Diet Formulation Research Articles

Inclusion of Dunaliella salina in cold extruded and softly dried diets as a promising way to enhance the quality of Paracentrotus lividus gonads

Abstract The unicellular alga Dunaliella salina is a good source of β-carotene whereas the macroalga Porphyra sp. is rich in flavor-enhancing amino-acids such as glycine. Therefore, this study focused on the development of new dietary formulations for Paracentrotus lividus, including D. salina, Porphyra or glycine, aimed at improving roe color and flavour. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were produced by cold extrusion and soft drying, meant to protect carotenoids. Sea urchins were fed these diets every 2 days in a recirculating aquatic system, at 18ºC. At the end of 8 weeks all diets proved equally effective in promoting growth and improving the gonadossomatic index. However, there were differences in the feed conversion ratio, which was lower in sea-urchins grown upon a diet based on commercial macroalgae mix and supplemented with D. salina at 1.5% (D2). Notable differences were found between males and females on carotenoids deposition in both gut and gonads, gonadal proximal composition, volatile compounds and anti-oxidant activity. This suggests sex-related differences in both nutrient assimilation and several metabolic processes. Gut carotenoids were influenced by both sex and diet, but gonads carotenoids were only affected by sex. All diets supplemented with Dunaliella improved gonad colour, resulting in redder and darker gonads when compared to a control (non-supplemented) diet. In particular D2 allowed to produce gonads with a higher colour saturation (C*) and the lowest hue angle (h*), comparable to a gourmet reference. Glycine supplementation and Porphyra led to an increase of sweet tasting amino acids in P. lividus roe. Dunaliella salina and Porphyra also increased umami tasting amino acids. The overall results point to D2 as the most promising formulation for P. lividus grow-out, as it allowed to obtain good colour roe at a lower feed conversion ratio.

Impact of Hypocaloric Diets on Weight Loss and Body Composition in Obese Dogs: A Meta-Analysis

Canine obesity is a complex, multifactorial condition marked by excessive body fat accumulation due to a sustained positive energy balance. Over the past decade, its global prevalence has risen significantly in most industrialized nations. Despite the availability of numerous commercial diets designed for obesity management in dogs, these products exhibit considerable variability in nutrient composition, and there is currently no standardized guideline on optimal macronutrient levels for effective weight loss. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of specific macronutrient levels on weight loss and body composition in obese dogs. A comprehensive literature search was conducted from 2022 to 2024 across PUBMED, Scielo, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Out of an initial 1727 documents, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into this meta-analysis. Diets with energy densities below 3.275 kcal, protein levels above 25%, total dietary fiber exceeding 12%, lower fat (<10%), and reduced non-nitrogenous extract (<40%) demonstrated beneficial effects on all evaluated parameters, including weight loss and body composition assessment. This meta-analysis provides evidence-based nutritional recommendations on optimal caloric, protein, fiber, fat, and carbohydrate levels for hypocaloric diet formulations, supporting healthy weight loss and lean mass preservation in obese dogs. These findings contribute to the development of effective dietary strategies that enhance canine quality of life and longevity.

Stability study of Ashtaguna manda As Ready-To-Eat (RTE) form – An Ayurveda Based Therapeutic Diet Formulation

Stability study of Ashtaguna manda As Ready-To-Eat (RTE) form – An Ayurveda Based Therapeutic Diet Formulation

Investigating variability of craft microbreweries spent grains for classification and incorporation into precision diet formulation through multivariate analyses

Investigating variability of craft microbreweries spent grains for classification and incorporation into precision diet formulation through multivariate analyses

Dynamic Modeling for Prediction of Amino Acid Requirements in Broiler Diets

Accurate prediction of amino acid requirements in fast-growing broilers is crucial for cost-effective diet formulation and reducing nitrogen excretion to mitigate environmental impact. This study developed a dynamic model to predict standardized ileal digestible amino acid requirements throughout broiler growth using a factorial approach and the comparative slaughter technique, considering maintenance, growth, and gender factors. The model was based on an experiment were designed using 480 15-day-old Arbor Acres chickens randomly assigned to 10 groups. A linear equation was derived using established growth and protein deposition curves to calculate maintenance and growth coefficients. Models for five essential amino acids under different amino-acid-to-protein ratios were created (R2 > 0.70). The model effectively estimated daily amino acid needs and specific time intervals. Comparisons with NRC (1994), BTPS (2011), and Arbor Acres manual (2018) showed higher predicted requirements for lysine, methionine, valine, and threonine than Arbor Acres (2018) and BTPS (2011), significantly exceeding NRC (1994). Arginine predictions aligned with BTPS in early stages, but were slightly lower in later stages. This supports the further development of dynamic amino acid models.

Genomic Analysis Reveals Novel Genes and Adaptive Mechanisms for Artificial Diet Utilization in the Silkworm Strain Guican No.5.

The transition from traditional mulberry leaf feeding to artificial diet cultivation represents a major advancement in modern sericulture, yet the genetic mechanisms driving this adaptation remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the genomic basis of artificial diet adaptation in the silkworm strain Guican No.5 through whole-genome resequencing and transcriptome analysis. We identified 8,935,179 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across all chromosomes, accounting for 2.01% of the genome, with particularly high densities observed in chromosomes 23, 26, and 28. Our analysis also revealed 879 novel transcripts, many of which are involved in digestion, detoxification, and stress response pathways. Key novel genes, including three carboxylesterases, two cytochrome P450s, one heat shock protein, and one copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, exhibited varying degrees of sequence similarity to known proteins, suggesting modifications to existing genetic frameworks. Notably, one novel P450 gene displayed only 74.07% sequence identity with its closest homolog, indicating the emergence of a new protein sequence. Additionally, several key genes showed high similarity to wild silkworm (Bombyx mandarina) proteins, underscoring their evolutionary origins. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning artificial diet adaptation in silkworms and offer genomic resources to enhance artificial diet formulations and breeding programs in sericulture.

Formulation and Nutritional Quality of Complementary Foods Developed from Red Beans, Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes and Peanut Flour

Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies during infancy and early childhood are major problems facing developing countries, particularly Cameroon. This study aimed to formulate highly nutritious infant foods from locally available and affordable raw materials: orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown in Cameroon. The formulated diets were analysed for their proximate (protein, fat, ash, fibre, carbohydrates), mineral (iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus), and antinutritional contents using standard methods. They were compared with the FAO/WHO standards. A total of two formulations were produced, with compositional proportions calculated based on recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for young children. The formulated ingredient varied 57-58% sweet potato, 23-25% beans, and 18-19% peanut. The linear programming method combined the samples into different formulations to meet FAO/WHO/UNICEF requirements. The results showed that the nutritional composition of the flour on a dry weight basis was as follows: crude protein: 12.66-13.66g/100g, lipid: 8.95-9.13g/100g, carbohydrates: 61.58-63.71g/100g, fibre: 5.58-6.22g/100g, ash: 3.82-4.64g/100g, energy: 381.53-387.65 Kcal, iron 9.45-10.46mg/100g, zinc 3.00-4.24mg/100g. The proximate contents of the formulated flours meet the FAO/WHO standards, except the energy content. The results of the study showed that the formulated diets contain very low antinutritional factors (phytate: 0.12 mg/100g and trypsin inhibitory content 0.30 to 0.35mg/100g). Based on the results, the complementary food formulated from sweet potato, beans, and peanut flour is a good source of protein, iron, and zinc and would contribute to the daily requirements of infants and young children.

Identification of Three POMCa Genotypes in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) and Their Differential Physiological Responses to Feed Domestication.

Diverse feeding habits in teleosts involve a wide range of appetite-regulating factors. As an appetite-suppressing gene, the polymorphisms of POMCa in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were validated via sequencing and high-resolution melting (HRM). The frequency distribution of different POMCa genotypes were analyzed in two populations, and physiological responses of different POMCa genotypes to feed domestication were investigated. The indel of an 18 bp AU-rich element (ARE) in the 3' UTR and four interlocked SNP loci in the ORF of 1828 bp of POMCa cDNA sequence were identified in largemouth bass and constituted three genotypes of POMC-A I, II, and III, respectively. POMC-A I and Allele I had increased frequencies in the selection population than in the non-selection population (p < 0.01), 63.55% vs. 43.33% and 0.7850 vs. 0.6778, respectively. POMC-A I possessed the lowest value of POMCa mRNA during fasting (p < 0.05) and exhibited growth and physiological advantages under food deprivation and refeeding according to the levels of body mass and four physiological indicators, i.e., cortisol (Cor), growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and glucose (Glu). The identification of three POMCa genotypes, alongside their varying physiological responses during feed domestication, suggests a selective advantage that could be leveraged in molecular marker-assisted breeding of largemouth bass that are adapted to feeding on formula diet.

Comparative Physiological, Proteomic, and Metabolomic Insights into a Promising Low-Pruning Mulberry Cultivar for Silkworm Rearing.

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is an economically significant plant in the production of silk through feeding leaves to silkworm larvae. Traditional silkworm rearing is heavily labor-intensive, particularly in leaf collection, which leads to low efficiency and impedes the development of sericulture. Here, to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel low-pruning mulberry cultivar, ZJ1, in the silkworm rearing industry, a comprehensive investigation integrating physiological, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses was conducted in comparison with the traditionally high-pruning cultivar, N14. The low-pruning mulberry variety ZJ1 exhibited a notable increase in annual leaf yield of 43.94%, along with a significant enrichment of serine and isoleucine contents, in contrast to those of the high-pruning variety N14. Through iTRAQ proteomics and LC-MS/MS metabolomics analyses, a total of 561 reduced and 803 increased differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), as well as 332 differential expressed metabolites (DEMs) in positive ions and 192 DEMs in negative ions, were identified in the ZJ1 group relative to the N14 group, respectively. The observed features in amino acid profiles and the enrichment of the sucrose-related metabolic pathway provided interesting insights for future endeavors in mulberry variety improvement and the optimization of silkworm diet formulations. Collectively, the low-pruning cultivar ZJ1, characterized by its rapid growth, high leaf productivity, and suitability for mechanized operations, is expected to be an efficient substitute in improving the future sericultural industry, especially in urbanized and industrialized regions.

Characterization of In Situ Ruminal Degradation of Crude Protein and Individual Amino Acids from Ryegrass

In temperate pasture-based dairy systems, ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a key forage due to its high crude protein (CP) content, yet its rapid ruminal degradation could limit the supply of rumen-undegraded protein and essential amino acids (EAAs) to dairy cows. This study aimed to investigate the in situ ruminal degradability of CP and individual amino acids (AAs) in fresh ryegrass at the vegetative stage. Three second-parity, rumen-cannulated Holstein Friesian cows (487 kg body weight, 16.5 kg milk/day) were used for the incubation of ryegrass samples collected in different seasons at the vegetative stage. The degradation kinetics were assessed using the Ørskov and McDonald model, with mathematical corrections for microbial contamination. Results showed that the effective degradability (ED) of AAs was generally higher than that of CP (p &lt; 0.05), exceeding 2%, and that some EAAs, particularly lysine, exhibited an ED up to 5.5% greater than CP (p &lt; 0.05). These differences underscore the need for caution when using CP as a proxy for AA degradation in dietary formulations. Given the high degradability of ryegrass AAs, it would be important to monitor and adjust their supply in diets with high ryegrass inclusion to prevent potential deficiencies that could impair milk production and reduce feed efficiency.

Nutritional Value of Nannochloropsis oceanica for Weaner Piglets.

This study evaluates the nutritional value of spray-dried Nannochloropsis oceanica biomass to infer its applicability for weaner piglet feeding. Twenty-four piglets were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments (n = 6) with increasing N. oceanica inclusion (0, 5, 10, and 15%) levels. After a 4-day adaptation period, the digestibility experiment lasted two weeks, with daily excreta collection. Total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD), N balance, intestinal pH, histomorphology, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were measured. No significant differences were observed in feed intake, growth, or intestinal morphology (p > 0.05). N intake increased linearly (p = 0.005) with N. oceanica inclusion, while N retention efficiency remained unchanged (p = 0.058). VFA concentrations decreased linearly (p < 0.001). The TTAD of dry matter (DM), organic matter, ether extract, and gross energy decreased (p < 0.05) with higher N. oceanica levels, while the ash TTAD increased (p < 0.001). The estimated TTAD values for N. oceanica biomass were 72.5% for DM, 82.9% for N, and 64.4% for gross energy. The digestible energy, metabolisable energy, and digestible crude protein values estimated for N. oceanica were 12.74 MJ/kg DM, 12.40 MJ/kg DM, and 20.4% DM, respectively. This information enabled the first nutritional characterisation of N. oceanica for weaner piglets, ultimately leveraging its use in piglet diet formulation.

GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF SPINY LOBSTER, Panulirus homarus JUVENILES FED WITH DIFFERENT FORMULATED FEEDS

Article Highlights- Indonesia has remarkable natural resources of spiny lobster Panulirus homarus and an exceptional opportunity to establish the largest lobster aquaculture industry in the world.- However, culturing lobsters still relies on natural feeds (trash fish of fresh fishery by-catch) which are inefficient and environmentally unsustainable.- Developing formulated feed based on locally available ingredients is invaluable for replacing natural feeds to support sustainable lobster culture.- Formulated feed made of local fish meal provided the best growth of juvenile spiny lobster Panulirus homarus compared to imported fish meal. AbstractSeveral studies suggested that good growth performance and survival of lobster juveniles can be achieved by feeding the lobsters with formulated feeds. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the growth and survival of spiny lobster Panulirus homarus juveniles fed with different diets having profiles based on a basal diet formulation and (2) to compare the growth of lobsters fed with an identical formulated feed with variations only in sources of fish meal and dry matter content. The feeding experiment was designed following a completely randomized design (CRD) with five diet treatments and five replicates for each treatment. Five experimental diets were prepared in this experiment, i.e., Diet A (basal diet prepared as moist pellets); Diet B (moist pellets with the same formulation as Diet A, using local fish meal); Diet C (moist pellets with the same formulation as Diet A, using imported fish meal); Diet D (dry pellets with the same formulation as Diet A, using imported fish meal); and Diet E (fresh fish). Juveniles of spiny lobster with an average weight of 3.00±0.07 g were allocated in 25 net cages (60 x 60 x 60 cm) placed in a circular HDPE canvas tank (7.5 m in diameter) at a density of 15 lobsters/cage in a flow-through seawater system. The juveniles were fed with the experimental diets twice/day for 12 weeks. The experiment showed that the best growth was observed in juveniles fed with moist feed containing local fish meal (Diet B) with the final weight reaching 18.74±2.30 g. Moist feed containing imported fish meal (Diet C) resulted in a higher survival rate (46.66%), and the lowest survival rate (13.33%) was obtained from juveniles fed with fresh fish (Diet E).

Development of an indigestible dietary protein index to investigate the effects of dietary protein content in postweaned pigs.

Proteolytic fermentation induces negative effects on gut health and function, which may affect pig performance. The objective was to conduct a meta-analysis to develop an index of dietary indigestible dietary protein (IDP) to investigate growth performance outcomes of mixed-sex weanling pigs (average body weight of 7.59kg). Eighty-nine articles reporting growth performance variables [average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), gain:feed ratio (GF), initial (IBW), and final body weight] in pigs fed different dietary protein (DP) content (from 12% to 33.6%) and protein sources (plant and animal) were included. DP and IDP index was calculated in all experiments using a common database, with the IDP index defined as the difference between total DP and standardized ileal digestible DP. A DP- and an IDP-based model were developed to predict the ADG, GF, and ADFI (by their relationship) of weaning pigs using a multivariable linear mixed model regression approach with estimates of variable effects obtained using the residual maximum likelihood method. Based on a stepwise manual forward selection, significant predictor variables with improvement of at least 2 points in the Bayesian information criterion were included in the final regression model. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05 and a trend at P < 0.10. Initial exploratory analysis of the database showed a quadratic increase (P < 0.01) in the IDP index with increasing inclusion of plant protein sources in diet formulation and a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in the IDP index with increasing synthetic amino acid inclusion. Regarding the models, the DP-based model could not account for the inclusion of protein sources compared to the IDP-based model. There was a tendency for DP to positively affect (P < 0.10) ADG and GF. Increasing the IDP index tended to negatively impact (P < 0.10) ADG while reducing (P < 0.05) ADFI. Using a practical and hypothetical feed formulation simulation, the final regression models predicted the expected negative impact of a high IDP index on newly weaned pig performance when compared to a low IDP diet. The IDP-based model predicted a stronger negative effect of high IDP when compared to the DP-based model. Results indicate that IDP may be an improved and more reliable index to investigate the impact of DP on pig performance in the postweaning phase.

Combination effect of formulated high glycemic index diet with glibenclamide on fasting blood sugar, lipid profile and CYP2C9 in rats

Combination effect of formulated high glycemic index diet with glibenclamide on fasting blood sugar, lipid profile and CYP2C9 in rats

Accuracy and precision of diets fed to close-up cows on dairy farms and its association with early lactation performance

Ensuring a consistent ration is critical for maximizing lactating cow performance, but this is not known for dry cows. The objectives of this cohort observational study were to: 1) characterize close-up dry cow diets fed on commercial farms in Ontario, Canada, 2) describe the accuracy of the nutrient composition between the formulated close-up diet and the diet offered to the cows, 3) describe the precision of the close-up diets across time, and 4) explore potential associations of that accuracy and precision with blood metabolic parameters and milk yield of cows in early lactation. Forty free-stall dairy farms were visited once every 4 wk, for a total of 6 visits to each farm, from April to October 2022. At each visit, samples of the close-up diet were collected and analyzed for dry matter (DM) content and chemical composition. Close-up diet formulations were also obtained by each farm's nutritionists. During each visit, fresh cows (0 to 14 d in milk [DIM]) had blood samples taken for blood metabolites. The same cows were also monitored for milk yield up to 120 DIM. Multivariable models were used to analyze associations between variability (in relation to the formulated diet and across time) of nutrients in the close-up diet, as measured by coefficient of variation (CV), and outcomes in fresh cows. Corn silage (67.6% of farms) and straw (24.3% of farms) were the predominant primary forage sources used in the close-up dry cow diets. Soybean meal (37.8% of farms) and canola meal (18.9% of farms) were the main ingredients used as primary concentrate sources. Overall, the diets offered did not accurately represent the formulated diets. With the exception of net energy for lactation (NEL), the CVs for the other nutrients were all greater than 5%. Diet variability, both between fed and formulated diets and from visit to visit during the close-up period, was associated with metabolic markers and dairy cow production. Lower variability in non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) between the fed and formulated diets was associated with better liver health index scores. Visit-to-visit variability in fat% and NFC% were associated with blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations, while NFC% variability was associated with blood glucose levels. Serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations were associated with visit-to-visit variability in DM% and CP%. These results underscore the importance of maintaining consistency between diet formulations and feeding practices over time to optimize early-lactation dairy herd performance and health, granted that these diets are correctly formulated to meet the nutritional needs of cows in the close-up period and applied with recommended feeding practices.

Dietary intake of soya flour synergistically influences carcinogenic action in fish, Channa punctatus.

Influence of dietary intake on Physiological and biochemical status of the living being is an established fact. Similarly, certain Micronutrients associated with the biochemical component of parent products and their byproducts are often deleterious to the Consumers. A classical example is Cyclopropenoid fatty acids (CPFA), a natural constituent present in triglyceride fraction of the fat of cotton plants. It acts Synergistically with aflatoxin B1, if at all present in the diet due to infestation of some toxic fungi A. flavus and A.parasiticus. Studies on Channa punctatus, an air breathing teleost administered with three concentrations of pure crystalline aflatoxin B1( 15, 30 and 45 ppm) intraperitonially and reared on standard diet formulation (SDF) added with Soya flour (SF) Supplements. In contrast, the pathological lesions in the group reared on Soya flour supplement was almost comparable to the control group receiving similar concentration of aflatoxinB1 and reared on SDF. The Soya flour is usually used as dietary supplement for pets and livestock in order to meat protein requirements from the left out amount of the oil following extraction. In particular, the findings gain significance on account of the fact that the Soya flour (SF) is one of the major ingredientsof aqua culture feed formulation all through the country.. KEYWORDS :Dietary factors , Aflatoxin B1, Synergistic Action, Carcinogenicity.

Nutrient digestibility, Nitrogen utilization, and growth performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) does fed diets containing wheat offal replaced with Tiger nut seed meal

Abstract The decrease in nutrient digestibility and general performance of ruminant animals has been a persistent challenge during the dry season in Nigeria, and the use of less competitive alternative feed ingredients could be a remedy. Hence, a sixty-three (63)-day study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional potential and growth response of West African Dwarf (WAD) does fed diets containing wheat offal replaced with tiger nut seed meal. Five (5) experimental diets were formulated to contain 0.00, 5.00, 10.00, 15.00, and 20.00% tiger nut seed meal and were thus designated as diets T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. Twenty (20) WAD does were randomly assigned to the experimental diets with four (4) replicates per treatment in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Parameters evaluated include the chemical composition of formulated diets and wilted Panicum maximum, nutrient intake, digestibility, nitrogen utilization, and growth response of the does. Significant (p &lt; 0.05) differences were observed in the chemical composition of the diets with the highest dry matter, nitrogen-free extract, and metabolizable energy obtained from diet T4. The highest crude protein content in diet, intake, and digestibility were observed for the does fed diet T3. The results obtained from nitrogen utilization revealed a significant (p &lt; 0.05) difference across all parameters with superior nitrogen intake, balance, and percentage retention for the does feed diet T3. Similarly, the highest weight gain, daily weight gain, total dry matter intake, protein efficiency, and least feed conversion ratio were recorded from does fed diet T3. Conclusively, incorporating tiger nut seed meal as a replacement for wheat offal at 10.00% in WAD does diet has the potential to improve feed digestibility and the general performance of does, thus can be adopted by goat farmers.

Liver Structure and Function in Yellowtail Kingfish, Seriola lalandi, in Response to Reduced Fish Meal Diets

ABSTRACTAlterations to lipid storage, and the consequent effects on liver structure, need to be considered when replacing wild‐derived fish meal (wd‐FM) with alternative ingredients in formulated diets for commercially aquacultured species. The replacement of wd‐FM is likely to alter the available level of precursors for bile acid production, potentially impacting the absorption of dietary lipids and fat‐soluble vitamins. In this 252‐day study, Yellowtail Kingfish, Seriola lalandi (2.52 ± 0.25 kg; 546 ± 20 mm [fork length; mean ± standard deviation]) were fed five different diets. A 30% wd‐FM diet served as a control. Dietary wd‐FM inclusions were reduced to 20% and 10%, replaced with FM by‐product meal. In addition, dietary wd‐FM levels were reduced to 20% and replaced with poultry meal (PM) or soy protein concentrate (SPC) in two other separate diets. Fat deposition in the liver was similar amongst all treatment groups with bile duct proliferation and periductular fibrosis observed in the livers of fish fed diets with wd‐FM replacement with 10% PM or 10% SPC. Fish fed FM by‐product meal at 10% and 20% replacement displayed similar liver structures to control fish. Yellowtail Kingfish fed a 30% wd‐FM diet may have the FM replaced by up to 66.67% FM by‐product, 33.3% PM or 33.3% SPC without any significant impact on total bile acid synthesis, storage and excretion and liver lipid storage. This research expands our ability to deliver cost‐effective nutritional solutions in support of Yellowtail Kingfish culture.

Fattening with formulated diets improves the immune response and lipid accumulation in the gonads of male Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

To improve the yield and quality of Chinese mitten crabs and ensure environmental sustainability, it has become an inevitable trend to replace iced trash fish (Trash) with formulated feeds (Feed) during farming. However, the effect of feeds on fattening male crabs remains unclear. Hence, fattening experiment were conducted with immature male crabs with initial body weight of 153.65 ± 12.23 g, and the effects of formulated feed on fattening were analyzed with metabolomic and lipidomic approach. The results suggested no statistical difference in the growth and development of male crabs fattened with the feeds. The diet potentiated the immune response and repressed apoptosis in the gonads during fattening. Cholesterol accumulation and augmented fatty acid catabolism in the gonads were observed in the Feed group. Additionally, feed fattening diminished protein deposition. Metabolomic analysis indicated that feed fattening promoted lysine degradation and purine metabolism in the gonads. A further lipidomic study discovered that feed fattening mostly contributed to the boosting of phosphatidylcholines (PCs) that contain unsaturated fatty acids via the glycerophospholipid pathway compared to the trash fish group. Correlation analysis showed that enhancing gonadal lysine, purine metabolism and PCs could improve immune response and lipid metabolism. In summarize, the formulated diets effectively substituted trash fish for fattening and were superior in immunological promotion and lipid accumulation. Our results provide novel perspectives into the formulation design and application of the formulated feeds in the process of fattening.

Barriers to the Implementation of Max-Profit and Stochastic Feed Formulation Strategies: A Survey of the Australian Poultry Industry.

A survey of industry groups including nutritionists, producers, feed manufacturers, and technical personnel in broiler and layer operations within the Australian poultry industry was completed to determine the industry's present views of max-profit and stochastic feed formulation and the barriers they see to implementing these techniques. A total of 32 responses were collected, made up of 17 nutritionists, 4 feed manufacturers, 5 producers, and 6 technical personnel. The survey revealed interest and need to implement stochastic and max-profit feed formulation techniques and identified the key barriers to the implementation of these feed formulation techniques. Barriers identified included limited software to assist nutritionists in using these feed formulation techniques, less data collection than in other animal industries, insufficient training, and possible restrictions on nutritionists via KPIs to minimise diet cost. It was identified that layer farms did not routinely use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to estimate the nutrient content of feed ingredients and so mostly relied on book values and historical data. Thus, stochastic feed formulation may be particularly useful to buffer the uncertainty and ensure the minimum nutrient requirements of flocks are met. Recommendations were drawn to improve the adoption of max-profit and stochastic feed formulations of Australian layer diets.