Effect of feeding Artemia Urmiana cysts on performance and survival of Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius) fish at the larva stage

Proteomic investigation of brain, liver and intestine in high feed intake and low feed intake Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Effect of dietary soybean lecithin on fish performance, hemato-immunological parameters, lipid biochemistry, antioxidant status, digestive enzymes activity and intestinal histomorphometry of pre-spawning Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius)

This study evaluated the effectiveness of BetaPlus® combined with isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO) in Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta caspius (Kessler), fingerlings. A total of 120 Caspian brown trout (8.75 ± 0.03 g) were fed in two treatments, including the control diet and the synbiotic diet (0.1% BetaPlus® + 0.2% IMO) in three replicates per treatment for seven weeks. The growth indices (final weight, weight gain, average daily growth, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio) exhibited significant improvement in the fish fed the synbiotic diet (P < 0.05). The highest ash crude protein, and crude fiber, as well as the lowest crude lipid, dry matter, and carbohydrate detected in the carcass of fish treated with the synbiotic were significant (P < 0.05). In addition, the fish fed the synbiotic diet showed significantly higher gut trypsin activity and trypsin:chymotrypsin ratio, as well as serum superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.05). Thus, BetaPlus® in combination with IMO can effectively lead to a considerable increase in functional factors, as well as gut proteases and serum antioxidant indicators in S. trutta caspius fingerlings.

Low feed intake (FI) in weanling pigs can be hypothesized as both a cause and consequence of intestinal disturbances and metabolic stress. We explored the associations between individual daily FI patterns, metabolic status, and intestinal physiology. Female pigs (n = 24) were selected based on high or low cumulative FI between d1 and d3 relative to weaning (d0) from 12 pens equipped with electronic feeding stations at 1-wk after weaning for dissection and sampling. Four classes of pigs were created with pigs that started with a high or low FI (d1 to d3) and continued with a high or low FI (d4 to d6) (HH, HL, LH, and LL, respectively; n = 6) for data analysis. In plasma, HL pigs showed higher plasma glutamate dehydrogenase than LL pigs (P < 0.05). A low FI d1 to d3 increased plasma creatinine and lactate dehydrogenase, and reduced insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), gastrointestinal organ weights, and jejunal villus surface area at 1wk after weaning (P < 0.05). However, low FI d4 to d6 increased plasma haptoglobin, PigMAP, bile acids, and bilirubin levels and reduced jejunal villus length (P < 0.05). In jejunum tissue, HH pigs had the highest jejunal upregulated IGF-I receptor and a reduced local inflammatory gene expression when compared to HL pigs (MyD88), and similarly, when compared to all classes (FAXDC2). For the main effects, pigs classified as high FI d1 to d3 had upregulated immune systems including IL-6, TGFB1, TLR2, and TLR4 genes compared to low FI d1 to d3 pigs (P < 0.05). In a multivariate model, variance in average daily gain (R2 = 0.82) was mostly explained by positive correlations with FI d1 to d3, jejunal morphometrics, and plasma IGF-I, while negatively explained by histamine in digesta, and creatinine, PigMAP, triglycerides, and haptoglobin in plasma. In conclusion, pigs transitioning from high to a low FI showed distinct metabolic alterations and a subtle local inflammation masked by the vigorous local immune response in pigs with initial (d1 to d3) high FI. Pigs with an initial low FI had a fasting-like metabolic state, indicated by hepatic alterations pointing at shifting protein metabolism into energy production. Altogether, FI during the initial days postweaning significantly impacts pig growth, immunity, and metabolism, with a sustained low intake (i.e., up to 6 d) triggering a systemic inflammatory response.

Comparative analysis of the hypothalamus transcriptome of laying ducks with different residual feeding intake

Few studies have attempted to quantify the association between a terminal total merit index with phenotypic feed and production efficiency in beef cattle, particularly when feed efficiency is itself explicitly absent as a goal trait in the index. The objective of the present study was to quantify the differences in phenotypic performance for feed intake, feed efficiency, and carcass traits of crossbred bulls, steers, and heifers differing in a terminal total merit index. A validation population of 614 bulls, steers, and heifers that were evaluated for feed intake and efficiency in the same feedlot and subsequently slaughtered at the end of their test period was constructed. The Irish national genetic evaluations for a terminal index of calving performance, docility, feed intake, and carcass traits were undertaken with the phenotypic records of animals present in the validation population masked. The validation population animals were subsequently stratified into four groups, within sex, according to their terminal index value. Mixed models were used to quantify the association between terminal genetic merit and phenotypic performance; whether the associations differed by sex were also investigated. The regression coefficient of phenotypic feed intake, carcass weight, carcass conformation, or carcass fat on its respective estimated breeding values was 0.86 kg dry matter 0.91 kg, 1.01 units, and 1.29 units, respectively, which are close to the expectation of one. On average, cattle in the very high terminal index stratum had a 0.63 kg DM/d lower feed intake, a 25.05 kg heavier carcass, a 1.82 unit better carcass conformation (scale 1 to 15), and a 1.24 unit less carcass fat score (scale 1 to 15), relative to cattle in the very low terminal index stratum. Cattle of superior total genetic merit were also more feed efficient (i.e., had a lower energy conversion ratio, lower residual feed intake, and greater residual gain), had a greater proportion of their live-weight as carcass weight (i.e., better dressing percentage) and were slaughtered at a younger age relative to their inferior total genetic merit counterparts. This study provides validation of an all-encompassing total merit index and demonstrates the benefits of selection on a total merit index for feed and production efficiency, which should impart confidence among stakeholders in the contribution of genetic selection to simultaneous improvements in individual animal performance and efficiency.

An experiment was designed and carried out to assess the survival, growth performance and feed utilization (weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, specific growth rate, feed intake and survival) of Heterobranchus bidorsalis fingerlings fed graded levels of toasted Lima beans seed (Phaseolus lunatus) meal based diets with the aim of establishing the best inclusion level of Lima beans seed meal. One hundred (100) fingerlings with an initial mean weight of 2.5± 0.5g were allotted at random to five treatments in triplicate groups with each treatment tank having five fingerlings and were fed with the compounded diets. The toasted Lima beans seed meal was used to replace soybean meal in the diets in the following proportions: Diet I (0%), diet II (25%), diet III (50%), diet IV (75%) and diet V (100%). At the end of the feeding trials that lasted for 70 days, At the end of the experiment, the Specific growth rate showed no significant difference (P &gt;0.05) among all treatments. Treatment III (3.250) had the highest specific growth rate and Treatment II (2.083) had the lowest value. Relative weight gain was highest in treatment V (20.53) with 100% lima beans and lowest in treatment II (16.95) with 25% lima beans diet inclusion level. Treatment I and IV had no significant difference (P &gt;0.05) but these treatments had a significant difference (P&lt;0.05) with treatments II, III and V also treatment II, III, and V are significantly different (P&lt;0.05) from each other. There was no significant different (p&gt;0.05) in the feed conversion ratio of treatment II, III, IV. There was also no significant difference (p&gt; 0.05) in the feed conversion ratio of treatment I and V. Treatment II, III and IV showed a significant difference (P&lt; 0.05) in the feed conversion ratio with treatment I and V. FCR was highest in treatment II (1.383) and lowest in treatment IV (1.162). Treatment V had the highest feed intake with value 3.775. Treatment I, II, III, IV and V had no significant difference (P&gt; 0.05). Treatment I had the lowest feed intake with value (3.246). Protein efficiency ratio showed no significant differences among all treatment. PER was highest in treatment V (6.346) and lowest in treatment III (5.346). The survival rate was slightly different but not as a result of the feed consumed. Based on the findings in this study, it is therefore recommended that 75% inclusion level of Lima beans meal should be adopted in the formulation of feed for Heterobranchus bidorsalis.

Effect of postweaning feed intake on performance, intestinal morphology, and the probability of diarrhoea in piglets.

The effects of feeding different dietary levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and total oil (TO) were evaluated using 216 barrows fed from 36 to 115 kg body weight. A 3 × 2 factorial design was used with three levels of dietary CLA (0, 0.25, and 0.5%), two levels of dietary TO (2 and 5% made up with canola oil) and 12 pens of three barrows fed per diet. Pigs on all diets gained weight at the same rate from 0 to 4 wk (36 to 61 kg) and from 4 wk to slaughter (61 kg to 115 kg) (P &gt; 0.05). Pigs fed 5% versus 2% TO had 6.6% lower feed intake from 0 to 4 wk (P = 0.02) and 5.9% lower feed intake from 4 wk to slaughter (P &lt; 0.003), while feeding CLA had no effect on feed intake (P = 0.70). A CLA by TO interaction for feed intake was not found for 0 to 4 wk but from 4 wk to slaughter a tendency for an interaction (P = 0.06) was found indicating 0.25% CLA may depress feed intake at 2% TO while stimulating intake at 5% TO. Increasing TO and CLA increased the lean content in commercial cuts by 1.6% (P = 0.06) and 2.7% (P = 0.008), respectively. A CLA by TO interaction (P = 0.012), however, indicated CLA was less effective at increasing lean when added to 5% TO diets than to 2% TO diets, with pigs fed the 0% CLA/2% TO diet yielding 5% less lean than pigs fed any of the other diets (P &lt; 0.05). Interestingly, a main effect for TO was not found for subcutaneous fat (SCF), but adding CLA reduced SCF (6.6%; P = 0.002). Again, a CLA by TO interaction (P = 0.008) indicated adding CLA was less effective at reducing SCF in 5% TO than 2% TO diets, with pigs fed the 0% CLA/2% TO diet having 9.7% more SCF than pigs fed any of the other diets (P &lt; 0.05). The difference in effectiveness of CLA at different TO levels might be due to dilution of CLA by canola oil fatty acids and/or canola oil having fat to lean repartitioning effects of its own. A comparison of fats and oils with differing chain lengths and degrees of saturation would, therefore, be of interest to further define their potential differential effects on growth and metabolism. Key words: Pig, pork, swine, conjugated linoleic acid, CLA, canola oil

In pig breeding programs, purebred (PB) boars are selected in a nucleus, and mated with crossbred (CB) dams to produce CB growing-finishing pigs used for pork production in commercial farms. The majority of the cost of pork production comes from feeding CB pigs. Therefore, increasing attention is given to selection for feed efficiency and to include in the genetic evaluations the performance records of CB pigs in commercial production circumstances. In addition, sustainability should be at the top of the agenda for all livestock production systems, and thus, improving the feed efficiency of CB pigs farmed around the globe is necessary. Differences between the genetic background of PB and CB, as well as differences between the nucleus and the commercial farms environments will lower the genetic correlation of feed efficiency for PB performance in the nucleus level and CB performance in the commercial level (rpc). My main aim in this thesis was to investigate the possible causes of an rpc in growing-finishing pigs between the feed efficiency in CB pigs kept under Brazilian commercial production circumstances and PB pigs kept under Dutch circumstances being below 1. Another aim was to compare the properties of different traits to represent feed efficiency and the implications of their adoption by pig breeding programs. The results of this thesis show that the collection of feed intake data on CB at commercial farms is worthwhile to increase genetic progress in CB feed efficiency and that residual energy intake is an attractive trait for pig breeding programs. Depending on the definition of feed efficiency, this trait is variably sensitive to changes in the ingredients of the two most common pig commercial rations (corn/soy or wheat/barley/co-products). Breeding for feed efficiency under lower-input diets, such as wheat/barley/co-products, should be considered as feed efficiency will become more important, and lower-input diets will become more widespread in the near future. Feed efficiency can be improved by changing the trajectory of feed intake as a function of body weight, i.e., the feed intake curves. A flatter feed intake curve, and high feed intake precocity (higher feed intake in early stages of growth associated with a higher growth maturation rate and a consequent lower feed intake later on the finishing period) is a desired profile in pig breeding. Collection of production data in a tropical climate is worthwhile, and feed efficiency is expected to be sensitive to climate.

Animal and management factors influencing grower and finisher pig performance and efficiency in European systems: a meta-analysis

Next-generation sequencing characterization of the gut bacterial community of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L.) fed low fishmeal based diets with increasing soybean meal levels

A 63‐d experiment was conducted to investigate the dietary protein demand of juvenile Blue Discus Symphysodon haraldi. Five isoenergetic and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain graded levels of crude protein (CP): 50% (CP50), 55% (CP55), 60% (CP60), 65% (CP65), and 70% (CP70). The results showed that survival rate was not affected by dietary protein level. Weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) first increased and then decreased as dietary protein level increased, and the highest WG and SGR was observed in the CP60 group. In contrast, feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) first decreased and then increased, and the lowest FI and FCR were both observed in the CP60 group. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) first increased and then decreased, and the highest PER was observed in the CP60 group. Both the hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index tended to decrease as dietary protein level increased. Crude protein content first increased and then decreased, while crude lipid content tended to decrease as dietary protein level increased. Quadratic regression analysis on the basis of WG, SGR, FI, FCR, and PER indicated that the optimum dietary protein level for juvenile Blue Discus was estimated to be 60.1–61.0% of dry matter.

The effects of dietary n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] with α-tocopherol on growth, non-specific immune response and oxidative status were investigated in Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta caspius, fry. Six experimental diets containing three different dietary levels of n-3 HUFAs (low: 1 + 0.5% of total fatty acids, DHA+ EPA, medium: 2 + 1%, DHA + EPA, high: 4 + 2%, DHA + EPA) with two different levels of α-tocopherol (low: 300 and high: 1000 mg kg−1 diet) were prepared and named: LL, LH, ML, MH, HL and HH (HUFA/α-tocopherol) groups, respectively. Diets were fed to triplicate groups of 60 fry with an initial weight of 600 ± 25 mg for 10 weeks. Results showed that increase in dietary DHA and EPA up to high level improved fry growth in terms of the body weight and specific growth rate, particularly when dietary α-tocopherol levels were high, suggesting a higher antioxidant protection value when these fatty acids are high. At all dietary n-3 HUFA levels, increase in α-tocopherol from low to high level enhanced the alternative complement (ACH50) activity. Fry fed diets medium and high n-3 HUFA displaying significantly higher lysozyme activity (P < 0.05). Moreover, fish fed medium or high levels of n-3 HUFA had significantly lower prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) than those fed low n-3 HUFA (P < 0.05). Significant differences in antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase) activity were also observed between groups, with higher activity in high levels of n-3 HUFA (P < 0.05). Results of this study suggest that the effect of dietary n-3 HUFA on examined non-specific immunity parameters are not uniform; however, these impacts are closely related to the α-tocopherol supplement and their interaction. In conclusion, increased dietary levels of n-3 HUFA and α-tocopherol would enhance growth performance and welfare of this species.

A 2-month feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate the effects of replacing dietary fish oil (FO) with canola oil (CO) at four levels of HF (100% fish oil), FF (70% fish oil + 30% canola oil), FV (50% fish oil + 50% canola oil), and HV (100% canola oil) on overall performance, haemato-biochemical responses, fatty acid composition and digestibility of Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta caspius (Kessler) fingerlings. Fingerlings (N = 180, 4.6 ± 0.23 g) were randomly scattered to four various diet treatments. In fingerlings fed with FV diet a considerable increase in specific growth rate and weight gain were recorded (p < .05). No significant difference was observed in none of the macronutrients of the whole-body among the treatments (p > .05). The highest saturated fatty acids and the lowest monounsaturated fatty acids were recognized in the HF diet (p < .05). The lowest red blood cell was found in fingerlings fed HF diet (p < .05), but the white blood cell activity was not influenced in the groups (p > .05). The fingerlings that consumed the HF diet implied the highest aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities in serum than the other groups (p < .05). None of the whole-body compositions such as protein, lipid, ash, and moisture were affected by dietary treatments (p > .05). The lowest value of apparent digestibility of crude lipid (ADCCL) was observed in the HF group (p > .05). Overall, the data exhibited that elevating dietary canola oil up to 50% in Caspian brown trout fingerling resulted to improve growth efficiency and blood biochemistry.