A preliminary study on the evaluation of casein, shrimp meal, squid meal and spirulina as protein sources of Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) postlarvae

P. monodon postlarvae were fed with fresh brown mussel (Modiolus metcalfei ) meat, and artificial diets containing casein, shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis ) meal, squid (Loligo ) meal, and Spirulina as protein sources at a rate of 20% of their biomass per day for a period of 10 days. No statistical difference was found among the weight gains of shrimp fed on various experimental diets. However, shrimp fed squid meal diet had highest weight gain followed by shrimp meal, fresh brown mussel meat, casein and Spirulina . Shrimp fed squid meal diet had a significantly better feed conversion and those receiving other experimental diets. Poorest fed conversion was observed in shrimp fed Spirulina . The protein efficiency ratio was statistically highest for the squid meal diet, with the lowest value again for Spirulina diets. Survival rate was significantly highest for shrimp fed the shrimp meal diet. No statistical differences were found among shrimp fed other experimental diets. Appropriate data are tabulated.

Effect of replacement of fish meal with soybean meal plus supplementary enzymes on growth performance, survival rate and apparent digestibility of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study was carried out to measure the effects of a supplementary multi enzyme on growth performance , survival rate and apparent protein digestibility of rainbow trout fed some diets containing different amounts of soy bean meal. Five exprimental diets with replacement of 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent of fish meal protein by soy bean meal protein were made and 0, 500 and 1000 ppm dosages of supplementary multi enzyme had used in each of them. By the means a diet with fish meal as the only source of protein has used as the control. So this study had 13 treatments. The trouts in 89.40±4.01 gr mean weight were stocked in 39 experimental fiberglass tanks in abundance of 30 fish per any tank. These specimens fed experimental diets for 8 weeks and ten of them in each tank fed same diets which added Cr2O3 to them for one more week to measure the apparent protein digestibility in them. The results shown that supplementary multi enzyme (Avizyme) which contains Protease , Amylase and Xylanase , caused increases in growth performance , survival rate and apparent protein digestibility in trouts which fed soybean meal. Also this study shown that using 1000 ppm of Avizyme in diets which containing soybean meal had the best results and the diet which contained 39 % soybean meal with this amount of enzymes, had no significant differences by the control in any of the studied factors.

Composition and amino acid content of meal from some commercially less important fishes of Maharashtra

Details are given of the yield and composition of dried waste from the filleting wastes of 3 commercially less utilized fish of the Maharashtra coast (Saurida tumbil, Caranx sexfasciatus and Sphyraena jello). The amino acid composition after acid hydrolysis is detailed for the three species.

Meat and bone meal replacement in diets for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio): effects on growth performance, phosphorus and nitrogen loading

A 11-week growth trial was conducted in a flow-through system with juvenile gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio to evaluate the effects of gradual replacement of fish meal (FM) by meat and bone meal (MBM) on growth performance, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) loading. Six isonitrogenous (crude protein: 410 g kg(-1)) and isoenergetic (gross energy: 18 kJ g(-1)) diets were formulated. FM was used as the control protein. In the other five diets, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% FM protein was substituted with MBM20, MBM40, MBM60, MBM80, MBM100, respectively. Total P content in the diets ranged from 16.0 to 28.3 g kg(-1) and the available P was 5.0-6.6 g kg(-1). The results showed that the best growth was achieved with fish fed on the control diet and MBM20. Final body weight, weight gain, feed efficiency, protein retention efficiency and energy retention efficiency decreased with increased dietary MBM. No significant differences were found in the feeding rate and hepatosomatic index between the groups. Apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter, protein and P decreased with increase in dietary MBM, while there were no significant differences in the ADC of energy. P and N retention decreased linearly while P and N loading increased linearly with the increased dietary MBM levels. No significant differences were observed in the activity of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as pyruvate kinase in liver or in serum. Total superoxide dismutase activity in MBM20 was significantly higher than that of MBM100.

Effect of inclusion of blue-green algae meal on growth and accumulation of microcystins in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

Six isonitrogenous (crude protein content: 38%) and isoenergetic (gross energy content: 17 kJ g(-1)) diets were formulated to investigate the effects of inclusion of blue-green algae meal on gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). In each diet, 15% of the protein was supplied by fishmeal; the remainder was supplied by soybean meal and blue-green algae meal. Diet 1 was used as control with no blue-green algae meal whereas the content in diets 2-6 was 15.15, 29.79, 44.69, 59.58 and 74.48%, respectively. Each diet was fed to five groups of gibel carp for 12 weeks in a flow-through system. Final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed diet 5 were significantly lower than the control diet (P < 0.05). Mortality of gibel carp increased with increase in algae meal inclusion (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between fish fed diets 3-6 (P > 0.05). Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) decreased with the increase in algae meal inclusion (P < 0.05). Fish-fed diet 6 showed the highest feeding rate (P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences among the other groups (P > 0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter, protein, and energy decreased with increasing algae meal inclusion in the diets (P < 0.05). Aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) activity in the liver was not significantly different among groups (P > 0.05). Liver alanine aminotransferase (GPT) activity of fish-fed diets 4, 5 and 6 was significantly lower than the control diet (diet 1; P < 0.05). Microcystins in the muscle, liver, gallbladder, and spleen increased with increasing algae inclusion (P < 0.05).

Partial and total replacement of fishmeal with poultry by-product meal in diets for gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch

Triplicate groups of gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch (initial body weight: 4.89 g) were fed for 8 weeks at 24.8-30.8 degrees C with nine isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets. The control diet (F1) used white fishmeal (FM) as the sole protein source. In the other eight diets (F2-F9), 40.5-100% of FM protein was substituted by poultry by-product meal (PBM) at 8.5% increments. The specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio, protein retention efficiency and energy retention rate for fish fed PBM diets (F2-F9) were all higher, but not always significantly, than those for fish fed F1. All apparent digestibility coefficients for fish fed PBM diets were lower than those for fish fed F1. Fish fed F1 had a significantly higher hepatosomatic index value than fish fed PBM diets (P < 0.05). No significant (P > 0.05) effect of diet was found in whole-body moisture and fat content. Whole-body protein and energy content for fish fed PBM diets were slightly higher than that for fish fed F1. The optimal replacement level of FM by PBM was estimated by second-order polynomial regression to be 66.5% in protein.

Effect of replacement of dietary fish meal by meat and bone meal and poultry by-product meal on growth and feed utilization of gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio

Triplicate groups of gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio (initial body weight: 5.25 +/- 0.02 g) were fed for 8 weeks at 20-25 degreesC on five isonitrogenous (crude protein: 400 g kg(-1)) and isoenergetic diets (gross energy: 17 kJ g(-1)). Meat and bone meal (MBM) or poultry by-product meal (PBM) were used to replace fish meal at different levels of protein. The control diet contained fish meal as the sole protein source. In the other four diets, 150 or 500 g kg(-1) of fish meal protein was substituted by MBM (MBM15, MBM50) or PBM (PBM15, PBM50). The results showed that feeding rate for the MBM50 group was significantly higher than for other groups except the PBM50 group (P < 0.05). Growth rate in the MBM15 group was significantly higher than that in the control (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in growth between the control and other groups (P > 0.05). Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio in MBM50 was significantly lower while that in MBM15 was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Replacement of fish meal by MBM at 500 g kg(-1) protein significantly decreased apparent dry matter digestibility (ADC(D)) and gross energy (ADC(E)) while apparent protein digestibility (ADC(P)) was significantly decreased by the replacement of MBM or PBM (P < 0.05). The results suggest that MBM and PBM could replace up to 500 g kg(-1) of fish meal protein in diets for gibel carp without negative effects on growth while 150 g kg(-1) replacement by MBM protein improved feed utilization.

Effect of replacement of fish meal by meat and bone meal and poultry by-product meal in diets on the growth and immune response of Macrobrachium nipponense

The potential use of poultry by-product meal (PBM) and meat and bone meal (MBM) as alternative dietary protein sources for juvenile Macrobrachium nipponense was studied by a 70-day growth trial. Triplicate groups of M. nipponense (initial body weight: 0.37 g) were fed at 20.7-22.4 degreesC on each of the five isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets (protein content about 38%) with different replacement of fish meal by MBM or PBM. The control diet used white fish meal as the sole protein source, the other four diets were prepared with 15% or 50% fish meal protein substituted by either MBM (MBM15, MBM50) or PBM (PBM15, PBM50). The results showed that replacement of fish meal by MBM in diets did not affect growth performance of M. nipponense (P > 0.05), while specific growth rate in PBM15 was significantly higher than that in other groups (P < 0.05). Survival rates of shrimp fed with MBM15 diet were significantly higher than that in other groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences in immunological parameters, including total haemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase activity (PO) and respiratory burst (O-2(-)), were observed between the shrimps that were fed five experimental diets, and all determined immunological parameters in control groups were slightly higher than those in replacement groups. In conclusion, either MBM or PBM investigated could replace up to 50% fish meal protein in diets for M. nipponense. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of a feeding stimulant on feeding adaptation of gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch), fed diets with replacement of fish meal by meat and bone meal

The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of a feeding stimulant on feeding adaptation of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch) fed diets with replacement of fish meal by meat and bone meal (MBM), and whether or not the juvenile gibel carp could adapt to higher MBM level in the diet. Juvenile and adult gibel carp were tested. Two and one replacement levels were used for juvenile and adult fish respectively. Each group of diets was set as two types with or without a unique rare earth oxide: Y2O3, Yb2O3, La2O3, Sm2O3, Nd2O3 or Gd2O3 (only the first four rare earth oxides were used in adult diets) for four adaptation periods of 3, 7, 14 and 28 days respectively. After mixing, an equal mixture of all six diets for juvenile or four diets for adult was offered in excess for 2 days. During the last 2 days of each experiment, no feed was offered and faeces from each tank were collected. Feeding preference was expressed as relative feed intake of each diet, which was estimated based on the relative concentration of each marker in the faeces. Given some adaptation period, such as 3-28 days, the effects of MBM and squid extract inclusion on the preference to each diet were reduced. After 28 days adaptation, the preferences between groups were not significantly different.

Effect of several feeding stimulants on diet preference by juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), fed diets with or without partial replacement of fish meal by meat and bone meal

The objectives of this work were to study the effects of several feeding stimulants on gibel carp fed diets with or without replacement of fish meal by meat and bone meal (MBM). The feeding stimulants tested were betaine, glycine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, and a commercial squid extract. Three inclusion levels were tested for each stimulant (0.18, 0.5%, and 1% for betaine and 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5% for the other stimulants). Two basal diets (40% crude protein) were used. one with 26% fish meal (FM), and the other with 21% fish meal and 6% MBM, Betaine at 0.1% in the fish meal group and at 0.5% in the meat and bone meal group was used in all experiments for comparison among stimulants. In the experiment on each stimulant, six tanks of fish were equally divided into two groups, one fed the FM diet, and the other fed the MBM diet. After 7 days' adaptation to the basal diet, in which the fish were fed to satiation twice a day, the fish were fed for another 7 days an equal mixture of diets containing varying levels of stimulants. Each diet contained a unique rare earth oxide as inert marker (Y2O3, Yb2O3, La2O3, Sm2O3 or Nd2O3). During the last 3 days of the experiment, faeces from each tank were collected. Preference for each diet was estimated based on the relative concentration of each marker in the faeces. Gibel carp fed the FM diet had higher intake than those fed the MBM diet, but the difference was significant only in the experiments on betaine, glycine and L-methionine. None of the feeding stimulants tested showed feeding enhancing effects in FM diets. All feeding stimulants showed feeding enhancing effects in MBM diets. and the optimum inclusion level was 0.5% for betaine, 0.1% for glycine, 0.25% for L-lysine, 0.1% for L-methionine. 0.25% For L-phenylalanine. and 0.1% for squid extract. The squid extract had the strongest stimulating effect among all the stimulants tested. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

We could make a meal out of nothing: contested explanations of inequalities in health

This paper reports on the qualitative findings from a comparative study of public health and lifestyles in South East England and Northern France, regions with similar geographic and economic characteristics. Data from health surveys showed that both countries had an increasing BMI with age, particularly in Northern France. This was despite the finding that the percentage eating fresh fruit and vegetable at least five days a week in Northern France increased with age (from well over 50% to over 90%) compared to around 50% to around 75% in South East England. Qualitative data on health inequalities and how they could be addressed were gathered by focus groups sampling from five tiers using the Townsend Index for comparability (14 in England with 106 participants overall; 13 in France with 143 participants). Both had about two thirds women participants, with a preponderance of middle aged and older people. There was a striking difference in the salience of diet between the two countries; in the French data it was raised only 14 times, whereas in England there were 165 occurrences, and these were often distinguished by their use of narrative. Older respondents contrasted the pressures on families today and the expense of fresh fruit and vegetables with their own childhood or childrearing, when cheap meals could be created using skills which have now been lost. These data therefore provide further evidence that providing food is a moral activity.

Increases in energy, protein and fat intake following the addition of sauce to an older person's meal

Energy intake in 15-20% of the UK older population is currently thought to be inadequate for health. Based on the suggestion that increases in food pleasantness and familiarity can increase intake, this study investigated the impact of the addition of sauce to an older person's meal on subsequent intake. Twenty-eight older people consumed two meals with sauce and the same two meals without sauce on different occasions, and amount consumed in terms of weight, energy and energy consumed from carbohydrate, fat and protein were compared. Pre-meal hunger and desire to eat, post-meal pleasantness and familiarity and participants' expectations of the effects of sauces were also measured. Compared to meals without sauce, meals with sauce were found to result in greater intakes of energy, energy consumed from protein and energy consumed from fat (smallest t(27)=2.13, p=0.04). No differences between conditions were found in measures of pre-meal hunger and desire to eat, or post-meal pleasantness and familiarity (largest t(27) = 1.47, p = 0.15). Similar effects were also found when participant expectations were taken into account, and no differences between participants who expected sauces to affect intake vs. those who did not expect sauces to affect intake were found (largest F(1, 26) = 1.70, p=0.20). These findings suggest that the addition of sauce to an older person's meal can result in increases in intake and may be beneficial for preventing or treating under-nutrition in these individuals, although the mechanisms by which sauces can increase intake are unlikely to be related to pleasantness and familiarity. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The last meal of the Late Ordovician mollusc ‘Helminthochiton’ thraivensis Reed, 1911, from the Lady Burn Starfish Beds, southwest Scotland.

An exceptional specimen of the Late Ordovician mollusc ‘Helminthochiton’ thraivensis Reed, from the Katian of the Lady Burn Starfish Beds, southwest Scotland, preserves gut contents that include nine pelmatozoan ossicles. These are interpreted as including two nodal and five intermodal columnals, and two radice ossicles from the attachment structure. The stem was cyclocyclic and heteromorphic, possibly N212. Radice ossicles were wider than the height of nodals, so radice scars must have encroached onto the latera of adjacent pluricolumnals. These features were compared with the 26 known pelmatozoan taxa from the Lady Burn Starfish Beds. Paracrinoids (one species) and glyptocystitid rhombiferans (six species) were discounted as prey because of their cemented attachment, and incorrect columnal morphology and lack of attachment, respectively. Of 19 species of crinoids, eight are discounted in which the column is pentagonal, tetragonal or unknown. Of the remaining eleven species, only the monobathrid camerate Macrostylocrinus cirrifer Ramsbottom satisfies all criteria for identification of the prey, including heteromorphy and radice scars encroaching adjacent internodals.