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Experimental Diets (experimental + diet)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Earth and Environmental Science	76%
Life Sciences	15%
Chemistry	5%

Selected Abstracts

Growth and Survival of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Fry Fed Diets with 36 or 45% Total Protein and All Plant or Animal Protein Sources

JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 1 2010
Todd D. Sink
The basic nutrient requirements for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, are well known, with anecdotal evidence suggesting that catfish fry grow faster and have better survival when fed an animal protein diet. However, the ability to grow channel catfish as small as 11 g on all plant diets and a lack of published data showing the superiority of fish or animal proteins compared to nutritionally equivalent plant proteins for catfish fry indicates that it may be possible to raise channel catfish fry on diets with only plant protein sources. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to compare the effects of 36 and 45% animal protein diets and 36 and 45% all plant protein diets on catfish fry growth and survival. Experimental diets were formulated to contain: 36% all plant protein (primarily from soybean meal); 36% animal and plant protein (,45% of crude protein as fish meal); 45% all plant protein (primarily from soy protein concentrate and soybean meal); and 45% animal and plant protein (,60% of crude protein as fish meal). The catfish were fed at a rate of 20% of body weight daily for 28 d using 24-h automated feeders. Mean ending weights and lengths of catfish fry were not significantly different (P > 0.05) for any treatment. Mean mortality was also not significantly different (P > 0.05) among diets. Regression analysis of growth rate and analysis of variance of final weights revealed that there was no significant difference in growth rate for any of the four diets. These results indicate that growth is not limited in channel catfish fry fed all plant protein diets, and that there is no apparent advantage to the inclusion of animal protein in diets for channel catfish fry. [source]

Effects of supplementing bioactive compounds to a formulated diet on sensory compounds and growth of shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 10 2010
Zhi Yong Ju
Abstract Experimental diets were processed at the Oceanic Institute by adding various bioactive compounds (lutein, fucoxanthin, astaxanthins (Ax), glucosamine, carotenoid mix, phytosterol mix, bromophenol (Bp) mix or their combination) to a formulated (control) diet to examine their effects on sensory composition and growth of shrimp. These diets and a commercial feed were fed to ,1.6 g shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in four replicates in an indoor laboratory under flow-through conditions for 8 weeks. Results indicated that all the supplementations of the bioactive compounds did not improve shrimp growth (0.79,0.97 g week,1) compared with that (0.94 g week,1) of the control diet (P>0.05). However, inclusion of lutein (200 mg kg,1) or carotenoid mix (827 mg kg,1) in the control diet (with supplemental Ax) resulted in much higher free Ax (48.3 or 46.5 mg kg,1) and esterified Ax (6.2 or 3.9 mg kg,1) content in shrimp tails than the control diet (28.4; 1.4 mg kg,1 respectively) (P<0.05). Inclusion of Bp (2 mg kg,1) in the control diet resulted in higher levels of Bp (160 ,g kg,1) in shrimp tail muscle than the control diet (81 ,g kg,1) (P<0.05). Three free amino acids, glycine, proline and alanine might be mainly responsible for the sweet taste of L. vannamei. The results suggest that the supplementation of the bioactive compounds may not affect shrimp growth performance, but some may affect the composition and taste of shrimp. [source]

Short-term dietary supplementation with the microalga Parietochloris incisa enhances stress resistance in guppies Poecilia reticulata

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010
Anurag Dagar
Abstract Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of dietary enrichments with the microalga Parietochloris incisa, rich in arachidonic acid (ARA), on stress resistance in guppies Poecilia reticulata. The microalga was added to commercial diets as a neutral lipid (NL) extract and its fractions or as broken cells. Experimental diets were applied for a period of 14 days. In trial 1, commercial diets were supplemented with NL (containing 25 mg ARA and 0.11 mg ,-carotene g,1 feed), its triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction (containing 25 mg ARA g,1 feed and no ,-carotene) and the ,-carotene fraction (containing 0.11 mg carotenoid g,1 feed and minute amounts of ARA). Neutral lipid-fed fish demonstrated the highest resistance (P<0.05) to osmotic stress (32-ppt NaCl), followed by fish fed with diets supplemented with TAG and ,-carotene alone, which were more resistant than control (P<0.05). In trial 2, fish fed diets supplemented with higher levels of broken alga (26.1 mg ARA g,1 feed) were more resistant (P<0.05) to stress as compared with fish fed lower ARA (16.3 mg g g,1) or an unsupplemented control diet. We suggest a dietary supplementation with broken P. incisa cells to enhance stress resistance in guppies before a stressful event. [source]

Growth and carcass composition of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man), fed different isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 13 2007
Akhil Gupta
Abstract A feeding experiment was conducted for 135 days to observe the effect of different isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isocaloric (385 kcal) diets on the growth and carcass composition of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man 1879). Three experimental diets (ED1, ED2 and ED3) were prepared using locally available ingredients. These diets differed mainly in terms of percent contribution of major protein sources such as fish meal, soybean meal, groundnut oil cake and mustard oil cake. Experimental diets were evaluated against a commercial diet, which served as the control (CD). Juveniles 1.87,2.44 g in size were stocked at a population density of 40 000 ha,1 and fed thrice daily at 10% in the beginning and reducing gradually to 7% and 5% of the body weight during the experimental period. No significant differences (P>0.05) in the growth performance were observed; however, a significantly (P<0.05) higher yield (721.9 kg ha,1 135 days,1) was recorded for prawn fed with control diet, followed by experimental diet 2 (676.5 kg ha,1 135 days,1, having soybean meal as a major protein source). The survival ranged between 63.8% and 77.7%, with different diets showing significantly higher survival. The apparent feed conversion ratio values of diets ranged between 3.15 and 3.49, with experimental and control diets showing non-significantly lower AFCR values. At the end of the experiment, representative specimens from each treatment were collected and their carcass composition was measured. Analysis of variance showed that carcass protein and total carbohydrate contents were significantly (P<0.05) higher in prawns fed on a fish,soybean meal-based diet (ED3) and a control diet. The total lipid contents of prawns, however, did not differ significantly among the various dietary treatments. The results of our study suggest that the experimental diets could be used effectively for M. rosenbergii without compromising growth and flesh quality. [source]

Effect of dietary probiotic Biogen® supplementation as a growth promoter on growth performance and feed utilization of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 14 2006
E R EL-Haroun
Abstract Probiotic microbial feed supplements are gaining wide acceptance in livestock production, and may be applicable to aquaculture production systems. The present study was conducted to examine probiotic treatment in the fingerling diet of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.). A total of 240 of Nile tilapia fingerlings (weight ranged from 22.96 to 26.40 g) were divided into five experimental groups. The experiment was conducted for 120 days. Experimental diets were identical in all, except for the variation in probiotic levels. A probiotic (Biogen®) was used at 0% (diet 1), 0.5% (diet 2), 1.5% (diet 3), 2.0% (diet 4) and 2.5% (diet 5) inclusion rates in the experimental diets. The growth performance and nutrient utilization of Nile tilapia including weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value and energy retention were significantly (P,0.01) higher in the treatment receiving probiotic (Biogen®) than the control diet. No differences were observed for moisture, ash and protein content (P,0.01) among the experimental diets. The lowest gross energy and lipid contents were recorded for fish fed the diet containing 0.5% Biogen® (P,0.01). The production performance and subsequent cost,benefit analyses clearly indicated that the diets containing probiotic biogen recorded the highest net return and the lowest total cost compared with the control diet. [source]

Use of the oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus, as a prey organism for toxicant exposure of fish through the diet

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2006
David R. Mount
Abstract The oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus, has several characteristics that make it desirable as a prey organism for conducting dietary exposure studies with fish. We conducted 21- and 30-d experiments with young fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), respectively, to determine whether a diet consisting solely of L. variegatus would support normal growth and to compare performance with standard diets (Artemia nauplii, frozen brine shrimp, or trout chow). All diets were readily accepted, and fish survived and grew well. Food conversion in both fathead minnows and rainbow trout was as high as or higher for the oligochaete diet compared with others, although this comparison is influenced by differences in ration, ingestion rate, or both. The oligochaete diet had gross nutritional analysis similar to the other diets, and meets fish nutrition guidelines for protein and essential amino acids. Methodologies and practical considerations for successfully using oligochaetes as an experimental diet are discussed. Considering their ready acceptance by fish, their apparent nutritional sufficiency, the ease of culturing large numbers, and the ease with which they can be loaded with exogenous chemicals, we believe that L. variegatus represents an excellent choice of exposure vector for exposing fish to toxicants via the diet. [source]

Veligers of an introduced bivalve, Limnoperna fortunei, are a new food resource that enhances growth of larval fish in the Paraná River (South America)

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010
ESTEBAN M. PAOLUCCI
Summary 1.,Larvae of ,sábalo', Prochilodus lineatus, whose adults represent over 60% of overall fish biomass in the Río de la Plata Catchment, have been observed to feed intensively on veligers of the exotic bivalve Limnoperna fortunei. 2.,To assess the effects of this dietary shift on the growth of P. lineatus, 28-day laboratory experiments were carried out feeding newly hatched P. lineatus larvae with three diets: zooplankton artificially enriched with L. fortunei veligers; natural zooplankton; and zooplankton artificially enriched with cladocerans and copepods. The average length, weight and gut contents of the fish larvae were assessed weekly and metabolic rates of fish larvae were measured. 3.,Proportions of veligers in gut contents were always higher than those in the experimental diet: 100, 76 and 21% for veliger-enriched, natural and low-veliger diets, respectively. Larvae fed a veliger-enriched diet grew to a significantly larger size than larvae fed the other two diets. In energetic balance comparisons using metabolic rates and prey energy content, all three diets were sufficient to support metabolism and growth. The greatest values of excess energy at the end of each week were in the veliger-enriched experiments. 4.,Feeding on veligers of L. fortunei significantly enhances the growth of P. lineatus larvae and supports the idea that this new and abundant resource is selectively preyed upon by P. lineatus during its larval stage. Higher growth rates may stem from the higher energy contents of veligers compared to crustaceans and/or from the lower energy costs of capturing slower prey. [source]

Dietary vitamin A requirement of juvenile Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii)

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
H. Wen
Summary The present experiment was conducted to determine the dietary vitamin A requirement of juvenile Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii) by formulating seven semipurified diets containing 10, 258, 510, 1050, 2020, 4100 and 8300 IU vitamin A (as retinol acetate) kg,1 diet, respectively. Each experimental diet was fed to triplicate groups of 20 juveniles each with initial average weights of 12.09 ± 0.22 g in 405-L aquaria and maintained at 25.0 ± 2.0°C for 8 weeks. Fish fed the basal diet (10 IU vitamin A kg,1 diet) exhibited poor appetite and activity, whereas these signs were not observed in any group fed vitamin A-supplemented diets. Weight gain, feed efficiency and hepatosomatic index increased significantly with increases in the dietary vitamin A level, reaching a peak with the vitamin A 1050 IU kg,1 diet, and then decreasing. Muscle chemical compositions were not affected by the dietary vitamin A levels. Vitamin A concentrations in liver and muscle increased significantly as the vitamin A levels increased within a range of 10,4100 IU kg,1 diet; above this level there were no significant changes. Broken-line regression analysis of weight gain and liver vitamin A concentration against the dietary vitamin A level showed that juvenile Amur sturgeon required a minimum of 923 IU vitamin A kg,1 in the diet for maximal growth, and 1981 IU kg,1 for highest liver vitamin A accumulation. [source]

The effect of digesta sampling time and dietary protein source on ileal nitrogen digestibility for the growing rat,

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 4 2002
Christine A Butts
Abstract The effect of time that digesta were collected on the quantity and representativeness of ileal digesta and on the determination of apparent and true ileal nitrogen (N) digestibility for growing rats was investigated. Semi-synthetic diets containing chromic oxide as an indigestible marker were given to 200,g live weight rats for 8 days as a single daily meal. The experimental treatments comprised six diets (lactalbumin, soy protein isolate, wheat gluten, fish, protein-free (PF), enzymically hydrolysed casein (EHC)) and four ileal digesta sampling times (3, 4, 5 and 6,h after the start of feeding). On the eighth day the rats were fed and slaughtered according to treatment, and digesta were sampled from the terminal ileum. Endogenous ileal nitrogen excretion was determined using both the protein-free and peptide alimentation methods. There was a significant (P,,=,0.027) effect of experimental diet averaged across sampling times for chromium recovery (CrRec). The CrRec was higher for the rats fed the PF diet than for the other diets. Responses to sampling time varied significantly (P,<,0.05) among diets for ileal digesta weight (IDW), nitrogen/chromium (N/Cr) ratio, ileal digesta weight relative to dry matter intake (IDW/DMI), CrRec, N flow, apparent N digestibility and true N digestibility (determined using the protein-free method). The optimal digesta sampling times for each of the diets were 3,h for PF, EHC, lactalbumin and fish and 4,h for soy protein isolate and wheat gluten. Consequently, 3 or 4,h after the start of feeding is recommended as the optimum ileal digesta sampling time for most purified protein sources when fed to the growing rat as a single daily meal. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Dietary Supplementation of a Purified Nucleotide Mixture Transiently Enhanced Growth and Feed Utilization of Juvenile Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellatus

JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 2 2007
Peng Li
Thus, we investigated effects of a purified nucleotide mixture on growth and health of young red drum. The nucleotide premix, containing salts of cytidine, uridine, adenosine, and guanidine, was coated with binders, freeze-dried, and grounded to powder. A fish-meal-based diet was supplemented with 0.03, 0.1, or 0.3% by weight of the coated nucleotide mixture or with 0.2% Optimûn® (Chemoforma Co., Basel, Switzerland), a commercial nucleotide product. The experimental diets were maintained isonitrogenous and isocaloric by adjusting amounts of casein, gelatin, and alanine. Five replicate groups of 12 juvenile red drum (10.2 ± 0.2 g/fish, mean ± SD) were fed each experimental diet for 4 wk, followed by an assay of neutrophil oxidative radical production and a bacterial challenge via intraperitoneal injection of Vibrio harveyi at 2.9 × 107 colony-forming units/g fish. Fish fed all diets supplemented with various levels of purified nucleotides showed significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced weight gain and feed efficiency during the first week of feeding compared to fish fed the basal diet. However, the dietary effects became less significant during the following 3 wk of feeding. The transient growth-enhancing effect of dietary nucleotides observed in the present study may explain the conventional controversy about nucleotide effects on fish growth. Dietary supplementation with nucleotides had no influence on terminal whole-body composition. [source]

Evaluation of Experimental and Practical Diets for Walleye Stizostedion vitreum

JOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 3 2002
Anant S. Bharadwaj
Culture of walleye Sfizostedion vitreum is one of the largest components of public sector aquaculture in the eastern U.S. and there is increasing interest in private sector culture. However, the nutritional requirements of walleye are unknown and experimental diets for use in quantifying nutritional requirements have not been identified. We formulated four experimental and four practical diets and fed those to triplicate groups of walleye with an initial weight of 13 g per fish. The experimental diets contained either casein (CAS), casein + gelatin (CG), casein + arginine (CA), or casein + gelatin + crystalline amino acids (CGAA) as sources of amino acids. The practical diets were formulated to mimic salmon grower (SG) and trout grower (TG) diets, a fish meal-free diet for trout (TFMF), and a walleye grower (WG) diet. Fish were fed twice daily to satiation for 9 wk. Feed consumption, percent weight gain, specific growth rates, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, and protein retention efficiency were not significantly different among fish fed CGAA, SG, and TG, but those values were significantly higher than in fish fed other diets. Weight gain of fish fed CGAA was approximately 80% of that in fish fed SG and 91% of that in fish fed TG. Protein retention efficiency of fish fed CGAA was approximately 69% and 81% of that observed for fish fed SG, and TG, respectively. In general, the carcasses of fish fed diets CGAA, SG and TG had significantly lower moisture and ash concentrations, and higher lipid levels than fish fed other diets. There were no significant differences in carcass protein concentration, muscle proximate composition, or liver lipid concentration among treatments. Livers from fish fed all diets were characterized by microvesicular degeneration and glycogen accumulation in hepatocytes. Results from the study indicate that CGAA can be used as a basal experimental diet in future nutritional research with juvenile walleye and confirms the benefits of trout and salmon grower diets. Fish meal-free diets formulated around the requirements for rainbow trout were consumed at approximately 80% of the values in fish fed TG and SG, but weight gain was approximately 20% of that in fish fed TG and SG. It appears the nutritional requirements for walleye are different than those of rainbow trout. [source]

Effect of dietary dried milky sludge on productive performance and egg quality in laying Japanese quails

ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
Tawadchai SUPPADIT
ABSTRACT The experiment was conducted to study the effectiveness of dried milky sludge (DMS) as a feed source for laying Japanese quails. The DMS was incorporated into the experimental diets at levels of 0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0%. Four hundred quails were used in a completely randomized design. The results revealed that the daily egg-laying rate, feed cost/100 egg weight, egg width, egg length, egg weight, shell quality characteristics in terms of breaking time, Young's modulus, work, max force, fracturability, breaking stress, stiffness and power, as well as color intensity and yolk height improved significantly with increasing levels of DMS in the diet (P < 0.05), while feed intake/bird/day, mortality and eggshell thickness showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). From this experiment, it was found that DMS incorporated into the experimental diet at the 20.0% level yielded the most productive performance and best egg quality. [source]

Effect of D-mannitol on feed digestion and cecotrophic system in rabbits

ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009
Hamza HANIEH
ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sugar alcohol as an energy source for cecal microbes on digestibility, cecotrophy (i.e. reingestion of microbial products of cecum, cecotrophs) and performance in rabbits. Thus, we fed rabbits an experimental diet that included 5% of D-mannitol, and collected hard feces and cecotrophs to be analyzed for crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE), crude ash (CA) and dry matter (DM). Cecotrophic behavior of the rabbits was also observed. Feeding D-mannitol increased (P < 0.01) digestibility of ADF, resulting in a decrease (P < 0.05) in the concentration in hard feces. The increase (P < 0.05) in CP concentration was attributed to lower (P < 0.05) digestibility. D-mannitol had a similar modulatory effect on CP and ADF concentrations in hard feces and cecotrophs. Accordingly, estimations of the proportion of nutrients recycled by cecotrophy to dietary intake (PR), obtained by the two calculation methods, showed an increase (P < 0.01) in PR of CP and a decrease (P < 0.05) in that of ADF. Daily weight gain and feed efficiency increased (P < 0.05) for D-mannitol-fed rabbits, while daily feed intake decreased (P < 0.05). These results suggest the possibility of using D-mannitol as a stimulator of cecal microbial growth and cellulolytic activity, and therefore, improved rabbits performance. [source]

Reduced water oxygen levels affect maximal feed intake, but not protein or energy utilization efficiency of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 1 2009
B.D. GLENCROSS
Abstract This study examined the effect of reduced water oxygen levels on the utilization efficiencies of energy and protein from a diet fed to rainbow trout. An experimental diet was fed at one of the four ration levels with an additional starved treatment also included in each oxygenation regime. Oxygen levels in each oxygenation regime varied with ration level, but averaged 9.3 ± 0.36 mg L,1 for the normal regime and 5.7 ± 1.4 mg L,1 for the hypoxia regime. Significant differences were observed in the apparent satietal feed intake levels in each oxygenation regime, but not at any of the pair-fed restricted levels. No significant effects of oxygenation regime were observed on the utilization of either energy or protein by the fish. Efficiency of protein use varied depending on the protein intake level, but was not significantly affected by oxygenation regime. This study demonstrates that a reduction in the oxygen levels of the water does not affect the utilization efficiency of dietary digestible protein and energy in rainbow trout, but does result in a downregulation of feed intake when the fish is fed to apparent satietal levels. [source]

Growth and carcass composition of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man), fed different isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets

Progression of Lipid Peroxidation Measured as Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances, Damage to DNA and Histopathological Changes in the Liver of Rats Subjected to a Methionine,Choline-Deficient Diet

BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Alceu Afonso Jordao
Male rats were divided into three groups, the first group receiving a control diet and the other two groups receiving a methionine,choline-deficient diet for 1 month (MCD1) and for 2 months (MCD2), respectively. The livers of the animals were collected for the determination of vitamin E, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), GSH concentration, DNA damages, and for histopathological evaluation. The hepatic TBARS and GSH content was higher (P < 0.05) in the groups receiving the experimental diet (MCD1 and MCD2) compared to control diet, and hepatic vitamin E concentration differed (P < 0.05) between the MCD1 and MCD2 groups, with the MCD2 group presenting a lower concentration. Damage to hepatocyte DNA was greater (P < 0.05) in the MCD2 group (262.80 DNA injuries/100 hepatocytes) compared to MCD1 (136.4 DNA injuries/100 hepatocytes) and control diet (115.83 DNA injuries/100 hepatocytes). Liver histopathological evaluation showed that steatosis, present in experimental groups was micro- and macro-vesicular and concentrated around the centrolobular vein, zone 3, with preservation of the portal space. The inflammatory infiltrate was predominantly periductal and the steatosis and inflammatory infiltrate was similar in the MCD1 and MCD2 groups, although the presence of Mallory bodies was greater in the MCD2 group. The study describes the contribution of a methionine,choline-deficient diet to the progression of steatosis, lipid peroxidation and hepatic DNA damage in rats, serving as a point of reflection about the role of these nutrients in the western diet and the elevated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis rates in humans. [source]

Impact of dietary crude protein and amino acids status on performance and some excreta characteristics of broiler chicks during 10,28 days of age

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 3 2010
N. F. Namroud
Summary A study was conducted in a completely randomised design to evaluate the effects of providing almost all important essential amino acids (EAA) in low-crude protein (CP) diets equal to that of higher CP diets in broiler chickens. Also the effects of additional mixture of glycine (Gly) and glutamic acid (Glu) or supplementation of excess EAA to low-CP diets on the live performance and excreta characteristics including pH, moisture, nitrogen, uric acid and ammonia concentration were measured to ascertain the optimum CP concentration for the maximum performance and reduced excreta ammonia concentration. Male, broiler chickens growing from 10 to 28 days of age were fed eight experimental diets. Reducing dietary CP below 19% negatively affected performance. Adding the Gly and Glu mixtures to 17% CP diets improved live performance. Reducing CP to 19% with a normal amino acids status declined N, ammonia, uric acid, moisture and pH of excreta significantly. These findings suggest that diminishing dietary CP from 23% to 19% while maintaining adequate EAA levels during 10,28 days of age results in not only a significant decline in N emission, but also a probable reduction in the NH3 volatilisation because of reduction in pH and moisture. Contrary to expectations, reduction of dietary CP below the minimum level (19%) resulted in more ammonia. All these factors may improve on litter and air quality within the housing facility and reduce the ventilation rate required to emit the elevated ammonia gas concentrations. [source]

Dietary phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) regulates the activity of intestinal mucosa phytase

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 5 2009
E. M. Onyango
Summary The role of dietary phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) in the regulation of intestinal mucosa phytase was investigated in chicks. Seven-day-old chicks were grouped by weight into six blocks of three cages with six birds per cage. Three purified diets [a chemically defined casein diet, a chemically defined casein diet plus sodium phytate (20 g/kg diet) and a chemically defined casein diet plus sodium phytate (20 g/kg diet) and microbial phytase (1000 units/kg diet)] were randomly assigned to cages within each block. Chicks were fed experimental diets from 8 to 22 days of age then killed, and duodenal mucosa and left tibia removed. Phytase activity in duodenal mucosa, growth performance and bone ash content were determined. Addition of phytate to the chemically defined casein diet reduced (p < 0.05) the Vmax of the duodenal brush border phytase, but the Km of the enzyme was not affected. Addition of phytate also reduced (p < 0.05) weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and percentage ash. Addition of microbial phytase fully restored the feed efficiency (p < 0.05), but Vmax and body weight gain were only partially restored (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it would seem that dietary phytates non-competitively inhibit intestinal mucosa phytase. [source]

Effect of dietary ,-tocopherol + ascorbic acid, selenium, and iron on oxidative stress in sub-yearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Walbaum)

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1 2009
T. L. Welker
Summary A three-variable central composite design coupled with surface-response analysis was used to examine the effects of dietary ,-tocopherol + ascorbic acid (TOCAA), selenium (Se), and iron (Fe) on indices of oxidative stress in juvenile spring Chinook salmon. Each dietary factor was tested at five levels for a total of fifteen dietary combinations (diets). Oxidative damage in liver and kidney (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls) and erythrocytes (erythrocyte resistance to peroxidative lysis, ERPL) was determined after feeding experimental diets for 16 (early December) and 28 (early March) weeks. Only TOCAA influenced oxidative stress in this study, with most measures of oxidative damage decreasing (liver lipid peroxidation in December and March; ERPL in December; liver protein carbonyl in March) with increasing levels of TOCAA. We also observed a TOCAA-stimulated increase in susceptibility of erythrocytes to peroxidative lysis in March at the highest levels of TOCAA. The data suggest that under most circumstances a progressive decrease in oxidative stress occurs as dietary TOCAA increases, but higher TOCAA concentrations can stimulate oxidative damage in some situations. Higher levels of TOCAA in the diet were required in March than in December to achieve comparable levels of protection against oxidative damage, which may have been due to physiological changes associated with the parr-smolt transformation. Erythrocytes appeared to be more sensitive to variation in dietary levels of TOCAA than liver and kidney tissues. Using the March ERPL assay results as a baseline, a TOCAA level of approximately 350,600 mg/kg diet would provide adequate protection against lipid peroxidation under most circumstances in juvenile Chinook salmon. [source]

Yttrium oxide (Y2O3) as an inert marker in digestibility studies with dogs, blue foxes and mink fed diets containing different protein sources

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 9-10 2007
S. G. Vhile
Summary The study evaluated the use of yttrium oxide (Y2O3) as an inert marker in studies of apparent total tract digestibility in dogs, blue foxes and mink. Comparison was made with total faecal collection, and use of chromic oxide (Cr2O3) as marker respectively. Four experimental diets were added 0.1 g/kg yttrium oxide and 10 g/kg chromic oxide and fed to four animals of each species. Faecal recovery of yttrium oxide was 94.4% (SEM ± 1.0), and of chromic oxide 105.8% (SEM ± 1.5). The digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, starch and total carbohydrates obtained by total collection and yttrium oxide as marker showed close similarity, and in most cases not significant differences, independent of species and diets. In dogs, overall digestibilities of main nutrients with chromic oxide as marker were not significantly different from overall means obtained with yttrium oxide (p > 0.05). Overall digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and total carbohydrates in blue foxes and mink was significantly higher with chromic oxide than with yttrium oxide (p < 0.05). In dogs and blue foxes, digestibilities of individual amino acids determined by use of yttrium oxide were not different from values obtained using total collection of faeces, both within diets and for overall mean (p > 0.05). Overall amino acid digestibilities in dogs determined with chromic oxide as marker were similar to corresponding figures for yttrium oxide, whereas use of chromic oxide resulted in significantly higher digestibilites for a number of amino acids compared with yttrium oxide in foxes and mink (p < 0.05). The digestibilities of most main nutrients and amino acids revealed no interaction between diet and method (p > 0.05). The study showed that yttrium oxide can be used in low concentration in the feed, and allows high accuracy of analyses and thereby precise digestibility determination. It is concluded that yttrium oxide is an alternative inert marker to chromic oxide in the studied species. [source]

Digestibility and nitrogen retention of diets containing different levels of fibre in local (Mong Cai), F1 (Mong Cai × Yorkshire) and exotic (Landrace × Yorkshire) growing pigs in Vietnam

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 7-8 2007
N. T. Len
Summary Total tract digestibility and nitrogen retention of three diets containing different levels of fibre [200, 260 and 320 g/kg neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in dry matter] were determined in three breeds of growing pig at an initial age of approximately 3.5 months. The breeds were local (Mong Cai, MC), F1 crossbred (MC × Yorkshire) and exotic (Landrace × Yorkshire, LY), allocated at random within breed (block) to double 3 × 3 Latin squares. The main fibrous ingredients of the experimental diets were rice bran, cassava residue meal and non-dehulled groundnut cake meal. Digestibility of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), NDF, crude fibre, gross energy (GE) and ether extract (EE) decreased as the level of dietary NDF increased (p < 0.001). The r2 values for the relationship between NDF level and digestibility of OM, CP, GE and EE were 83%, 83%, 80% and 82% respectively. On average, an increase in NDF content of 1% unit resulted in a decrease in OM, CP, GE and EE digestibility of 0.67%, 0.75%, 0.50% and 0.42% units respectively. Digestibility of energy and nutrients was the highest for MC and the lowest for LY (p < 0.01), with intermediate values for F1. There was a negative effect of NDF level on nitrogen (N) retained as a proportion of intake (p < 0.05). Nitrogen retention and utilization were significantly higher (p < 0.001) for LY than for MC and F1 pigs. [source]

Untersuchungen an wachsenden Schweinen zum Futterwert einer neuen Ackerbohnensorte (Vicia faba L.) bei Ergänzung mit DL -Methionin oder DL -Methionin-Hydroxyanalog

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1-2 2002
HJ. ABEL
Investigations in growing pigs on the feeding value of a new cultivar of field beans (Vicia faba L.) supplemented with DL -methionine or DL -methionine-hydroxyanalogue A basal control mixture of barley, soy bean meal and soy bean oil was replaced by 25% of the new field bean-cultivar `Divine' and the resulting two mixtures were supplemented with minerals, trace elements, vitamins and amino acids according to the ideal protein concept. The control diet was adjusted with DL -methionine (DL -Met), the field bean mixture either with DL -Met or DL -methionine-hydroxyanalogue (DL -MHA) assuming biological equivalence on a molar basis for both supplements. The three experimental diets were fed to growing pigs (35,40 kg bwt.). Spontaneous urine samples were analysed separately for determining parameters that characterize the acid-base status of the pigs. There were no significant differences between experimental groups in nutrient digestibilities. The level of bacterially fermentable substances was increased in the diets containing field beans. The field beans contained 14 mg ME/kg DM. There were no significant (p < 0,05) differences in N- and mineral-retentions (Ca, P, Na, K) between the treatments. The stronger alkalinity found in urine after feeding the field bean mixtures resulted from a higher electrolyte balance of the diet. Eine Kontrollration aus Gerste, Sojaschrot und Sojaöl wurde zu 25% durch Ackerbohnen der neugezüchteten Sorte `Divine' ersetzt und beide Mischungen mit Mineral- und Wirkstoffen sowie Aminosäuren ergänzt. Die Ergänzung mit Methionin erfolgte in der Kontrollmischung mit DL -Methionin, in der Ackerbohnenmischung mit DL -Methionin (DL -Met) oder DL -Methionin-Hydroxyanalog (DL -MHA) unter Zugrundelegung der molaren Wirkungsäquivalenz der beiden Supplemente. Die resultierenden drei Futtermischungen wurden in Stoffwechselversuchen an Schweine (35,40 kg LM) gefüttert. Separate Spontanharnproben wurden auf Parameter des Säure-Basen-Haushalts der Tiere untersucht. Zwischen den Versuchsgruppen traten keine signifikanten Unterschiede in den Nährstoffverdaulichkeiten auf. Die Gehalte an bakteriell fermentierbarer Substanz wurden durch Ackerbohnen erhöht. Der Gehalt der Ackerbohnen an umsetzbarer Energie lag bei 14 MJ ME/kg T. Die N- und Mineralstoffretentionen (Ca, P, Na, K) der Schweine unterschieden sich zwischen den Fütterungsgruppen nicht signifikant (p < 0,05). Die bei Ackerbohnenfütterung gesteigerte Harn-Alkalität ließ sich auf erhöhte kaliumbedingte Elektrolytbilanzen des Futters zurückführen. [source]

Effect of dietary linoleic acid concentration and vitamin E supplementation on cell desquamation and susceptibility to oxidative damage of pig jejunal mucosa

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1-2 2001
C. J. López Bote
Sixty Large White × Great York pigs weighing approximately 60 kg were individually fed on six experimental diets. The experiment was organized in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement design with three different fat sources and a basal or supplemented (200 mg/kg diet) level of ,-tocopheryl acetate. All diets contained the same concentration of saturated fatty acids (15 ± 0.2 g/kg dry matter) but differed in the concentration of C18 : 2 (14 ± 0.5, 18 ± 0.4 and 21 ± 0.6 g/kg) and monounsaturated fatty acids (19 ± 0.2, 15 ± 1.2 and 10 ± 1.3 g/kg). No effect of dietary treatment was observed on weight gain and feed consumption. A histological study of the jejunal mucosa showed lower cell desquamation in groups containing a supplemental level of ,-tocopheryl acetate (p=0.080). A higher cell desquamation was found in the groups fed diets containing the higher concentration of C18 : 2 (p=0.087). We also observed an interaction effect (p < 0.001) of dietary fat source and vitamin E supplementation on jejunal cell desquamation in which the effect of dietary vitamin E was lower when diets with a low concentration of C18 : 2 were administered. In vitro- induced oxidation of jejunal mucosa homogenates was lower in pigs fed diets supplemented with ,-tocopheryl acetate (p < 0.002). The dietary concentration of C18 : 2 significantly affected oxidation of pig jejunal mucosa (p < 0.002). [source]

Growth, fat content and fatty acid profile of South American catfish, surubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) juveniles fed live, commercial and formulated diets

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
M. Arslan
Summary South American catfish, barred surubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) juveniles (117.6 ± 11.8 mg individual weight; 28.3 ± 2.5 mm total length) were fed various diets: one live (Tubifex worms), two commercial (Aglo Norse and Bio Kyowa), and one semi-purified formulated diet (75% peptide based protein) over a 2-week period. Fish fed the Aglo Norse diet showed the highest growth performance, but cannibalism also was very high (42%). Fish fed peptide based formulated diet demonstrated the lowest growth rate, with no cannibalism. The highest survival was achieved with fish fed Tubifex worms (100%). Lipid level in the whole body of the fish fed four different experimental diets did not differ significantly, averaging 3.6 ± 0.7%. Fatty acid composition of neutral and phospholipid fractions of whole body lipids of fish reflected the fatty acid composition of the diets. The high level of 20:4n -6 in Tubifex worms resulted in a high level of this fatty acid in the tissue of fish fed this diet. It remains uncertain how high survival and no cannibalism is related to dietary lipids/fatty acids. In all cases, the increasing ratio of n -3 HUFA (highly unsaturated fatty acids)/n -6 HUFA in phospholipid fractions suggested the elongation and desaturation of 18:3n -3 to 22:6n -3 via 20:5n -3. Moreover, in respect to the 20:4n -6 levels in the diets, an increase in the concentration of this fatty acid in phospholipid fraction suggests that South American catfish can transform linoleate into arachidonate. [source]

Growth performance and body composition of sub-yearling Persian sturgeon, (Acipenser persicus, Borodin, 1897), fed different dietary protein and lipid levels

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
M. Mohseni
Summary In order to evaluate the protein and energy requirement of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) sub-yearlings, eight experimental diets containing two protein levels (40% and 45%) and four lipid levels (10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) were tested. Sturgeons (W0 = 136.8 g) were fed the experimental diets to satiation four times daily for 150 days, resulting in a final mean weight of 375.8 g. Growth was significantly affected by lipid content of the diets. At 40% protein level, weight gain and specific growth rate (% per day) were significantly improved (P < 0.05) by increasing the dietary lipid (energy) content. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) was significantly affected by different dietary treatments for each dietary protein level tested, reaching a mean value of 3.58 in fish fed high lipid diets and a PER of 2.77 in low lipid diets. Results obtained in the present study suggest that the optimum dietary protein content for Persian sturgeon is 40%, with an estimated optimum protein-to-energy ratio of 18,20 mg kJ,1. [source]

Growth and product quality of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) as affected by dietary protein and lipid sources

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 2 2003
U. Luzzana
Summary A 12-week feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of marine raw materials in the diet with soybean meal and beef tallow on growth and product quality of European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Based on growth, feed efficiency and chemical composition, soybean meal was found to be an unsuitable ingredient for eel diets as a substitute for fishmeal (25% on a protein basis), probably because of the low digestibility of its carbohydrate content. However, beef tallow can be used to replace 50% of fish oil without reduction in growth, provided that digestible carbohydrates are present in the diet. No major effects of protein and lipid sources in the diet were found on fillet chemical composition. Sensory analysis revealed no significant differences between fish fed the control and the experimental diets, with the exception of salty taste which was significantly higher in fish fed combined soybean meal and beef tallow compared with fish fed the control diet. [source]

Effects of amino acid supplementation on the nutritive quality of fermented linseed meal protein in the diets for rohu, Labeo rohita, fingerlings

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
N. Mukhopadhyay
A feeding trial was conducted for 8 weeks to examine the effects of partial substitution of fish meal (FM) protein (crude protein content: 58.5%) with linseed meal protein with and without supplemental amino acids in diets for rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings (mean weight: 1.50 ± 0.3 g). Prior to incorporation into the diets, linseed meal was fermented with lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus) to reduce/eliminate the antinutritional tannin and phytic acid factors. Twelve experimental diets (diets D1,D12) were formulated to replace the FM protein from a reference diet (RD) with linseed meal protein at different levels (four sets of diets, of which each set of three diets contained 25%, 50% and 75% replacement of FM protein by linseed meal protein, respectively). Diets D1,D3 were not supplemented with any amino acid. Lysine was supplemented in diets D4,D6. Diets D7,D9 were supplemented with methionine + cystine (together), and diets D10,D12 contained lysine and methionine + cystine (together). Lysine and methionine + cystine (together) were added to the diets at 5.7% and 3.1% of dietary protein, respectively. The groups of fish fed diets without amino acid supplementation had significantly lower percentages of weight gain, specific growth rate and high feed : gain ratio than the fish groups fed other experimental diets. The addition of lysine and methionine + cystine to the diet in which 50% of the FM protein was replaced by linseed meal protein (diet D11) significantly improved fish performance. The results of the present study suggest that rohu fingerlings can effectively utilize the supplemented amino acids and that linseed meal protein can replace up to 50% of the FM protein in rohu diets if the linseed meal is properly processed (fermented) and supplemented with the lacking amino acids. [source]

In vitro analysis of intestinal absorption of cadmium and calcium in rainbow trout fed with calcium- and cadmium-supplemented diets

JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
B. Baldisserotto
The protective effects of dietary Ca2+ supplementation against Cd accumulation in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fed with Cd-contaminated food were evaluated in relation to chronic changes in intestinal absorption rates. The changes were measured ,in vitro'. The control diet contained c. 20 mg Ca2+ g,1 food and 0·25 ,g Cd g,1 food; the experimental diets were supplemented with CaCO3 and Cd(NO3)2·4H2O to levels of 50 mg Ca2+ g,1 food and 300 ,g Cd g,1 food, alone and in combination. The Ca2+ and Cd absorption rates were measured using radiotracers (45Ca, 109Cd) at total Ca2+ and Cd concentrations of 3·0 and 0·12 mmol l,1, respectively in the intestinal saline. Chronically elevated dietary Cd caused a significant increase in Cd absorption rate by up to 10-fold at 30 days in the mid-intestine. The high Ca2+ diet prevented this up-regulation of Cd transport rate. Conversely, intestinal Ca2+ absorption was significantly increased by two- to five-fold by the Ca2+ -supplemented diet at 30 days in both the mid- and posterior intestine, and this effect was eliminated when Cd was simultaneously elevated in the diet. Ca2+ and Cd probably interact at common pathways and transport mechanisms in the intestine, though independent pathways may also exist. [source]

Chinese Cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) does not Improve Glucose Tolerance, Serum Insulin, or Blood Lipid Profiles in a Rat Model of Type-2 Diabetes

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 9 2008
M.S. Islam
ABSTRACT:, The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of a low (0.5%) and a high (2.0%) dietary dose of freeze-dried Chinese cabbage (CC) (Brassica campestris L.) powder in a type-2 diabetes (T2D) model of rats. Five-week-old male Sprague,Dawley rats were fed a high fat (HF)-containing diet for 2 wk then randomly divided into 4 groups of 8 animals, namely: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DBC), Chinese cabbage low (CCL, 0.5%), and Chinese cabbage high (CCH, 2.0%) groups. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg/kg body weight) in all groups except the NC group. After 4 wk feeding of experimental diets, although food intake was not different among the DBC, CCL, and CCH groups, body weight gain was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the CCH group compared to the DBC group. Relatively higher serum insulin concentrations and better glucose tolerance were observed in the CC-fed groups compared to the DBC group; however, the results were not significantly different. Fasting blood glucose, blood glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), liver weight, and liver glycogen levels were not influenced by the CC-containing diets. Additionally, hypertriglyceridemic tendencies were observed in the CC-fed groups compared to the NC and DBC groups, while difference observed for total-, HDL-, and LDL-cholesterols between the groups were negligible. Results of this study suggest that up to 2% dietary dose of freeze-dried CC is not significantly effective to reduce diabetes-related symptoms in an HF diet-fed STZ-induced T2D model of rats. [source]

Effects of Trans and Conjugated LC N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Lipid Composition and Abdominal Fat Weight in Rats

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2008
T. Okada
ABSTRACT:,Trans and conjugated fatty acids may exhibit either beneficial or detrimental bioactive effects depending on their metabolic properties. This study was conducted to elucidate if isomerization and conjugation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) demonstrate more favorable bioactivity on lipid metabolism compared to unmodified EPA and DHA. The effects of dietary intake of trans and conjugated forms of EPA and DHA on lipid metabolism were evaluated in animal trials and compared to a control group fed soybean oil. None of the experimental diets showed significant differences from the control in terms of body weight; however, the white adipose tissue weight of rodents fed trans DHA, conjugated EPA (CEPA), and conjugated DHA (CDHA) was significantly lower than the control. Triacylglycerol levels in plasma were significantly decreased in groups fed trans DHA (17.2 mg/dL) and CDHA (31.9 mg/dL) relative to the control (51.3 mg/dL). The total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower than the control (68.0 mg/dL) in all experimental groups (47.3 to 53.7 mg/dL) except CEPA (58.3 mg/dL). Fatty acid compositions of lipids extracted from rodent livers were influenced by the dietary fatty acid profiles, with all groups showing higher concentrations of stearic acid and lower levels of linoleic acid compared to the control. Rodents fed trans DHA did not have detectable levels of these fatty acid isomers in their livers, suggesting either quick metabolism or a difficulty with bio-absorption. [source]