Compound Diets Research Articles

Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria as Feed Additive on Reproductive Performance and Early Kit Growth Rate in Mink and Blue Foxes

Abstract In two experiments with female mink the effect of commercial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) preparations or an antibiotic (Tylan; Elanco) added to the standard mink diet in the late gestation period (one experiment) and in the lactation period were investigated with respect to reproductive results and kit performance. Microbial analyses of the experimental rations were carried out and the pH-development was followed at different feed storage conditions. Digestibility trials were conducted with kits reared in the second experiment. One LAB preparation was tested in field experiments with mink females (three farms) and with blue fox females (one farm) in late gestation and during lactation. The microbial analyses and the pH-development in stored feed implied that compounded mink diets have a considerable natural LAB flora. The added LAB survived in the feed and from at least two of the preparations LAB multiplied after a several hours' lag phase when stored at +24°C. A tendency for improved reproductiv...

Chronic toxicity tests with Daphnia magna: the effects of different food and temperature regimes on survival, reproduction and growth

Chronic toxicity tests with Daphnia magna are proposed in both the Toxic Substances Control Act in the USA and under the 6th Amendment of the 1967 Directive of the EEC on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances. Guidelines for such tests have been proposed by the US EPA and by the OECD. The experiments reported here examined the effects of food and water temperature on the survival, reproductive performance and growth of individually held D. magna in a static water test system. Nine test regimes were compared, three temperatures and three rations, in a full 3 2 factorial experimental design replicated 25 times. The three temperatures were 17, 20 and 23°C and the three rations, Chlorella alone, Chlorella plus yeast extract, and a compound diet based on trout pellets. Under five of the nine regimes tested the D. magna survived and reproduced in a manner which fulfilled the current US EPA test guidelines for a valid test. Only two regimes fulfilled the current OECD criteria. The most successful regimes were those in which the D. magna were fed Chlorella alone and held at 20 or 23°C. The results reported here, along with published and unpublished results from other laboratories, suggest that the conditions under which valid tests might be carried out require further investigation, or that some relaxation of the criteria for a valid test needs to be brought about, or both.

Weaning of sole, Solea solea, before metamorphosis, achieved with high growth and survival rates

Sole were weaned from live Artemia onto a compound diet between days 10 and 15 after hatching. By day 62, between 28 and 61 sole survived per 100 hatched larvae, and their mean weight at day 70 was between 189 and 414 mg. These results were comparable with those obtained by other authors who weaned sole between days 25 and 35, except for a mean weight of 1070 mg on day 70 obtained by Fuchs (1979). The interest of such an early weaning lies in its saving of live food. Approximately 3 × 10 3 nauplii were required per sole surviving at the end of these experiments, i.e. a saving of 90% compared with Fuchs' experiments.

1.2 The Nature of Trace Element Problems: Delineating the Field Problem

By definition, the essential trace elements are required in very small amounts for optimum body function. The list of essential trace elements is steadily increasing, partly due to improved methods for the detection of very low concentrations and partly to the creation of experimental environments from which such elements can be excluded so that their essential properties can be demonstrated. However, this paper is considering field problems, and discussion will be limited to those elements which are known to be associated with disease in cattle and sheep. Pigs and poultry will be excluded because the major proportion are fed adequate amounts of the trace elements in compounded diets. In contrast, most of the sheep and a large proportion of the cattle population are heavily dependent on home-grown feeds, often only grass or grass products, and these animals are most at risk. Without supplementation, the intake of trace elements is dependent on the concentration in the herbage. It has been estimated that grassland provides almost three quarters of the total crude protein for ruminants in Britain and cereals provide another eighth. We must assume that home-grown feeds are a major contribution to animal diets.

The dietary value for sea-bass larvae ( Dicentrarchus labrax) of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis fed with or without a laboratory-cultured alga

Rotifers were fed on a laboratory-cultured alga, Platymonas (= Tetraselmis) suecica, and/or a diet composed of commercial single-cell proteins. They were given to sea-bass larvae up to day 15–20 after hatching, while Artemia nauplii were supplied from day 9–13. At day 21, the survival rate of fish obtained with rotifers fed on compound diet ranged between 32 and 82%, and their mean weight between 5.0 and 7.8 mg. When rotifers were fed either only on algae or on a mixture of 33% algae and 67% compound diet, the growth and survival rates of sea-bass were not clearly different to those obtained with rotifers fed on compound diet. No significant difference was observed when these rotifers were enriched with nutrients just before distributing them to fish. However, these rates appeared to be quite high in comparison to those obtained by several other authors. We can therefore recommend rotifers fed on compound diet as being, even without enrichment, convenient and low-cost food for sea-bass larvae.

A note on the response of growing rabbits to varying levels of sodium hydroxide-treated straw

ABSTRACTTwo trials were conducted at the BOCM Silcock Development Unit at Stoke Mandeville. The first trial evaluated the response on doe and progeny, from mating to 8 weeks after parturition, of rabbit compound diets containing 0, 100, 200 and 300 g sodium hydroxide-treated straw per kg. Performance data showed no detrimental effect of inclusion levels up to 300 g sodium hydroxide-treated straw per kg despite its high sodium concentration.A second trial was made to ascertain whether these findings were due to the treated straw itself or to increasing sodium concentrations. A standard rabbit compound diet containing 2·5 g sodium per kg was compared with diets containing either 5·0 or 10·0 g sodium per kg, and with experimental compound diets containing either 80 g sodium hydroxide-treated straw or 80 g untreated straw per kg and both containing 2·5 g sodium per kg. Peak food conversion was estimated to occur at a dietary sodium concentration of 4·6g/kg, although the slope of the dose response curve was not statistically significant at the P ≤ level.The results indicate that compound diets containing up to 80 to lOOg sodium hydroxide-treated straw per kg may be fed to rabbits and that inclusion of levels of up to 300 g sodium hydroxide-treated straw per kg are not detrimental to performance. On the other hand, an inclusion of 80 g untreated ground straw per kg in compound diets for rabbits had a growth-depressing effect.

Effects of dietary protein and starch levels on growth and survival of Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) postlarvae

Several levels of protein (25%, 35%, 45% and 55%) and starch (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) were combined in seven isolipidic (10%) diets and fed to 14-day old postlarvae of P. monodon stocked in 5.8 m 2 tanks at a density of 552/m 2. Initial live mean weight was 2 mg. Growth was proportional to the amount of protein in the diet and was not affected by the starch content. The protein starch ratio had an effect on the survival and biomass increase which were higher for the 1.2 to 3.5 range of the ratio. Feeding small postlarvae exclusively with the compounded diets gave slow growth. Survival after 55 days was between 39% and 74%. Analyses showed that the dry alginate-bound food particles lost an average of 28% protein and 50% lipid during processing and rehydration prior to feeding. After six hours in seawater, total loss of protein and lipid amounted to 39%–47% and 38%–76%, respectively.

Some factors affecting the future composition of UK compound animal feeds

Changes in the livestock compound-feed industry are outlined. It is noted that the change to least-cost formulation of diets manufactured to a strict nutritional specification has increased the economic and biological efficiency with which different types of feed have been utilised by livestock. Nevertheless, the feeding of livestock continues to depend on large quantities of raw materials which are potentially food for humans. A number of reasons are given why crop by-products and other waste materials are not fully utilised by the compound trade, although considerable efforts have been made by the industry to find economic and acceptable alternative raw materials for compound diets. In the case of BOCM Silcock, once a raw material has been successfully evaluated at the Unilever Research Laboratories at Colworth House, extensive development work is conducted at two development farms. Two different procedures are described and illustrated: (i) inclusion of the raw material in question at varying levels in a standard diet to assess effect on performance, and (ii) palatability test work, whereby a bland control-diet is partially replaced by the raw material under test, at levels appropriate to the likely commercial use of the test ingredient. However, the extent to which any waste material is eventually utilised will largely depend on its economic value, relative to the costs of competing raw materials. It appears unlikely that there will be any major availability of new cheap alternatives to cereals in the short term.

5.8 Evaluation of protein sources in tropical fish feeds

The development of nutritionally complete diets for use in tropical aquaculture is essential if the desired intensification is to occur. The diets must use locally available protein sources, preferably those unsuitable for human consumption. The work currently being undertaken at Aston University has the long-term aim of developing a compound diet using plant protein sources.

Adaptation de la teneur en enzymes digestives de l'hepatopancreas de Palaemon serratus (Crustacea, Decapoda), a la composition d'aliments experimentaux

The effects of the carbohydrate and protein composition of compound diets on growth rate and on the amylase and protease content of the hepatopancreas have been studied in Palaemon serratus. The best growth rate for animals weighing between 80 and 380 mg is obtained with a diet containing 3.5% carbohydrate and 64% protein. Diets which are very rich in carbohydrate and poor in protein result in poor growth and high mortality; the same is true for foods containing a high concentration of only one protein. Variations in the wet weight of the hepatopanereas and in the total digestive enzymatic activities are linked to variations in the growth rate of the shrimp. Maximal specific amylase activity is reached when assimilable carbohydrate amounts to 2.8%. Maximal specific protease activity is reached when the food protein level reaches 45%. When the amounts of carbohydrate and protein are higher or lower, the values of specific enzymatic proteins diminish.

Croissance et acides gras de la crevette Palaemon serratus (Crustacea, Decapoda) nourrie avec des aliments composés contenant différentes proportions d'acide linoleique et linolénique

Ten different compounded diets containing linoleic acid, C18: 2ω6 and linolenic acid, C18: 3ω3, in varying proportions, were fed to Palaemon serratus (Crustacea Decapoda) and the resultatn growth rates were measured. These results were then compared with those obtained from a compounded diet containing cod-liver-oil rich in long-chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids, C20: 5ω3 and C22: 6ω, and from natural food. Growth rates obtained with the cod-liver-oil and natural diets were in all cases superior to those obtained with diets containing linoleic and linolenic acid. The best growth rates from the latter diets were obtained when the C18: 2ω6/C18: 3ω3 ratio equalled 2.2. Compounded diets containing linoleic and linolenic acids in this proportion produced the lowest C20: 5ω3, C22: 6ω3, and C18: 3ω3 content in the specimens examined. Palaemon serratus would appear to be capable of synthesizing C20: 5ω3 and C22: 6ω3 from C18: 2ω6 and C18: 3ω3. Growth rates are improved when C20: 5ω3 and C22: 6ω3 are supplied directly in the diet.

Influence of bacterial protein incorporation and of sulphur amino acid supplementation to such diets on growth of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdnerii Richardson

A single cell protein (SCP) of methanophillic bacterial origin was incorporated into rainbow trout diets, at increasing levels of substitution for fish meal. Growth characteristics of rainbow trout fed these diets with or without sulphur amino acid supplementation (SAA) were followed over an experimental period of 16 weeks. It appeared from the results that this novel protein could replace nearly 80% of fish meal with no adverse effects on overall performance. Feed intake was adversely affected when the SCP was the major source of protein. Digestibility of protein was found to be increased at high levels of incorporation of the SCP. Effects of an addition of sulphur amino acids (L- or DL-methionine or L-cystine) to diets with 14% SCP or without SCP were also observed. Supplementation of these diets with the different SAA depressed trout growth to varying degrees. It was found that L-cystine had a more depressive effect than L-methionine, which in turn had a greater effect than DL-methionine. These results are discussed in the light of recent data on the SAA needs of rainbow trout. This study revealed that total substitution of fish meal in trout diets was feasible, and that there was no need for further supplementation with sulphur amino acids in the type of compounded diets used in this study.

The use of by-products in animal feeds

Over the last 30 years there has been spectacular growth in the UK broiler industry (Richardson, 1976), intensification in the UK pig industry and a move to larger herds and higher yields in the cattle industry. These trends have meant that farmers have bought more livestock feed both as compounds and as straights. Parallel to these changes, the move from ‘target’ to ‘least cost’ formulation by the compounder and computerized home mixer has increased the ability to deal with different raw materials and to utilize these successfully in compounded diets (Wilson, 1975).In spite of all these technical advances, livestock still depend on large quantities of cereals and other raw materials which are potential food for man (Wilson, 1977) as illustrated in Table 1. This is in spite of the fact that, over the past 15 years, the general trend-line in the ‘carry over’ stocks of world grain has been downwards (Brown, 1977). It follows that, in considering future feeding policies for livestock, there are good reasons why prudent steps should be taken to find and utilize alternative sources of both energy and protein for animal feeds. Holland has been more successful in this respect than the UK (De Boer, 1978) as instanced by the increasing imports of cassava which in part replaces European-grown barley and wheat (Walters, 1978).

STUDIES ON COMPOUNDED DIETS FOR Penaeus kerathurus SHRIMP

ABSTRACTThe apparent large differences in nutritive requirements reported for different shrimp species precludes extrapolation of available data from one species to another. This fact and the general scarcity of knowledge about crustacean dietary requirements presents a formidable problem to the nutritionist when beginning with a new shrimp candidate.The species used in these experiments was the Penaeus kerathurus, a shrimp native to the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline. A total of 1,000 postlarvae were used in six experimental trials, concerned with the acceptability of formulated rations and the effectiveness of different protein sources, and considering previous techniques carried out in this field. Other aspects examined were the influence of natural food (mussel mantle and gonad) as a complement to the artificial diet, and the presence in it of an unidentified growth factor(s).From the results obtained, the acceptability of the compounded diets stands out. However, these diets failed to support greater than 50–55% of the fresh mussel diet growth in all experiments. This observation and the strong reduction in nutritional value of the fresh food by processing are related by two possible explanations: first, the rapid leaching of water‐soluble nutrients, and second, the idea of a labile unknown metabolite essential for the growth of these animals.

The use of sodium hydroxide-treated straw in rations for beef cattle

ABSTRACTSixty-four British Friesian castrated male cattle (steers) with an average starting weight of 292 kg and an average slaughter weight of 460 kg were used to compare compound diets containing 0, 10, 20 or 30% NaOH-treated straw. A basic diet of 1·8 kg hay, 1·8 kg barley straw and sugar beet pulp, on a scale rising from 1·4 to 2·8 kg according to live weight, was given throughout the trial. Compound diets were individually offered on a scale starting at 3·8 kg rising to 5·8 kg with an average intake of 4·9 kg/day. Treatments did not differ significantly in respect of live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·94 kg/day with the control to 0·97 kg/day with the 30% NaOH-treated straw compound. The grading of the animals, based on the Meat and Livestock Classification scheme, also showed no significant difference.A second trial with a further 64 British Friesian steers tested inclusion levels of 0, 30,45 and 60% treated straw in a compound diet. At the start of the trial, the cattle averaged 328 kg live weight and were slaughtered from 450 kg live weight. Animals were yarded in store condition and were given a combination of grass silage and compound diets according to a scale, based on live weight and a predicted performance of 1 kg live-weight gain per day. There were no significant differences between treatments in live-weight gain, which ranged from 0·97 kg on the control to 1·02 kg/day on the 45% NaOH-treated straw diet. There was some refusal on the 60% NaOH-treated straw diet in respect of twice daily allocations, with a few cattle on occasions not being able to consume the allowance in the 30 min provided. However, each feed allocation was always consumed before the next meal. There were no significant differences between treatments in respect of fat class, but cattle on the 45% treated-straw diet had statistically superior conformation compared with the control.

Etude des variations du poids sec et de la constitution chimique �l�mentaire de Tisbe holothuriae (Copepoda: Harpactico�da) �lev� sur diff�rents r�gimes artificiels

Dry weight and body composition of C, H and N were investigated in male and female Tisbe holothuriae Humes fed 7 artificial compound diets and a living algal diet (Nannochloris sp.) over the whole biological cycle. No correlation was found between the respective proportion of C, H and N in the food and in the copepod body. Food quality had a significant effect on dry weight. Carbon content varied between 35.35 and 42.32% of body dry weight in females, and between 25.10 and 26.84% in males. Nitrogen values were 9.11 to 10.00% and 6.79 to 6.99%, respectively, varying with different diets. The C:N ratio varied between 3.74 and 4.28 in females and between 3.70 and 3.87 in males. Some diets had a significant effect on this ratio. In some experiments, three different temperatures were tested using the same diet. Body dry weight was inversely correlated with temperature, but no clear relation appeared between C:N and temperature. C:N variations were directly related to C concentration and seemed independent of N concentration. It is suggested that C variations correspond to different levels in lipid content under different trophic conditions. The relation between elementary chemical composition and fecundity in T. holothuriae fed different diets is discussed.

Nutritional studies on penaeid prawns: Protein requirements in compounded diets for juvenile Penaeus indicus (Milne Edwards)

The use of dried prawn meal as a high quality reference protein in the nutrition of juvenile Penaeus indicus was investigated through short term growth and feed efficiency trials. Complete substitution at the same level of crude protein gave significantly improved growth rates relative to a control fish meal ration. Live-weight gain at levels ranging from 21–53% crude protein was greatest with a 43% protein diet, although efficiencies of protein utilisation (recorded as P.E.R. values) declined with successive increases in dietary protein. A second experiment to assess the effect of partially replacing prawn meal with fish meal showed that isonitrogenous substitution could be effected to an apparent optimal ratio of 60% fish meal: 40% prawn meal protein. In terms of short term growth and feed efficiency results, this particular meal combination was superior to either prawn or fish meal alone.

The Assimilation of Nutrients from Compounded Diets by the PrawnsPalaemon SerratusandPandalus Platyceros

Assimilation efficiency (percentage of nutrients absorbed) from diets compounded from dry food meals was investigated using the prawnsPalaemon serratusPennant andPandalus platycerosBrandt. An indirect ratio method using chromic oxide (Cr2O3) as an inert reference material in the diet was employed, but the method was complicated by the prawns' habit of regurgitating part of the indigestible food remains after a meal. Thus quantitative collection of both faeces and the regurgitated, unassimilated food fraction was necessary.

The essential amino-acid requirements of the prawnPalaemon serratus. The growth of prawns on diets containing proteins of different amino-acid compositions

Two specimens ofPalaemon serratusPennant (of about 4 g wet weight) were each given intrahaemocoelic injections of [U-14C] acetate. They were maintained under controlled conditions, and the release of14CO2 and other labelled metabolites was followed for 6 days. The prawns were then sacrificed and fractionated into trichloroacetic acid soluble compounds, lipids, nucleic acids and a protein/chitin residue. Little or no14C had been incorporated into arginine, methionine, valine, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, histidine, phenylalanine and tryptophan. It was inferred thatP. serratus cannot synthesize these amino acids from ordinarily available materials, and that the prawns have an absolute dietary requirement for them. The glucosamine isolated from the protein/chitin residue contained more radioactivity than any of the other compounds examined. This implies a rapid turnover of glucosamine and chitin inP. serratus. The gain in weight of prawns fed on compound diets containing freeze-dried cod muscle was about 70% that of prawns fed on fresh mussel mantle. Predigestion of freeze-dried cod muscle with proteolytic enzymes did not significantly enhance its nutritional valve as assessed by increases in weight. Prawns fed two other compounded diets containing proteins of low nutritional value (gelatin and zein, respectively) grew at about 1/5 the rate of prawns fed fresh mussel mantle. Supplementation of the gelatin and zein in these diets with tryptophan, and with lysine plus tryptophan, respectively, failed to augment their nutritional value significantly.

Performance of broiler fed with different commercial compound feeds of Bangladesh

An attempt was made to investigate the responses of broiler to feed the compound feeds of different feed mills located in Bangladesh. Keeping this view in mind, a total of 260 of star-bro broiler chicks were fed on compound diets in the age duration of day old to 38 days to compare the performance of broilers of different dietary groups. All the forms of feed were of identical (pellet feed) as well as same management and environment were provided for all the treatments. The body weight gain was highest in T2 dietary group (P < 0.01) which was statistically similar with T1 group. Feed intake of the 5 treatments differed significantly (P < 0.01). T1 dietary group showed high trend of feed consumption. Higher FCR value (P < 0.01) was observed for T5 dietary group which indicated low feed conversion efficiency. On the other hand, T2 and T1 dietary groups showed better feed conversion efficiency. Survivability percent of all treatments was not differed significantly (P>0.05). Significant differences were obtained for meat yield parameters such as body weight, blood loss, shank weight, liver weight, abdominal fat, dressed carcass and edible carcass weight. On the other hand, non significant differences were obtained for feather loss, gizzard weight, spleen weight, heart weight, head weight. Except the body weight (P < 0.01) no significant results were observed for sex(s) as well as interaction between treatment and sex effect for all other meat yield parameters. The results of this experiment from biological responses of birds gave an impression that compound feeds of the feed mills T1, T2 and T3 were found to be better than those feeds of T4 and T5 feed mills for the production of commercial broiler for the age duration of day old to 38 days of age. Key words: Compound feeds (pellet), broiler, feed mills, performance DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v4i2.1291 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2006). 4 (2): 97-101