Feed Efficiency Values Research Articles

Can Taurine Supplementation in a Diet with Soybean Meal Instead of Fish Meal Improve the Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, and Antioxidant Capacity of Spotted Knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus)?

To determine the impact of replacing fish meal (FM) in the diet with various levels of soybean meal (SBM) on the spotted knifejaw Oplegnathus punctatus, a 56 day feeding trial was done. Seven diets were formulated with SBM to replace 0% (SBM0), 30% (SBM30), 40% (SBM40), 50% (SBM50), 60% (SBM60), and 70% (SBM70) of FM protein, and SBM50 + T was developed on the basis of SBM50 with the addition of 1.2% taurine. There were triplicate groups of 18 fish (initial weight: 14.62 ± 0.02 g). The weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) values of the SBM0, SBM30, and SBM50 + T groups were found to be significantly higher than those of the SBM60 and SBM70 groups (p < 0.05). The daily energy gain (DEG), daily nitrogen gain (DNG), daily lipid gain (DLG), energy retention (ER), nitrogen retention (NR), and lipid retention (LR) values decreased significantly with increasing dietary SBM levels (p < 0.05). The highest retention of most amino acids (except lysine) was observed in the SBM30 group (p < 0.05). The lipid content of the whole body and dorsal muscle decreased significantly as dietary SBM levels increased (p < 0.05). Fish fed the SBM70 diet had the lowest serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations (p < 0.05). The effects of different treatments on total cholesterol (T-CHO) were not significant (p > 0.05). Fish fed the SBM0 and SBM30 diets had the highest amylase (AMS) and lipase (LPS) activities (p < 0.05). The lowest liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were observed in the SBM70 group. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of the SBM50 to SBM70 groups were significantly higher than that of other groups (p < 0.05). The levels of interleukin 8 (il-8) mRNA were highest in fish fed the SBM0, SBM30, and SBM50 + T diets (p < 0.05), while the level of transforming growth factor β1 (tgf-β1) was the opposite (p < 0.05). According to the broken line regression of WG and FE, the highest level of FM substitution by SBM for Oplegnathus punctatus was 24.07–25.31%.

Effect of LED Light Color on Color Brightness, Growth, and Survival of Comet Fish (Carassius auratus)

Comet fish (Carassius auratus) is a type of freshwater ornamental fish with a high selling value due to its unique body shape and bright colour. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different LED (Light Emitting Diode) light colours on colour brightness, growth, and survival of comet fish. This study applies an experimental approach with an experimental design in the form of a completely randomized design (CRD) and consists of 5 light treatments and 3 replications, namely A (room light), B (white LED), C (blue LED), D (green LED), and E (red LED). The results showed that LED light treatment had a significant effect on the colour quality and feed efficiency, but did not significantly affect the growth and survival of comet fish. The best colour quality was found in treatment E (red LED) with an increase in the TCF (Toca Color Finder) score of 6.22 and colour performance on the back by 80.80%, pectoral fin colour by 64.91%, and tail fin by 71 .18%. The best feed efficiency was obtained in treatment C (blue LED) with a feed efficiency value of 57.48%. The behavioural responses of comet fish did not make any difference between each LED treatment. The water quality of the comet fish rearing media has a temperature value ranging from 25.70 – 29.20 C. The pH value ranges from 7.29 to 8.50. Meanwhile, dissolved oxygen ranges from 8.00 – 12.20 mg/L

Corn-starch based formulated diet has growth and feed utilization efficiency advantages over trash fish diet for juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus

Until now, trash fish/low valued fish continues to be widely used in marine cage culture of pompano and many other carnivorous species in China and other Asian countries. This study is the first attempt to compare the performance of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus fed trash fish or starch-based formulated diets. Three isonitrogenous (41 %) and isolipidic (11 %) diets containing 16, 22 or 28 % corn starch were prepared. Juvenile pompano (mean initial weight: 28.0 ± 0.3 g) were fed either formulated diets or trash fish on a equivalent dry-matter basis for 8 weeks. The survival rates were significantly higher in fish fed starch diets than fish fed trash fish (P < 0.05). Specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed the 22 % and 28 % starch diets was significantly higher than fish fed 16 % starch diet and trash fish. Feed intake (FI) of fish fed trash fish was significantly higher than those fed formulated diets; however, feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of fish fed the formulated diets were higher than those fed trash fish, with the 22 % starch dietary group having a significantly higher FE value than fish fed trash fish. The whole-body energy retention (ER) of fish fed the diet containing 22 % starch had the highest ER, significantly higher than those fed 16 % starch and trash fish. The moisture in whole-body tissues of fish fed trash fish was significantly higher than the formulated dietary groups. On the other hand, whole-body protein and lipid contents of fish fed the 22 % starch diet was significantly higher than the other dietary treatments. The whole-body lipid level of fish fed trash fish was significantly lower than the other dietary groups. The body condition indices were significantly higher for fish fed formulated diets compared to those fed trash fish. The viscerosomatic index (VSI) was decreased with increasing dietary starch levels. Hexokinase (HK) activity significantly increased with increasing dietary starch levels, whereas pyruvate kinase (PK) activity had an opposite trend. The liver and muscle glycogen contents were generally increased with increasing dietary starch levels. In addition, the intestinal microbial communities of fish fed the formulated diets and trash fish was distinctly different. The results shown that formulated diet had advantages in performance and feed utilization efficiency over trash fish. Corn starch can be used as a suitable dietary carbohydrate. Evaluated on growth and FE, the optimal dietary corn starch level for T. ovatus is 22–24 % of diet.

The combination of Lactobacillus sp. and turmeric flour (Curcuma longa) in feed on growth, feed conversion and survival ratio of Litopenaeus vannamei Boone, 1931

White shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultivation activities have developed rapidly in Indonesia. White shrimp aquaculture which is carried out intensively with high stocking densities has caused several problems, such as low survival and suboptimal growth. This study aimed to increase the growth, feed conversion, and survival of white shrimp through a combination of probiotics (Lactobacillus sp.) + turmeric flour (Curcuma longa) in feed. The method used in this study was Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatment levels and three replications. The results revealed a significant effect (P0.05) on the value of the daily growth rate (DGR), absolute growth rate (AGR), specific growth rate (SGR), survival rate (SR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed efficiency (FE), but no significant effect (P0.05) on the value of the absolute length rate (ALR). Giving probiotics 10 ml+5 g turmeric flour/kg feed (treatment B) was the best treatment for white shrimp aquaculture, including DGR, AGR, ALR, LPS, SR, FCR, and FE values. Furthermore, the results also revealed that increasing the concentration of turmeric flour in the feed, was negatively correlated to the growth and survival of white shrimp.

Anchovies (Stolephorus sp.) By-product Material as a Fish-feed Ingredient of Seurukan Fish (Osteochilus vittatus): Effect on Growth Performance and Gut Morphology

Fish meal is an important part of raw material for fish feed. However, the use of fish meal is considered unsustainable, compete with human being and expensive. By product of Anchovy (Stolephorus sp.) which contains high protein is potential to be used to replace fish meal. Present study aimed to determine the utilization of anchovy by-products raw materials as feed ingredient for seurukan fish (Osteochilus vittatus) and evaluate its effect on the growth performance and intestinal morphology. In total 250 seurukan fish (initial weight 0.67 ± 0.01 g) was randomly divided into four triplicates groups: control group, and experimental diets which had different inclusion level of anchovy by-products meal: 50%, 35%, and 20%. Fish were fed with different diet at level of 8% of body weight three times a day for 28 days. Present results showed that the inclusion of anchovy by-product meal in the feed by 50% can produce a higher value of weight gain (0.47±0.02 g), length gain (0.69±0.09 cm), SGR (2.20±0.51%) and feed efficiency (77.89±3.71%) compared to control feed (p&lt;0.05). There was no significant difference in the survival rate and gut length ratio among groups of seurukan fish. Meanwhile, the average villi length and villi width of the seurukan fish fed experimental groups increased significantly compared to the control group (p&lt;0.05). In conclusion, the 50% anchovy by-products meal inclusion in the diet of seurukan fish is beneficial to enhance growth, feed efficiency and improved feed absorption as indicated by histological analysis.

Protein metabolism in the liver and white muscle is associated with feed efficiency in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) reared in seawater: Evidence from proteomic analysis

Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie differences in feed efficiency (FE) is an important step toward optimising growth and achieving sustainable salmonid aquaculture. In this study, the liver and white muscle proteomes of feed efficient (EFF) and inefficient (INEFF) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) reared in seawater were investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In total, 2746 liver and 702 white muscle proteins were quantified and compared between 21 EFF and 22 INEFF fish. GSEA showed that gene sets related to protein synthesis were enriched in the liver and white muscle of the EFF group, while conversely, pathways related to protein degradation (amino acid catabolism and proteolysis, respectively) were the most affected processes in the liver and white muscle of INEFF fish. Estimates of individual daily feed intake and share of the meal within tank were significantly higher in the INEFF than the EFF fish showing INEFF fish were likely more dominant during feeding and overfed. Overeating by the INEFF fish was associated with an increase in protein catabolism. This study found that fish with different FE values had expression differences in the gene sets related to protein turnover, and this result supports the hypothesis that protein metabolism plays a role in FE.

​Effects of Rumen-protected Glucose Supplementation on Growth Performance, Body Measurements and Plasma Biochemical Indices of Fattening Chinese Simmental Bulls

Background: The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of rumen-protected glucose (RPG) supplementation on growth performance, body measurements and plasma biochemical indices of Simmental bulls in Northeast China during the fattening period. Methods: A 90 d feedlot study was conducted using thirty Simmental bulls (body weight = 444.3±26.9 kg). Bulls were randomly allocated into three groups to receive a basal total mixed ration (TMR) supplemented daily with 0 g RPG (control, Con), 100 g RPG (RPG100) or 300 g RPG (RPG300) per bull. Growth performance, body measurements and plasma biochemical indices were evaluated. Result: The greater ADG (P less than 0.05) and lower feed efficiency value (P less than 0.01) were found for bulls fed RPG compared to CON diet. Bulls fed RPG had increased body height and chest girth growth compared with CON diet (P less than 0.05). The plasma glucose (GLC) concentration was higher for bulls fed RPG300 diet than CON and RPG100 diets (P less than 0.01). Nonestesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration was lower for RPG compared with CON treatment (P less than 0.05). Our analysis suggests that a daily supplement of 300 g RPG is an effective way to increase the body’s total GLC provision and thus improve the growth performance of Simmental bulls during the fattening period.

Effect of Fermented Rice Bran used as Feed Ingredient on Apparent Digestibility Coefficient of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Feed

This study aimed to investigate the effect of fermented rice bran used as a feed ingredient on the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of tilapia feed. The fermentation process was conducted under aerobic conditions using 2% Aspergillus niger for 24 hours. Moreover, three different types of feed were prepared with 3 replicates and these include treatment A (reference feed), B (unfermented rice bran feed), and C (fermented rice bran feed). These treatments were provided for the tilapia for 30 days. Meanwhile, the tilapia used had an average weight of 5 g/fish and reared using a recirculation system with a density of 16 fish/aquarium. The results showed that the value of ADCenergy (78.11%) in treatment C was significantly highest (P<0.05) compared to other treatments, while the lowest was in treatment B with 72.24%. The values of ADCdry matter (67.56%) and feed efficiency (64.20%) in treatment C were also higher (P<0.05) compared to treatment B with 57.02% and 54.74% respectively. However, there was no significantly difference (p>0.05) in the value of ADCprotein, ADClipid, and SGR among the treatments. These results indicate the rice bran fermented using A. niger is potential to be used as a raw material ingredient for tilapia feed.

Economic values of reproductive, growth, feed efficiency and carcass traits in Nellore cattle.

A bioeconomic model was developed to calculate the economic value (ev) of reproductive and growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass traits of a seedstock Nellore herd. Data from a full-cycle cattle operation (1,436 dams) located in the Brazilian Cerrado were assessed. The ev was calculated by the difference in profit before and after one-unit improvement in the trait, with others remaining unchanged. The ev was standardized by the phenotypic standard deviation of each trait. Preweaning average daily gain (ADG) was the most economically important trait evaluated (R$ 58.04/animal/year), followed by age at first calving (R$ 44.35), postweaning ADG (R$ 31.43), weight at 450days (R$ 25.36), accumulated productivity (R$ 21.43), ribeye area (R$ 21.35), calving interval (R$ 19.97), feed efficiency (R$ 15.24), carcass dressing per cent (R$ 8.27), weight at 120days (R$ 6.22), weight at 365days (R$ 6.06), weight at weaning (210days, R$ 5.82), stayability (R$ 5.70) and the probability of early calving (R$ 0.32). The effects of all traits on profits are evidence that their selection may result in the economic and genetic progress of the herd if there is genetic variability.

Revealing Pathways Associated with Feed Efficiency and Meat Quality Traits in Slow-Growing Chickens.

Simple SummaryKorat is a new chicken breed with high-protein meat, low fat, and low purine content. However, the effects of improving the breed’s feed efficiency, which would enhance production, on meat quality are unknown. Hence, understanding the genetic architecture underlying feed efficiency and meat quality traits in chicken offers new opportunities toward genetic improvement. Through a weighted gene co-expression network analysis on Korat chickens, the presented results provide new information on the molecular pathways that play important roles in FE and meat quality that could help achieve the optimum feed efficiency while maintaining meat quality in Korat chickens.Here, molecular pathways and genes involved in the feed efficiency (FE) and thigh-meat quality of slow-growing Korat chickens were investigated. Individual feed intake values and body weights were collected weekly to the calculate feed conversion ratios (FCR) and residual feed intake. The biochemical composition and meat quality parameters were also measured. On the basis of extreme FCR values at 10 weeks of age, 9 and 12 birds from the high and the low FCR groups, respectively, were selected, and their transcriptomes were investigated using the 8 × 60 K Agilent chicken microarray. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to determine the correlations between co-expressed gene modules and FE, thigh-meat quality, or both. Groups of birds with different FE values also had different nucleotide, lipid, and protein contents in their thigh muscles. In total, 38 modules of co-expressed genes were identified, and 12 were correlated with FE and some meat quality traits. A functional analysis highlighted several enriched functions, such as biological processes, metabolic processes, nucleotide metabolism, and immune responses. Several molecular factors were involved in the interactions between FE and meat quality, including the assembly competence domain, baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5, cytochrome c oxidase assembly factor 3, and myosin light chain 9 genes.

Economic value of residual feed intake in dairy cattle breeding goals

In the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, a breeding value for Saved feed is targeted. Saved feed consists of two sub-traits, maintenance and metabolic efficiency, which are evaluated as residual feed intake. This study evaluated residual feed intake in relation to calculated economic values to set breeding goal. Residual feed intake typically is derived using phenotypic or genetic regression. However, when calculating economic value (EV) for residual feed intake, phenotypic and genetic residual feed intake save feed, and so are not relevant; yet, EV is important for the genetic progress of such traits. Thus, phenotypic regression coefficients were used to obtain the economic value of residual feed intake in the current simulation. The SimHerd model was used in this study to quantify the EV of RFI. The economic value of phenotypic residual feed intake ranged from 0.16 to 0.18 €/kg dry matter, corresponding to 0.16 to 0.18 €/Scandinavian feed unit (SFU – 1 SFU corresponds to 0.97 kg dry matter and 6.7 mega joule net energy) in the SimHerd simulation. Thus, the economic value of feed efficiency corresponded to the applied feed price in the simulations (0.18 €/SFU). By splitting phenotypic residual feed intake into two periods (before and after 84 days in milk), we showed that the simulation of biological changes during early lactation showed that the economic value was not dependent on (P > 0.05) residual feed intake being modelled as one or two periods. However, profit per annual cow differed significantly between simulations using one or two residual feed intake periods (P < 0.001). In conclusion, it is very important to select the appropriate the method to estimate breeding values for residual feed intake.

Tepung limbah fillet ikan nila sebagai alternatif subsitusi tepung ikan komersial dalam formulasi pakan bagi pertumbuhan benih ikan Nila (Oreochromis niloticus)

The research was held on May 7th – 30th 2021 in the Aquaculture Technology Laboratory at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine of Sam Ratulangi University with the objectives were to determine tilapia fish fillet waste flour’s substitution impact for the growth of the seed and to determine the impact of the tilapia fish fillet waste flour towards the feed’s efficiency. The research lasted for three consecutive weeks. Fish culture container was plastic container with the height of 50 cm and the width of 30 cm for the total of 18 pieces containers. Each container was flowed by 10 liters of water. Fish used had a size of 3 to 5 cm with a weight of 1 gram for each tilapia and stocked as many as 10 fish in each container. The pellets used was flour pellets of tilapia waste fillet with different compositions. Each container was labeled alphabetically: A (0%), B (10%), C (30%), D (30%), E (40%), and F (50%). Frequency of feeding was 3 times a day (08:00 AM, 12:00 AM and 04:00 PM) with a feeding dose of 10%. Water was changed every 4 days. Growth observation was conducted every week using digital scales 0,1 gram. Experimental contrivance was random contrivance exhaustive. Analysis used analysis of diversity. The observed data included relative growth and feed efficiency values. The result showed treatment E gave a better relative growth response and feed efficiency value than other treatments.

Analysis of merged whole blood transcriptomic datasets to identify circulating molecular biomarkers of feed efficiency in growing pigs

BackgroundImproving feed efficiency (FE) is an important goal due to its economic and environmental significance for farm animal production. The FE phenotype is complex and based on the measurements of the individual feed consumption and average daily gain during a test period, which is costly and time-consuming. The identification of reliable predictors of FE is a strategy to reduce phenotyping efforts.ResultsGene expression data of the whole blood from three independent experiments were combined and analyzed by machine learning algorithms to propose molecular biomarkers of FE traits in growing pigs. These datasets included Large White pigs from two lines divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI), a measure of net FE, and in which individual feed conversion ratio (FCR) and blood microarray data were available. Merging the three datasets allowed considering FCR values (Mean = 2.85; Min = 1.92; Max = 5.00) for a total of n = 148 pigs, with a large range of body weight (15 to 115 kg) and different test period duration (2 to 9 weeks). Random forest (RF) and gradient tree boosting (GTB) were applied on the whole blood transcripts (26,687 annotated molecular probes) to identify the most important variables for binary classification on RFI groups and a quantitative prediction of FCR, respectively. The dataset was split into learning (n = 74) and validation sets (n = 74). With iterative steps for variable selection, about three hundred’s (328 to 391) molecular probes participating in various biological pathways, were identified as important predictors of RFI or FCR. With the GTB algorithm, simpler models were proposed combining 34 expressed unique genes to classify pigs into RFI groups (100% of success), and 25 expressed unique genes to predict FCR values (R2 = 0.80, RMSE = 8%). The accuracy performance of RF models was slightly lower in classification and markedly lower in regression.ConclusionFrom small subsets of genes expressed in the whole blood, it is possible to predict the binary class and the individual value of feed efficiency. These predictive models offer good perspectives to identify animals with higher feed efficiency in precision farming applications.

Post feeding protection from Bilimbi to Motile Aeromonas Septicemia disease in African Catfish

Bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi) is plant medicinal used to control fish diseases both prevention and treatment. This study aims to determine the protection period of bilimbi-fed which different duration in catfish to enhance catfish (Clarias sp.) immunity in order to protect fish from Aeromonas hydrophila infection. The Randomized Block Design Factorial (RBDF) with 2 factors was used in this experimental. The first factor (A) was the period of feeding containing bilimbi juice consisting of 3 treatments, namely 0 days (P0), 7 days (P1), and 14 days (P2). The second factor (B) was the protection period after the administration of bilimbi juice to the infection of A. hydrophila bacteria consisting of 3 treatment, 5 days (T5), 10 days (T10), and (T15). This research was conducted at the Laboratory of Aquaculture Experiment Pond, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University in October-December 2018. The parameters observed included prevalence of infection, growth, survival, feed efficiency and water quality. The result revealed that by giving 300 mL.kg-1 of bilimbi juice with different periods significantly affected the period of fish protection for A. hydrophila infection. The best prevalence value was 3,33% (P2T5), and the best survival of the fish before infection was 94,17% (P2), while the best fish survival post infection was 100% (P2T5), the best feed efficiency value was 56,47% (P2), water quality under experiment were 26-29,70C for temperature, pH 6.8-7.7, dissolved oxygen 4.35-5.37 mg/L and ammonia 0.09-0.21 mg/L.Keywords:Averrhoa bilimbiAeromonas hydrophilaEthnomedicinal plantFish immunityMotile Aeromonas Septicemia

Mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, as a feed ingredient for juvenile olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

An 8-week feeding trial was designed to evaluate the potential of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) as a locally available unconventional source of protein in a practical diet for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Three hundred juveniles (initial weight, 33.5 ± 0.01 g) were randomly distributed into five dietary groups in triplicate (20 fish per tank), and each group was hand-fed one of the experimental diets containing a graded level of a mealworm meal (MW) replacing 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 % of fish meal (FM) protein (designated as MW0, MW20, MW40, MW60, and MW80). The specific growth rates of juvenile flounders revealed a decreasing trend with increasing dietary MW levels. However, feed utilization efficiency tended to improve with the increasing percentage of dietary FM replacement up to 40 % but gradually decreased in higher replacement levels. The results displayed a linear and quadratic negative effect of dietary MW inclusion level on nutrient digestibility. A significant negative linear trend was detected between dietary MW content and plasma total cholesterol. Except for lipid content, which displayed a significant decreasing trend as the dietary MW content increased, no other changes were evident in the fillet proximate composition. Significant positive linear and quadratic trends were observed between fillet C18:1n-9 (oleic acid; OA) and C18:2n-6 (linoleic acid; LA) levels and dietary MW content, where the OA and LA values increased in a dose-dependent manner. The fillet Σn3 / Σn6 ratio and atherogenic index demonstrated significant decreasing trends with dietary inclusion of MW while the fillet thrombogenic index and hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic fatty acid ratio exhibited significant positive trends with increasing values. Myeloperoxidase activity declined with replacement of up to 40 % FM protein but thereafter gradually increased at higher replacement levels. Glutathione peroxidase activity generally was enhanced with increasing dietary MW inclusion. Dietary MW inclusion had no significant impact on the bacterial community of the juvenile flounder’s hindgut. Although replacing up to 80 % of FM with MW may promote an immunostimulatory effect, in order to avoid unfavorable effects on feed efficiency and nutritional value of the fillet lipid fraction no more than 40 % of FM is recommended to be replaced by a MW in diets for olive flounder juveniles. Our findings could promote the utilization of MW in olive flounder feed, which may not only reduce dependence on high priced and finite feed ingredients, but also enhance farmed fish health status.

Potential Benefits of Ripe Cultivated Banana (Musa sapientum Linn.) in Practical Diet on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization and Disease Resistance of Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x O. mossambicus)

The potential benefits of ripe cultivated banana CV. Kluai Namwa (Musa sapientum Linn.) as a natural feed supplementation in practical diet on growth performance, feed utilization, innate immunity and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae infection in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x O. mossambicus) were evaluated. Fish were fed with the test diet containing different levels of ripe cultivated banana (RCB) supplements (10, 30 and 50 g/kg diet) compared with the negative control and positive control diet for 60 days. Results showed that growth parameters, feed efficiency and lysozyme activity values in the positive control group (vitamins and minerals premix added) were significantly higher than the negative control group (without any premix supplements) but differences among the RCB supplementary diet group and the positive control group were not statistically significant. After challenged with Streptococcus agalactiae, the cumulative mortality of fish in the positive control group was lowest (0%), the percent survivals were 62.22%, 66.67%, 83.33% and 88.89% in the negative control, 10RCB, 30RCB, and 50RCB treatments, respectively. These results showed that the RCB supplementary diets had unaffected on growth performances and could be potential as an immunostimulant to improve fish health for red tilapia aquaculture.

Growth, nutritional efficiency, and profitability of juvenile GIFT strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in biofloc system on graded feeding rates

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the feeding rate (0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10% of body weight per day; BW.d−1) on growth performance, nutritional efficiency, and profitability of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles (3.1 ± 0.1 g) using the biofloc technology (BFT) system for 70 days. Fish were randomly stocked (15 fish. Tank−1) in 24 experimental units (50 L), while water quality parameters remained within acceptable limits for the species during the experiment. Animal performance parameters were influenced by feeding rates (P < 0.05), but not survival (P > 0.05), which remained around 81%. Final body weight, weight gain, and thermal growth coefficient increased significantly (P < 0.05); however, the gradual increase in feeding rates had reduced feed efficiency, protein, and energy productive values (P < 0.05). Whole-body lipid and gross energy increased significantly (P < 0.05) as the feeding rate increased, while the moisture content showed an opposite trend up to 5.0% BW.d−1. The results show that Nile tilapia juveniles raised in the BFT system should be fed between 4.3 and 6.1% BW.d−1 to exhibit improved profitability and growth.

Effect of Probiotics Bacillus subtilis on Feed Efficiency and Egg Mass of Laying Hens

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of probiotics Bacillus subtilis on feed efficiency and egg mass of laying hens. This research was using 36 of 38 weeks-old laying hens Isa Brown strain. The concentration of probiotics B. subtilis was 1 x 109 CFU/ml, there were three kinds of treatments, P0 (without given probiotics B. subtilis), P1 (given 0.1 gram of probiotics B. subtilis per kg of feed), and P2 (given 0.2 gram of probiotic B. subtilis per kg of feed). The results of feed efficiency, the provision of probiotics can provide a significantly different values (p &lt;0.05) between treatments either P0, P1, or P2. Provision probiotics P1 showed the highest value of feed efficiency (81.72 ± 5.28), while the lowest value at P0 was (64.06 ± 3.30). The results showed that there were significantly different in egg mass values (p &lt;0.05) between treatments both P0, P1, and P2. Probiotic P2 shows the highest value (53.30 ± 2.13), while the lowest egg mass value of probiotics is as much as P1 (40.83 ± 4.73). Based on the results of this study it can be concluded that the B. subtilis probiotics both at a dose of 0.1 gram / kg of feed and a dose of 0.2 gram / kg of feed can affect the growth performance of laying hens.

The effect of different feeding on growth, feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency in synodontis (Synodontis eupterus) seed

Synodontis fish is a ornamental freshwater fish that has high economic value and is popular with the community because of its upside-down swimming habit. This encourages farmers to increase production output. The resulting production depends on the maintenance method, which starts from the seeding stage. One of the influential factors in hatchery activities include the availability of feed for seed. This research was carried out on December 23, 2019, until January 23, 2020 at Research Institute for Ornamental Fish Culture, Depok, West Java, which aimed to determine the growth, feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency of synodontis fish seed with different feeds. The method used in this study was sampling the length and body weight of the fish which was carried out once a week in 5 aquariums with different feeding treatments. The monitoring results showed that the synodontis fish seed experienced growth (length and weight) every week. However, the given feed was not efficient because it had an FCR value was > 2.0 and an feed efficiency value was <50%. As for the best feed, it is given to synodontis fish seed in the form of natural food (Chironomus sp.) which have high value of growth rate.

Divergent values in feed efficiency promote changes on meat quality of fattening lambs

• Feed efficiency in fattening lambs is imparied by genetic and programming events. • Caracass and meat quality can be modified due to differences in feed efficiency. • Meat from low efficient lambs is more tender and loses less water. • Some fatty acids are increased in the meat of low efficient lambs. • Other physicochemical traits are scarcely modified according to feed efficiency. Fattening lambs in Mediterranean countries are produced under intensive production systems where high concentrate intake levels are reached. It is also well known that fattening lambs may present wide differences in feed efficiency, so the ability to transform the feed consumed into meat is variable and may impact the profitability of the farm and the quality of the final product obtained. Accordingly, it is essential to understand the differences in meat quality caused by divergent feed efficiency values before making recommendations to the farmers. Therefore, the aim of the present study has been to study the effects of two groups of Assaf fattening lambs with differences in feed efficiency on physicochemical parameters, fatty acid content and volatile compounds of meat. Lambs were fed a complete pelleted diet (CPD) ad libitum and slaughtered when they were 85-days old. The results obtained reveal that the less efficient lambs presented no differences in caracass and non-carcass parameters, but increased tenderness of the meat, probably caused by reduced cooking losses and higher amounts of several fatty acids ( e.g. , 17:0, 19:00, 20:0, c 12−18:1, t 10−18:1 + t 11−18:1, 19:1, c 11−20:1, t 18:2). Other physicochemical traits such as chemical composition, pH or colour changes of meat under refrigerated storage were not significantly affected by feed efficiency in the present study, but volatiles compounds responsible of the flavor of cooked meat ( e.g. , 2-pentylfuran) presented a trend towards significantly lower values ( P = 0.056) in low efficient lambs. All these results suggest the need for a deeper knowledge (including differential gene expression analyses and sensory characteristics) regarding the overall effects of feed efficiency on meat quality before implementing breeding programs for high efficient Assaf fattening lambs.