Effects Of Different Feeding Frequencies Research Articles

Growth optimalization of bileh fish seeds (Rasbora sp.) through different feeding frequencies

Bileh fish is a type of freshwater fish that is sought after by the people of Aceh because it has a delicious taste and is quite tasty. Bileh fish is a local fish species that has the potential to be developed as an aquaculture commodity and its population must be preserved from overfishing. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of different feeding frequencies on the growth of bileh fish fry (Rasbora sp.). This research used a non-factorial completely randomized design (CRD) method consisting of 4 treatments and 3 replications each, namely the frequency of feeding 1 time/day (P1), feeding 2 times/day (P2), feeding 3 times/day day (P3) and feeding 4 times/day (P4). The feed given is commercial feed PF 500 with 39% protein. The parameters observed included survival rate, length growth, weight growth, daily growth rate, feed efficiency and water quality. The results showed that different feeding frequencies had no significant effect on survival rate, absolute length and daily growth rate of bileh fish (Rasbora sp.). However, it has a real effect on weight growth and feed efficiency. The best feeding frequency to optimize the weight growth of bileh fish (Rasbora sp.) is in the P3 treatment with a frequency of 3 times/day.Keywords: Feed Efficiency; Feeding Frequency; Growth; Rasbora

Feeding frequency and its associated effects on the production and survival rate of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes

Tsetse flies are large blood-sucking flies of the genus Glossina, which are exclusively found in Africa. They are important vectors of Trypanosomes, which cause sleeping sickness in humans and African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT) in livestock. Due to the lack of effective vaccines to control this disease, vector control has been an ideal strategy. There are many vector control methods developed so far. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is one of such method which depends on the mass production of male flies in the laboratory, sterilization, and release of these flies in the target area. The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different feeding frequencies on the production and survival rate of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes to identify the best feeding frequency that could optimize the production and minimize the cost of production in a massrearing insectary facility at Kaliti Tsetse Fly Mass Rearing and Irradiation Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Three experimental groups were established based on feeding frequency regimes. The first group was fed three times per week, the second four times per week, and the third group five times per week. Parameters that are routinely used for assessing colony performance such as; survival rate, fecundity, pupae per initial females (PPIF), and pupal quality were evaluated for each treatment group and statistical comparisons were made between the groups. The results revealed that feeding frequency had a crucial effect on fly production and survival. The lowest results for all parameters were obtained in flies fed three times per week and relatively the best results were obtained in the four-times-per-week feeding regime. Therefore, we recommend a further study on aspects that are not addressed in this study, such as emergency rate and progeny quality, to apply the four times per week feeding regime as it will have a positive economic impact that could enable more resources to be re-injected into the insectary compared to five or more feeding regimes which are currently in use in the study site.

Effect of feeding frequency on growth performance, feed transit and digestive enzyme activity of Acipenser dabryanus juveniles

Dabry's sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) is critically endangered in China. However, the lack of research on the feeding strategy of this species is detrimental to its conservation management. The present study evaluated the effects of feeding frequency (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 times per day) on the growth performance, feed transit and digestive enzyme activity of juvenile Dabry's sturgeons (initial weight 0.42 ± 0.09 g) in a continuous flow culture system at a water temperature of 18.2–18.5°C. Single-meal and normal-feeding (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 times per day) experimental methods were adopted to assess the effect of different feeding frequencies on feed transit. The fish in each treatment of the normal-feeding experiment were fed normally according to the original feeding frequency (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 times per day). The optimum feeding frequency for juvenile Dabry's sturgeons was determined to be 4 times per day based on the growth performance, feed conversion rate and digestive enzyme activity. The results of the single-meal experiment demonstrated that changes in daily feeding frequency modified residence time in the stomach (S1–S5: 27.2–10.4 h) and intestine (S2–S5: range from 14 to 29.85 h). However, the obtained gastric emptying time varied significantly depending on the experimental approach. The single-meal experiment approach resulted in a longer gastric emptying time of fish fed 1 and 2 times per day (S1: >35 h; S2: 35 h) than those in the normal-feeding experiment (N1: 16 h; N2: 24 h), demonstrating that the single-meal method might change the gastrointestinal emptying strategy of fish. Furthermore, the digestive enzyme activity had daily rhythmic changes and the average digestive enzyme activity was affected by feeding frequency. The average digestive enzyme activity of the fish in N3 or N4 was higher than those of fish in other groups (p < 0.05). In summary, this study provides much useful information for the healthy farming of juvenile Dabry's sturgeons and towards the understanding of digestive physiology, which is of great significance for the protection of Dabry's sturgeon.

Effects of different feeding frequencies on the growth, plasma biochemical parameters, stress status, and gastric evacuation of juvenile tiger puffer fish (Takifugu rubripes)

Tiger puffer fish (Takifugu rubripes)is one of the most economically valuable aquaculture species in Asia. However, farming tiger puffer fish at the juvenile stage has been greatly restrained by cannibalization caused by inappropriate feeding regimes, resulting in very high mortality and great economic loss, particularly in intensive recirculating aquaculture systems. Therefore, the feeding strategy should adapt to fish appetite, nutrition requirements and welfare in intensive aquaculture. A 60-day feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding frequency on the overall health of juvenile tiger puffer fish. Fish were randomly assigned to four groups with different feeding frequencies using the same ration size per feeding. P1: two daily meals; P2: four daily meals; P3: six daily meals; P4: continuous diurnal feeding using a belt feeder. Fish in the P2 group exhibited optimal values for growth, including final weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, and survival (P < 0.05), followed by those in the P3 group. The crude lipid content increased significantly with increasing feeding frequency (P < 0.05), indicating that high frequency feeding could accumulate higher body fat content. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, protein, and lipid were significantly lower for fish in the P4 group than for those in the other groups (P < 0.05). The total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels increased significantly with increasing feeding frequency (P < 0.05), indicating that high frequency feeding leads to excessive accumulation of dietary carbohydrates and lipids in juvenile tiger puffer fish. Fish in the P1 and P4 groups exhibited relatively higher antioxidant enzyme activities (P < 0.05), which suggested that low and high feeding frequencies cause oxidative stress in juvenile tiger puffer fish. A comparison of non-linear model parameters revealed that an exponential model best described the gastric evacuation rate of juvenile tiger puffer fish, with approximately half the meal passed within 3 h, which further confirmed that feeding intervals in four times/day may more closely align with the digestive physiological characteristics of juvenile tiger puffer fish. Overall, these results indicate that the best growth performance and physiological indicators can be achieved when fed at 4 times/day.

Effects of feeding frequency on the growth, body composition and SOD, GPX and HSP70 gene expression in Schizothorax wangchiachii

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of different feeding frequencies on the growth, feed utilization, body composition, and immune and stress responses of Schizothorax wangchiachii to determine the optimal feeding frequency and provide a scientific basis for S. wangchiachii feeding management. Therefore, four feeding frequencies (one, two, three and four times daily) were evaluated in triplicate tanks for eight weeks. The S. wangchiachii fed twice daily had higher final body weights (FBW) and specific growth rate (SGR) values than the fish fed one, three and four meals daily. The feeding rate (FR) increased significantly as the feeding frequency increased; nevertheless, the feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and protein retention efficiency (PRE) values of the fish fed twice daily were higher than those of the fish fed at other frequencies. The fish fed once daily showed higher moisture and lower crude lipid contents than the fish fed at other frequencies. The ash contents decreased significantly as the feeding frequency increased, whereas the crude protein content exhibited the opposite trend. The feeding frequency did not affect the contents of total amino acids, essential amino acids (EAAs) or nonessential amino acids (NEAAs) in the fish body. The expression levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the liver and spleen were not significantly affected by the different feeding frequencies; however, their expression levels in the gills and kidneys first increased and then decreased, with the highest values being observed in the fish fed twice daily. The expression levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in the gill and kidney were not affected by the feeding frequency, but HSP70 expression was significantly downregulated in the liver and spleen as the feeding frequency increased from one to four times daily. Thus, the optimal feeding frequency for S. wangchiachii is twice daily.

On gastric evacuation characteristics and suitable feeding frequency of &amp;lt;italic&amp;gt;Centropristis striata&amp;lt;/italic&amp;gt;

The experiments were carried out on juvenile <italic>Centropristis striata</italic>.The gastric evacuation rate(GER) and effects of different feeding frequencies on growth, survival rate, feed coefficient, nutrient composition and enzyme activity were studied. Results showed that when the water temperature was 22 ℃, the wet weight of stomach content decreased significantly in 4 h, then decreased slowly, and finally reached 0.Three mathematical models, including linear model, exponential model and square root model, were used to fit the gastric evacuation rate. The square root model was more suitable for quantitative description of gastric evacuation curve. The equation was <italic>Y</italic>^0.5 = 2.050-0.084<italic>t</italic>.Under water temperature 22-26 ℃, groups of different feeding frequencies were set:F1 (1 time·d^-1), F2 (2 times·d^-1), F3 (3 times·d^-1) and F4 (4 times·d^-1) . After 8 weeks of experiment, the final body weight, weight gain rate, specific growth rate and condition factor increased with the increasing feeding frequency, and there were significant differences between F1 and other groups (<italic>P</italic><0.05). With the increase of feeding frequency, feed coefficient initially decreased and then increased. The feed coefficient of F1 was the highest and that of F2 was the lowest, and there were significant differences between F1 and F2, as well as between F1,F2 and other groups (<italic>P</italic><0.05). With the increase of feeding frequency, water content, ash content, crude protein content, protein efficiency and protein production value of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>striata</italic> decreased, while crude fat showed an increasing trend, and differences among groups were significant (<italic>P</italic><0.05). There were significant differences in serum total protein between F1 and other groups (<italic>P</italic><0.05). There was no significant difference in albumin among groups (<italic>P</italic>>0.05); globulin of F2 was the highest; glucose and triglyceride content increased with the increase of feeding frequency; alanine aminotransferase content and aspartate aminotransferase content increased initially and then decreased with the increase of feeding frequency, and F3 was the highest. Considering the gastric evacuation rate, growth performance, feed coefficient, nutritional components and other indicators, under the experimental conditions, the suitable feeding frequency of juvenile <italic>Centropristis striata</italic> was F2 (2 times·d^-1), which could provide basis and reference for breeding production.

Metabolism and growth performance of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) juveniles submitted to different feeding frequencies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different feeding frequencies on productive performance, hepatocytes integrity, frequency of muscle fibers distribution, enzymatic activity, and proximate composition of pacu juveniles (Piaractus mesopotamicus). One hundred and sixty fish were distributed in 20 tanks arranged in a recirculation system. The proposed managements of feed offer were the partition of the daily amounts into one, two, three or four times during 60 days. Feed consumption were higher in fish fed four times a day, whilst the hepatosomatic index was higher in fish fed once, but similar to fish that received food two or four times a day. As for plasmatic glucose levels, fish fed twice a day displayed an increase in this parameter. The livers of fish fed two or four times a day presented larger hepatocytes and cellular nuclei. Regarding the proximate composition of carcasses, fish that received one daily feeding presented higher ether extract. It was concluded that feeding frequency is a factor that promotes changes in P. mesopotamicus nutritional metabolism, thus the offer of feed four times a day could be recommended for this species in this life stage.

Effects of Feeding Frequency on Growth Performance and Production of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) Reared in Cage

Optimum feeding schedule is one of the main things for the proper growth of fish and other animals. A study was conducted to optimize the effects of different feeding frequencies on growth performance and production of Rui (Labeo rohita) under pond cage culture system in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Labeo rohita with an average weight of 302.23±4.07g (mean ± SD) were randomly stocked in 9 cages at 30 fish/cage in all the treatment. Fish were fed (4% of body weight) a commercial floating feed with three different feeding schedules: feeding of fish thrice daily in T1treatment; twice in T2 treatment and once in T3 treatment. Water quality parameters were measured during the study period. The physico-chemical parameters of pond water were within suitable ranges for fish culture in cages. The obtained values of the water quality parameters were temperature 28.26 to 28.46°C, pH 6.91 to 6.94, DO 5.04 to 5.33 mg/l, CO2 2.95 to 3.02 mg/L. The mean final weight gain was significantly highest in T1 (345.05 g) a followed by T2 (324.66 g) and T3 (257.82 g). The Specific growth rate (SGR) value were significantly higher in T1 treatment (0.91% bwd-1; Body weight per day) than T2 (0.87% bwd-1) and T3 treatment (0.73% bwd-1). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) value was significantly lower in T1 fish group (2.72) than other two T2 (2.84) and T3 (3.44) treatments. The fish productions were 18.13, 17.55 and 15.67 kg/cage/cycle in T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The highest net profit was found (Bangladeshi Taka, BDT 1445.38) in T1 compared to T2 (BDT 1329.24) and T3 treatment (BDT 937.99). The cost benefit ratio (CBR) was significantly higher in T1 (0.57) than T2 (0.53) and T3 (0.37). The feeding schedule three times in a day was most suitable than other two schedules.

Effects of feeding frequency on juvenile Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis

In this study, the effects of different feeding frequencies on the growth and the expression of genes in the GH/IGF axis were assessed in juvenile Chinese sturgeon. The newly hatched Chinese sturgeons were bred for 38 days at three different feeding frequencies groups (feeding frequency of two times a day, TWD; three times a day, THD; and four times a day, FOD), and the expression levels of the GH/IGF axis responses to feeding frequency were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. In addition, the full-length of the Coding Sequences of IGF I and IGF II genes (489-bp and 660-bp, respectively), were cloned and analyzed from Chinese sturgeon the first time. Multiple sequence alignments of IGFs revealed that Chinese sturgeon are high sequence identity to IGFs from other species. The phylogenetic relationships based on the IGF I and IGF II amino acid sequences were consistent with the traditional classification. After 38 days of growth, the three different feeding frequencies groups of Chinese sturgeon had no significant difference of body length, body weight, specific growth rate, the survival rate, the rate of weight gain and the condition factor. However, the relative expression of Chinese sturgeon GH in the pituitary decreased with increasing feeding frequency. The relative expression of Chinese sturgeon GHR in liver and skeletal muscle was deceased with increasing feeding frequency, while the relative expression of GHR in stomach and intestines at THD group was significantly higher than that of at TWD group and FOD group (p < 0.05). The relative expression of Chinese sturgeon IGF I in liver increased significantly with increasing feeding frequency (p < 0.05). The relative expression of IGF I in stomach and skeletal muscle was similar at the three groups. The relative expression of IGF I in intestines was significantly higher at FOD group than at TWD group and THD group (p < 0.05). The relative expression of Chinese sturgeon IGF II in liver at TWD group was significantly higher than that at THD group and FOD group (p < 0.05). However, the relative expression of IGF II in stomach, intestines and skeletal muscle at THD group was higher than that at TWD group and FOD group. Based on these previous studies that liver IGF I is regarded as a biomarker of growth performance, this result suggested that the juvenile Chinese sturgeon is better for growth when feeding four times daily compared to twice and thrice daily.

Effects of different feeding frequency on Siamese fighting fish (Betta splenden) and Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) Juveniles: Data on growth performance and survival rate.

Optimal feeding frequency in aquaculture is vital for the sustainable and economical production of healthy, high-quality fish. This article described the growth performance and survival rate data in the juvenile phase of two commercially important ornamental fish species; Betta splendens (Siamese fighting fish) and Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) reared at different feeding frequency. Thirty days old juveniles of both species were randomly distributed into 12 3 L rectangular plastic tank (n = 10 fish/tank; three replicates per feeding frequency) where they were subjected to four different feeding frequency treatments (1 meal/day (T1), 2 meal/day (Control), 3 meal/day (T2) and four meal/day (T3)) using commercial ornamental fish micropellets for 60 days. The juvenile's weight and length were measured once a week while the number of live fish were recorded daily. The amount of feed intake was also recorded by weighing in the weight of micropellet left after feeding. At the end of the experimental period, the specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR) and condition factor (K) were calculated for growth performance using the weight, length and feed intake data while the survival rate was calculated using the number of live fish data. Normality test, One-way ANOVA analysis followed by Tukey pos-hoc test were then performed on the data obtained from the calculation of SGR, FCR, K an survival rate. The data presented in this article will aid the rearing process of both species’ juveniles for commercial, experimental and personal usage purpose.

Effects of different feeding frequencies on growth, feed utilisation, digestive enzyme activities and plasma biochemistry of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) fed with different fishmeal and fish oil dietary levels

In the context of Mediterranean aquaculture many efforts have been made in terms of reducing marine-derived ingredients in aquafeed formulation. On the other hand, little attention has been paid to the manipulation of feeding frequency at the on-growing phase, where the high costs related to feeding procedures and the optimisation of feed efficiency and fish health are key aspects for the economic and environmental sustainability of the production cycle. The effects of different feeding frequencies (F) (1F) one meal day−1, (2F) two meals day−1, (3F) three meals day−1 on growth, digestive enzyme activity, feed digestibility and plasma biochemistry were studied in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L. 1758) fed with high (FM30/FO15, 30% fishmeal FM, 15% fish oil, FO) and low (FM10/FO3; 10% FM and 3% FO) FM and FO levels. Isonitrogenous and isolipidic extruded diets were fed to triplicate fish groups (initial weight: 88.3 ± 2.4 g) by a fixed ration over 109 days. No significant effects of feeding frequency on overall performance, feed efficiency and feed digestibility during the on-growing of gilthead sea bream fed high or low fishmeal and fish oil dietary level were observed. Pepsin activity showed an apparent decrease in fish receiving more than one meal a day which was not compensated by an increased production of alkaline proteases (either trypsin or chymotrypsin), particularly in fish fed on low FM. Although there were no effects on growth and feed utilisation at increasing feeding frequency, trypsin decreased significantly with an increasing number of meals only under low FMFO diet. Thus, it seemed that consecutive meals could have amplified the potential trypsin inhibitor effect of the vegetable meal-based diet adopted. Most of the plasma parameters related to nutritional and physiological conditions were not affected by feeding frequency, however an effect on electrolytes (Na+, Cl), cortisol and creatinine was observed. The higher level of plasma creatinine detected in fish fed a single daily meal with high FMFO level seems to be within physiological values in relation to the higher protein efficiency observed with this diet. However, it will require further attention to exclude a possible overload of kidney functionality. According to the results, gilthead sea bream seems able to maximize feed utilisation regardless of the number of meals, and this could be a useful indicator for planning feeding activity at farm level to optimise growth of fish and costs of feeding procedures.

Effects of Feeding Frequency on Growth Performance and Feed Conversion Ratio of Gurami Sago (Osphronemus Goramy) Fingerlings in A Recirculating Aquaculture Pond System

Gurami sago, Osphronemus goramy is the result of newly released domesticated species in 2018. This freshwater fish is endemic in Indonesia, and has a high market price. This study investigated the effects of different feeding frequencies (one, two, three and four meals per day) on growth performance and feed conversion ratio of gurami sago fingerlings over a period of 90 days. The experiment took place in a recirculating aquaculture pond system consisting of twelve rearing units. One-hundred eighty (180) gurami sago fingerlings (with an average initial weight: 2.57±0.73 g and length: 5.77±0.55 cm) were used in the study. Fifteen gurami sago fingerlings were cultured in each pond, and randomly distributed into four experimental treatments with with three replicates. Fish were fed at a feeding rate of 5.0% body weight/day throughout the duration of the study. Fish were sampled every 30 days to evaluate growth in weight and length, and feeding was withheld for 24 h prior to sampling. Results indicated that feed ration of three meals per day had the highest growth performance of fish compared with feed rations of either one, two or four meals per day Feed conversion ratio (1.92±0.14), protein efficiency ratio (13.82±1.22%) and survival (82.22±3.85%) were also better at a feeding ration of three meals per day.

Effects of different feeding frequencies on growth performance and feed consumption in juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus Linnaeus, 1758)

Bu araştırma farklı yemleme sıklıklarının yavru kalkan ( Scophthalmus maximus Linnaeus, 1758)’da büyüme, yem tüketimi ve yemden yararlanma oranına etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Altı muamele, haftada 6 veya 7 gün ikişer öğün (sırasıyla 6:1/1 ve 7:0/2), bir gün ikişer öğün yemleme ve ardından bir veya iki gün aç bırakma (sırasıyla 1:1/2 ve 1:2/2), iki gün çift öğün yemleme bir gün aç bırakma (2:1/2) ve haftada altı gün tek öğün (6:1/1) şeklinde olmuştur. Denemede ortalama başlangıç ağırlığı 110.3±0.5 g olan balıklarla 6 hafta sürmüş ve balıklar her öğünde doyuncaya kadar yemlenmiştir. Her bir muamele üç tekerrürlü olarak test edilmiştir. Deneme sonunda 7:0/2 ve 6:2/2 muamelelerindeki balıklar 1:2/2’dekilerden önemli derecede daha yüksek büyüme oranı göstermiştir (p<0.05). Büyüme hızında gözlenen bu farklılıklar, tüketilen yem miktarının bir yansıması sonucu olmuş; daha sık beslenen balıklar toplamda daha fazla yem tüketmişler ve 7:0/2, 6:2/2 ve 2:1/2’dek i bireyler 1:2/2’dekilere göre önemli derecede daha fazla tüketmişlerdir (p<0.05). Buna zıt olarak, günlük yem tüketimi veya öğün başına yem tüketimi yemleme günü ile zıt bir ilişki göstermiştir (sırasıyla, n= 18, r 2 =0.89 ve n=18, r 2 =0.87). Yemden yararlanma etkinliği muamelelerden etkilenmemiştir. Maksimum büyüme için gerekli minimum öğün sayısı kuadratik kırık modeli ile 1.756 olarak tahmin edilmiş ve bu da aşağı yukarı hafta 6 gün çift öğünlü uygulamaya eşit bulunmuştur.

Transcriptomic Responses in the Livers and Jejunal Mucosa of Pigs under Different Feeding Frequencies.

Simple SummaryNutrition management strategies are closely related to body development and health, and feeding frequency affects pig feed intake, feed efficiency, body composition, and growth performance. However, the effect of feeding one time daily and two times daily on the intestine has been given less attention. In this study, we investigated the transcriptomic responses induced in the livers and jejunal mucosa of growing pigs by daily feeding schedules. We found that when compared with feeding once daily, two times feeding had no significant effect on the growth performance of growing pigs with the same average daily feed intake. A two meals regimen reduced the concentration of triglycerides in serum and liver, affected the body metabolism by promoting lipid transport, lipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, chylomicron formation and transport, gluconeogenesis, and inhibiting adipocyte differentiation. These findings support the idea that different feeding regimens could affect lipid metabolism and can be effective in nutritional strategies against metabolic dysfunction.Feeding frequency in one day is thought to be associated with nutrient metabolism and the physical development of the body in both experimental animals and humans. The present study was conducted to investigate transcriptomic responses in the liver and jejunal mucosa of pigs to evaluate the effects of different feeding frequencies on the body’s metabolism. Twelve Duroc × Landrance × Yorkshire growing pigs with an average initial weight (IW) of 14.86 ± 0.20 kg were randomly assigned to two groups: feeding one time per day (M1) and feeding two times per day (M2); each group consisted of six replicates (pens), with one pig per pen. During the one-month experimental period, pigs in the M1 group were fed on an ad libitum basis at 8:00 am; and the M2 group was fed half of the standard feeding requirement at 8:00 am and adequate feed at 16:00 pm. The results showed that average daily feed intake, average daily gain, feed:gain, and the organ indices were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations in the serum, and the TG concentration in the liver in the M2 groups were significant lower than those in the M1 group, while the T-CHO concentration in the liver were significant higher in the M2 group (p < 0.05). Jejunal mucosa transcriptomic analysis showed the gene of Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1), Solute carrier family 27 member 4 (SLC27A4), Retinol binding protein 2 (RBP2), Lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT), Apolipoprotein A (APOA 1, APOA 4, APOB, and APOC 3) were upregulated in the M2 group, indicating that fat digestion was enhanced in the small intestine, whereas Perilipin (PLIN1 and PLIN2) were downregulated, indicating that body fat was not deposited. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) and Acetyl-CoA acyltransferase 1 (ACAA1) were upregulated in the M2 group, indicating that two times feeding daily could promote the oxidative decomposition of fatty acids. In conclusion, under the conditions in this study, the feeding frequency had no significant effect on the growth performance of pigs, but affected the body’s lipid metabolism, and the increase of feeding frequency promoted the fat digestion in the small intestine and the oxidative decomposition of fatty acids in the liver.

Effects of feeding frequency on fry and fingerlings of African catfish Clarias gariepinus

This study examines the effect of different feeding frequencies on the growth and nutrient utilization of fry and fingerlings of African catfish Clarias gariepinus. The fry were fed ad libitum in triplicate with decapsulated Artemia cysts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 times a day. However, the fingerlings were given an equal daily ration (15% body weight per day) of a commercial diet and administered in 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals per day (using triplicate groups of the fish). At the end of both studies, it was observed that the fry fed five or six rations per day and fingerlings fed three or four meals of the same ration per day exhibited growth advantages compared to lesser feeding frequencies (P ≤ 0.05). Also, crude protein and fat content of the fish significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) as feeding frequency increased. Although a similar trend was observed for survival in the fry, fingerlings survival reduced when the ration was fed beyond three meals per day. The water qualities of all treatments for both studies were within recommended ranges for the culture of the fish. Hence, it was concluded that the fry of C. gariepinus could achieve optimum growth if fed ad libitum about five times a day. However, dividing the daily ration of the fingerlings administered at 15% body weight into three portions and feeding at regular interval seems to be a better feeding strategy for optimum growth and survival of the fish.

Effect of feeding frequency on growth, feed utilisation and cannibalism in climbing perch Anabas testudineus (Bloch 1792) fry

A 35 days experiment was conducted to study the effect of different feeding frequencies on growth and feed utilisation in climbing perch Anabas testudineus (Bloch 1792) fry. Four different feeding frequencies in triplicate viz., 2 (T1), 3 (T2), 4 (T3) and 5 (T4) times a day were evaluated. Fry (144 nos.) of climbing perch were randomly distributed in 12 glass aquaria (50 l) containing 25 l of filtered and well aerated freshwater. Formulated pellet feed was prepared and fed @ 6% body weight to all the experimental groups at different feeding frequencies as mentioned above. At the end of the experiment, fishes were sampled to determine weight gain percentage (WG %), specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), survival percentage (%) and partial cannibalism rate (%). Results revealed that the WG% (112.80±2.25), PER (1.65±0.03) and SGR (2.15±0.03) were significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) in T3 group. FCR (1.55±0.03) was lowest in T3 group. Partial cannibalism rate (%) was significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) in the treatment group T1 (6.33±0.88) whereas the survival rate (%) was lowest in T1 (91.66±4.81). The results therefore, indicated that feeding frequency of 4 times a day (T3) could be the ideal feeding frequency for better growth and feed utilisation during fry rearing of climbing perch.

Effects of different feeding frequencies on growth, cataract development and histopathology of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.)

Three duplicate groups of individually tagged lumpfish (mean initial weight: 22.3 ± 2.5 g) were fed either daily (7DW); four days per week (4DW) or three days per week (3DW) at a feeding rate of 2% body weight day−1 for a period of 126 days. There were significant differences in growth rates between the groups with the 7DW fish having the highest growth rates. Cataract prevalence was 53% lower in the 3DW group compared to the 7DW group. Histological examination showed that in some individuals in all three groups there was moderate expansion of the lamina propria in the mid and hind gut regions of the intestine with tissue most likely to represent fibrous tissue with scattered leucocytes. The severity of inflammation appeared to increase the more frequent the fish were fed with the 7DW fish having the highest inflammation score in these tissues. Feeding fish daily also resulted in higher levels of liver vacuolisation and chronic inflammation of the lamina propria in the mid and hind gut region of the intestines. Results from the present study show that restricted feeding regimes can be used to control growth and improve gut and eye health in lumpfish.

Feedlot performance, feeding behavior and rumen morphometrics of Nellore cattle submitted to different feeding frequencies

Owing to the lack of information in the literature about the ideal feeding frequency adopted by feedlot systems, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of different feeding frequencies on performance, carcass traits, feeding behavior and rumen morphometrics of Nellore cattle. Forty-eight yearling bulls were housed in individual pens with an average initial body weight of 358.2 kg. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block and the treatments were the feeding of cattle one, two, three, or four times daily (n = 12 per treatment). Orthogonal contrasts were used to assess linear, quadratic and cubic relationship between feeding frequency and the dependent variable. As feeding frequency increased, final body weight (p = 0.03) and average daily gain (p = 0.01; one: 0.98 kg d–1; two: 0.96 kg d–1; three: 1.18 kg d–1; four: 1.14 kg d–1) increased linearly and the feed:gain ratio decreased (p = 0.02). Also, as feeding frequency increased, hot carcass weight was affected cubically (p = 0.01; one: 246.9 kg; two: 243.0 kg; three: 263.1 kg; four: 258.1 kg). During the adaptation period dry matter intake variation was affected cubically (p ≤ 0.05; one: 16 %; two: 23 %; three: 14 %; four: 16 %). Increases in feeding frequency affected papillae height (p < 0.01) and papillae surface area (p < 0.01) cubically, as well as producing increases in the mitotic index (p = 0.05; one: 9 %; two: 11 %; three: 13 %; four: 13 %) and cells in proliferation (p = 0.05) linearly. Thus, Nellore yearling bulls should be fed three times daily in feedlot operations.

Effects of feeding frequency on growth performances and RNA : DNA ratio of the gangetic mystus (Mystus cavasius Hamilton, 1822) in laboratory condition

Experiments were conducted for a period of 90 days to estimate the effects of different feeding frequencies (one time per day: T1, two times per day: T2, three times per day:T3 and four times per day: T4) on growth performance of gulsha fish reared in laboratory facilities. Significantly higher condition factor was observed in T2 (1.61 ± 0.02) and lowest in T4 (1.40 ± 0.01). Significantly lowest SGR and ADG were recorded in T4 fish fed four times per day. No significant difference was obtained among different treatments for FCR and survival rate. The highest RNA : DNA ratio (0.93 ± 0.07) was observed in fish of T2 and the lowest ratio (0.57 ± 0.11) was observed in fish of T1. The results of the present study suggest that in laboratory rearing two meals per day could be supplied for better growth performances as per indication of condition factor and RNA:DNA ratio.&#x0D; Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 27(1): 75-83, 2018 (January)

Growth Performance and Food Conversion Efficiency of Juvenile Russian Sturgeon at Different Feeding Frequencies

The effects of different feeding frequencies (one, two, three and four meals per day) on growth performance and feed conversion efficiency of Russian sturgeon juveniles (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) was studied over a period of 45 days. The experiment took place in a recirculating aquaculture system provided with eight rearing units. 160 Russian sturgeon juveniles with an initial weight of 349.81±34.56 g, were randomly distributed, in order to create four experimental variants in duplicate. At the end of the experiment all fish were weight and measured and the growth parameters were calculated. The results indicated that fish fed twice and once per day had the highest growth performance compared to fish feed with three and four meals/day. It was concluded that choosing a feeding frequency of two meals per day is much more sustainable in terms of economic costs.