whole body composition of fish‐fed diets with 170 g kg^?1 protein and above, except for the protein content, which was lower in group fed the 170 g kg^?1 protein diet than the 490 g kg^?1 protein diet. Specific activities of hepatic amino acid catabolism enzymes (glutamate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) increased as dietary protein levels increased. There were no differences among groups in fatty acid synthetase and malyc enzyme but 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) was significantly lower in fish fed the 60 g kg^?1 protein diet than the 170 and 490 g kg^?1 protein diets.     

A multivariate approach to optimization of macronutrient composition in weaning diets for cod (Gadus morhua)

Atlantic cod, initial weight 0.26 g, were fed diets varying in added protein from 530 to 830 g kg^?1, lipid from 50 to 300 g kg^?1 and carbohydrate from 0 to 150 g kg^?1 of dry weight, according to a three‐component mixture design. Analysed values of protein and lipid were 500–770 g kg^?1 and 30–270 g kg^?1, respectively. Analysed carbohydrate levels were as added. Increasing levels of both lipid and carbohydrate had a positive effect on fish growth (P < 10^?3), whereas protein levels above 600 g kg^?1 gave a reduction in growth (P < 10^?4). The effects on growth were evident in fish less than 4 g, whereas fish growth between 4 and 6 g was unaffected by the dietary variation. It is hypothesized that the reduction in growth at high protein levels in fish of less than 4 g could be owing to incomplete utilization of protein, as the stomach of cod is not fully developed before the fish is approximately 1 g. Mortality and cannibalism were high in fish less than 4 g but low when the fish grew from 4 to 6 g. There was a significant decrease in cannibalism with increasing dietary lipid during the first half of the experiment (P < 0.05) and cannibalism was consistently high in fish fed less than 150 g kg^?1 lipid. The lipid level in whole fish increased with increasing dietary levels of lipid (P < 10^?6) and carbohydrate (P < 10^?4), whereas the liver lipid level increased with increasing dietary lipid up to 200 g kg^?1 (P < 10^?6) and decreased thereafter (P < 10^?4). Whole body glycogen increased slightly with increasing levels of dietary carbohydrate (P < 0.05) and was not affected by the other dietary variables. Liver glycogen increased in response to increasing dietary carbohydrate (P < 10^?5) and decreasing levels of dietary lipid (P < 10^?5). An abrupt increase in liver glycogen was seen with the reduction in dietary lipid from 100 to 50 g kg^?1. The hepatosomatic index increased in response to both dietary lipid and carbohydrate (P < 10^?6). It is concluded that the protein requirement of young cod is less than 500 g kg^?1 of dry diet. Fish of less than 4 g should not be given more than 620 g kg^?1 protein and should be supplemented with 150–200 g kg^?1 lipid. Carbohydrate up to 150 g kg^?1 of dry diet promoted growth and did not seem to affect the fish negatively. Fish above 4 g can be given diets varying in protein and carbohydrate over the wide range of concentrations used in the present study, but lipid supplementation should be restricted to between 100 and 200 g kg^?1.     

Effect of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth and feed utilization of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus) juveniles

In this study, two growth trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth and feed utilization of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus) juveniles. For the first trial, five diets were formulated to contain 120 g kg^?1 lipid and increasing levels of protein, ranging from 400 to 600 g kg^?1. Two additional diets were formulated with 400 and 600 g kg^?1 protein and 180 g kg^?1 lipids. The diets were fed to apparent visual satiety to duplicate groups of fish with a mean weight of 1.5 g for 10 weeks. For the second growth trial, four diets were formulated to contain 120 g kg^?1 lipid and 380–520 g kg^?1 protein. Two additional diets were formulated with 380 and 520 g kg^?1 protein and 180 g kg^?1 lipids. The diets were fed to apparent visual satiety to triplicate groups of fish with a mean weight of 41 g for 12 weeks. At the end of both trials, there were no growth differences among groups independent of the dietary protein content. In the first trial, growth was negatively correlated to dietary lipid levels. No significant differences of feed intake were detected among groups in both trials, but a direct correlation between feed efficiency and dietary protein level was observed. Protein efficiency ratio and nitrogen (N) retention (% N intake) significantly decreased with the increase of dietary protein levels. In both trials, energy retention (% energy intake) was highest in groups fed on diets with the highest protein‐to‐energy (P/E) ratio. At the end of both trials, no significant differences in whole‐body composition were observed among groups. Specific activity of enzymes involved in amino acid catabolism [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)] showed no significant differences with dietary protein level in both trials. Nevertheless, in the first trial, a significantly lower GDH activity was observed in fish fed with higher dietary lipid levels. No differences were found for specific activity of the lipogenic enzymes, fatty aid synthetase and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, in the second trial. Results of this study indicate that a diet with a protein level of 380–420 g kg^?1 and a P/E ratio of 20 g protein MJ^?1 satisfies the growth requirements of D. sargus juveniles. Also, within the range tested, no evidence of protein sparing by dietary lipids seems to occur.     

Effect of dietary lipid level on growth, feed utilization and body composition by juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of dietary lipid level on growth, feed efficiency and body chemical composition of juvenile grass carp. Seven isonitrogenous diets (400 g kg^?1 crude protein) containing seven dietary lipid level (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 g kg^?1 dry matter) were fed to triplicate groups of 40 fish with initial weight 6.52 g, for 70 days. No obvious and assured essential fatty acid deficiency symptom appeared in fish fed the lipid‐free diet. Excess dietary lipid level (100 and 120 g kg^?1) resulted in decreased feed intake. The best growth performance and feed utilization was observed in fish fed 20–40 g kg^?1 dietary lipid. The fish fed a lipid‐free diet had the lowest protein efficiency and protein retention. Growth performance and feed utilization increased with the increasing dietary lipid levels up to 40 g kg^?1 dietary lipid. Higher dietary level (above 40 g kg^?1) made growth performance and feed utilization decrease and no protein sparing effect was observed. Lipid retention decreased as dietary lipid level increased. Mesenteric fat index (MFI) increased, hepatosomatic index (HSI) decreased with dietary lipid level. The increased MFI and simultaneous decrease lipid retention can be explained by differences in growth. The effect of dietary lipid levels on the chemical composition of tissues was significant only for whole body and muscle. The excess lipid content of liver in all groups was regarded as a slight symptom of fatty liver, which was partly identified by microscopic structural study and lower plasma lipid indexes, comparing to the initial plasma data. In conclusion, grass carp is a fish with low energy requirement and excess dietary lipid level should be avoided.