Growth and Feed Conversion Modelling in Tilapia Using the Von Bertalanffy Growth Function

n 84-day experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two dietary protein levels 30 & 35% CP & three feeding frequencies 2, 3 & 4 times a day (8:0 and 11.0 h), (8.0, 11.0 and 14.0 h) and (8.0, 11.0, 14.0 and 17.0 h) on growth performance and feed utilization of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii with the Nile tilapia, Oreochromuis niloticus fry in a polyculture system. The experiment was conducted in small-scale hapas, 3.75 m -3 each in triplicates. Irrespective of polyculture system, prawn PL fed diet containing 35% CP 4 times a day had significant (P≤0.05) the highest final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate(SGR) and best feed conversion ratio (FCR) values among all treatments. Meanwhile, the Nile tilapia fed on diet containing 35% CP at 2 times/day recorded the highest significant FBW, WG, and best FCR among all treatments. The highest significant total biomass weight (kg hapa -1 ), and gain (kg hapa -1 ) and feed consumption (kg hapa 1 ) were obtained for prawn and tilapia feed the diet containing 35% protein. No significant differences (P≤0.05) were observed for SGR, FCR and S among all experimental hapas. The same trend was recorded for the different feeding frequencies. The highest values of the whole body CP, EE, ash and gross energy content were recorded for prawn fed on 30% diet at twice per day. No clear trend was observed for body composition of the Nile tilapia fry except for the highest lipid content (P ≤ 0.05) recorded for the fish fed on 30% CP diet 2 times per day. The findings of the current trials revealed that, feeding frequency has a great effect on growth performance and feed utilization efficiency of the freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii PL and the Nile tilapia fry. Feeding frequency 4 times per day for M. rosenbergii PL either 2 or 3 times per day for Nile tilapia fry is recommended under similar rearing condition to achieve best performance for both animals.

The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of using maizena, tapioca and rice flour as carbon sources in the biofloc system for specific growth rate, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio of nile tilapia. This research used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), which consisted of three treatments with three replications. Treatment A use maizena flour as carbon source much 2 grams / L of water, treatment B use white rice flour as carbon source much 2 grams / L of water, and treatment C use tapioca flour as carbon source much 2 grams / L of water. Starter bacteria use EM4 much 2 ml / L of water. Maintenance of nile tilapia is carried out for 28 days. The research variables are specific growth rate, survival rate, feed conversion ratio and water quality parameters. The results showed that the use of maizena, tapioca and rice flour as carbon sources in biofloc was not significantly different (P> 0.05) on specific growth rates, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio of nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The specific growth rates achieved in treatments A, B and C are 2.36; 2.27; and 2.90% / day. The survival rate value reaches 76; 74; and 85%. Value of feed conversion ratio are 1.3; 1.8; and 1.1. The results of measuring water quality in general are in a good range. This research shows that carbon sources using tapioca flour are better than carbon sources using maizena flour and rice flour.

Fermented food waste for culturing jade perch and Nile tilapia: Growth performance and health risk assessment based on metal/loids

A 42-day trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Aqueous Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed) leaf extract (ACOLE) on the growth performance, immunology and histological indices of broiler chickens. A total of 200 day old broiler chicks were randomly allotted into four (4) treatment groups consisting of five (5) replicates of 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Aqueous COLE was administered in their water served on daily basis at 0, 5, 10 and 15mL/L to represent four treatment groups; T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. At the end of the study, data were collected on growth performance, blood samples were collected at day 0, 12 and 42 to conduct immunological assessment of the birds and samples of the intestine and liver were collected for histological evaluation. All data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. The Results obtained showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences on all growth parameters evaluated except in feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). Birds in T2 had the best FCR values (1.95). Administration of ACOLE had no significant influence (P>0.05) on immunological indices of broiler chickens for day 0 and day 42 but there was significant difference on day 12. The immunity (3.00 – 4.00) of the birds increased as ACOLE inclusion levels decreased. ACOLE had effect (P<0.05) on the histopathologicalindices observed in this study, ACOLE had some considerable level of protective effect on the liver with no negative influence on the intestine except for those on T4, (15mL/L ACOLE) where atrophy of villi, necrosis and cystic dilation of crypts was observed. Conclusively, the administration of 5mL/L ACOLE had the best FCR and posed a considerable level of protective effect on the liver sampled across the treatment groups.

SummaryThe influence of different inclusion levels of a biologically active peptide derived from soybeans by enzymatic hydrolysis, on growth performance, foot pad lesions and carcass characteristics in broilers were examined in this study. Starter (1 to 21 d) and finisher (22 to 42 d) diets, based on maize and soybean meal, were subjected to seven inclusion levels of a commercial soybean bioactive peptide (SBP) product (Fortide, Chengdu Mytech Biotech Co. Ltd., Chengdu, Sichuan, China) at 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 g/kg of diet. All diets were equivalent in respect of energy density, digestible amino acids and other nutrients. A total of 840, one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were allocated to 42 pens (20 birds/pen), which were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments. During the starter period, there was no significant effect of SBP on weight gain and feed intake of the birds. However, a significant (P < 0.05) effect of SBP was observed for the feed conversion ratio (FCR), with SBP inclusion at 3.0 g/kg and above showing lower (P < 0.05) FCR values compared to the diet with no SBP. No effect of SBP was observed for weight gain and feed intake over the whole trial period. However, SBP inclusion tended (P = 0.06) to influence the FCR of birds. Increasing SBP inclusion level resulted in gradual decrease in FCR values, with SBP inclusion at 5.0 and 6.0 g/kg showing lower FCR values compared to the diet with no SBP. Overall, the present study suggests that dietary supplementation of SBP in broiler diets has the potential to improve FCR and to be used as a novel functional protein in poultry diets.

Black seed (Nigella sativa) is used as a natural immuno-stimulant in the feed of various farmed animals.In this study, the effect of three dietary inclusion levels of N. sativa was assessed on growth performance and immune response of Labeo rohita for 8 weeks.Growth parameters in terms of weight (g), length (cm), feed conversion ratio and specific growth rate (SGR) along with immunity response parameters including white blood cells, lysozyme activity, and globulins protein were measured in this study.All the recorded growth and immunity parameters showed a significantly different outcome at the end of the experimental trial.The group fed by 4% black seed showed the highest increase in weight gain (14.20±0.621g) increase in length (2.26±0.11cm) specific growth rate (1.34±0.45)and best value of feed conversion ratio (2.27±0.56)followed by 3% and 2%.Among the immunity parameters, group of fish fed by 4% black seed in the diet showed an increase in white blood cell count (198 10 3 /μL ±3.78), globulin protein (23.66 mg/dl ±1.21) and lysozyme activity (60.66 µl/ml ±1.20) followed by 3% and 2%.Inferences of this study reveal that N. sativa improves the growth and immunity of L. rohita.

Aims: Growth performance and gut morphological response of broiler chickens fed moist fermented diets with the inclusion of probiotics or/and organic acids were evaluated in a 56 day feeding trial.
 Place and Duration of Study: Poultry unit of the Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria between February 2018 and April 2018
 Methodology: Three hundred one-day old unsexed Abor Acre broilers were used for this study. They were randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 10 birds each. The experimental treatments were: Diet 1: Dry Unfermented Feed (DUF) - Probiotics (Pr) – Organic acids (Or), Diet 2: Moist Fermented Feed (MFF) – Pr – Or, Diet 3: MFF + Pr, Diet 4: MFF + Or, Diet 5: MFF + Pr + Or. The experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design.
 Results: The feed conversion ratio of broiler starters fed diet 5 (1.96) was significantly (P<.0001) better relative to those of birds fed other diets (2.27, 2.21, 2.14 and 2.13 respectively), while birds in treatment 1 (2.27) had significantly (P<.0001) poor feed conversion ratio. There were no significant (P>.05) differences in the feed conversion ratio of broiler finishers fed MFF with or without feed additives (2.68, 2.64, 2.55 and 2.55). However, the value of feed conversion ratio of birds fed DUF (3.04) was significantly (P=.05) the highest. The duodenal villus height to crypt depth ratio of broiler starters fed MFF+ Pr + Or (7.11) was significantly (P=.05) higher than those of birds fed other diets (2.70, 3.35, 3.98, 4.73 respectively).
 Conclusion: Although, feed fermentation enhanced gut morphological parameters which correlates improved growth performance of broiler chickens. The inclusion of probiotics (1g/kg) and organic acids (1g/kg) in the fermentation process further improved the growth indicators of broiler chickens used in this study.

The age and growth of the blue shark Prionace glauca in the central South Pacific is described based on 267 specimens that were collected by scientific observers on board Taiwanese large-scale tuna longline fleets between May 2009 and May 2011. Growth band pairs (identified as translucent and opaque bands) were counted on images photographed from X-ray films of the vertebrae from the caudal peduncle region. The marginal increment ratio and centrum edge analysis indicated that a growth band pair was formed on the vertebral centrum once per year. The band pairs after the birthmark were counted from 2 to 11 for females and from 2 to 15 for males. The bias corrected Akaike information criterion indicated that the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) best fitted the observed total length (TL)-at-age data. The parameters of sex-specific VBGF were estimated as follows: for females, theoretical maximum length (L8) mean ± s.d. = 330.4 ± 46.6 cm TL, growth coefficient k = 0.164 ± 0.057 year–1 and theoretical age at length 0 (t0) = –1.29 ± 0.78 years; for males, L8 = 376.6 ± 32.6 cm TL, k = 0.128 ± 0.022 year–1 and t0 = –1.48 ± 0.54 years. The longevities were estimated to be at least 16.8 and 21.6 years for females and males respectively.

A fish feeding trial was conducted in a warm-water recirculating system for 8 weeks to assess the nutritive value of processed mucuna seeds as a dietary protein replacement for fish meal in practical diets of tilapia. Diets 2–6 contained mucuna seeds processed as follows: raw, soaked in water, soaked in sodium bicarbonate solution (0.07%), soaked in ascorbic acid solution (0.1%) or soaked in water containing 3% of freeze-dried moringa leaf powder, followed by autoclaving. The mucuna seed meals were then used to replace 25% of the total dietary protein in each diet. The performance of fish fed these diets was compared with fish fed a fish meal-based control diet (diet 1), which contained 35% protein. All diets were prepared to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. Each treatment had three replicates, using seven fish per aquarium, with a mean initial body weight of 3.9 ± 0.06 g. Fish were fed five times about their maintenance level (3.0 g feed × body weight (kg)−0.8 day−1), and no mortality was observed during the experiment. The growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein productive value of fish fed diets 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were similar. However, with regard to energy retention and apparent net lipid utilization, the values observed in fish fed diet 1 were similar to those of fish fed diets 5 and 6, and diet 6, and significantly higher than other dietary groups. Fish fed diet 2 showed a significantly (P < 0.05) reduced growth performance, higher carcass moisture and ash contents, and lower levels of lipid and energy compared with all other dietary groups. Fish fed diet 2 had a significantly lower plasma cholesterol level compared with other diets. However, no significant variation of muscle cholesterol was found between the dietary groups. Even though the hepato-somatic index of the fish fed diets 3, 4, 5 and 6 was significantly lower than diet 1, these values appeared to be significantly higher compared with fish fed diet 2. The present study indicates that the inclusion of mucuna seed meal (replacement of 25% of total dietary protein of feed) after soaking in any one of the tested solutions followed by autoclaving significantly improved the growth performance and feed utilization of tilapia compared with that of the raw seeds. Moreover, these values were similar to the performance obtained with the fish meal-based control diet 1. This might be due to the relative reduction of anti-nutrients, particularly the non-protein amino acid 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, and increased palatability and nutrient availability of processed beans.

Effect of dietary supplementation of mannanoligosaccharides on growth performance, ileal microbial counts, and jejunal morphology in broiler chicks exposed to aflatoxins

Partial defatted black solider larvae meal as a promising strategy to replace fish meal protein in diet for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Performance, expression of protein and fat transporters, and cytokines related genes and economic efficiency

An eight-week study was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler birds to varying levels of dietary benzoic acid. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) day-old unsexed “Arbor acre” strain broiler chicks were randomly assigned into five treatment groups. Each treatment group contained 24 birds replicated three times with eight birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The treatments were designated as follows: Treatment 1,0g benzoic acid; Treatment 2, 2.5g benzoic acid per kg of feed; Treatment 3, 5.0g benzoic acid per kg of feed; Treatment 4, 7.5g benzoic acid per kg of feed and Treatment 5, 10g benzoic acid per kg of feed. Parameters assessed include final body weight (FBW), total weight gain (TWG), daily weight gain (DWG), total feed intake (TFI), daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The results showed significant (p&lt;0.05) differences among treatments in FBW, TWG, DWG, TFI, DFI and FCR values. The FBW, TWG and DWG values increased significantly (p&lt;0.05) as the levels of benzoic acid in the diet increased from 0g to 7.5g. Birds fed diet containing 5g of benzoic acid per kg of diet (treatment3) had the highest (p&lt;0.05) FBW, TWG and DWG values (3380.71g, 3341.50g and 59.67g, respectively) but these values were similar to the FBW, TWG and DWG values (3236.98g, 3197.27g and 57.09g, respectively) recorded for birds in treatment2 (2.5g of benzoic acid per kg of diet). Birds fed diets containing 2.5g, 5g and 7.5g of benzoic acid had better efficiency of feed utilization as shown by their FCR values (1.89, 1.86 and 1.92, respectively) as compared to the FCR value(2.15) for birds fed the control diet. It was concluded that up to 7.5g of benzoic acid can be included in the diet of broiler birds for optimum growth performance without any deleterious effect on birds.

Study 1:Post-drought survey of freshwater mussels in the Saline and Smoky Hill rivers with emphasis on the status of the Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus) in Kansas. The Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus), considered a “Species in Need of Conservation” in Kansas, historically occurred across much of the state; however, recent studies suggest that the species is currently restricted to the upper Smoky Hill-Saline River Basin, and a survey emphasizing the status of the Cylindrical Papershell conducted in 2011 suggested its conservation status be elevated to endangered. Continuing drought since the completion of the 2011 survey raised concerns regarding the status of the Cylindrical Papershell. The objectives of this study were to evaluate possible drought-related changes in Cylindrical Papershell populations and to evaluate the status of this species in Kansas. Timed, tactile searches were conducted at 19 sites on the Saline River and 21 sites on the Smoky Hill River between July and August 2015. Thirty of these sites were revisited from the 2011 survey. In 2011, 24 live Cylindrical Papershell were observed among 11 sites. Declines in Cylindrical Papershell abundance were observed in 2015, with 10 individuals observed at 3 sites. The species occurred at low abundances across a limited geographic range comprised of highly fragmented habitat. Abundance of Cylindrical Papershell per site declined significantly (t=5.19, df=10, p &amp;lt; 0.001) between 2011 and 2015. Study 2: Effects of lowhead dams on growth of the Pimpleback (Quadrula pustulosa) in the Neosho River, Kansas. In Kansas, few studies have investigated freshwater mussel growth rates or variables that might influence growth. Lowhead dams are reported to alter variables thought to influence freshwater mussel growth, including water temperature and primary productivity. Annuli deposited in freshwater mussel valves can be used to estimate age, growth, and recruitment. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences between individual growth characteristics of Pimpleback upstream and downstream of lowhead dams in the Neosho River, Kansas by comparing von Bertalanffy growth function parameters. Pimpleback mussels (Quadrula pustulosa) were collected near 3 lowhead dams in the Neosho River of southeastern Kansas and aged by counting internal annuli. Likelihood ratio tests were used to compare von Bertalanffy growth function parameters between upstream and downstream samples at each lowhead dam sampled. Results of likelihood ratio tests suggested no significant difference in growth between upstream and downstream samples.

The present study investigated the protective efficacy of dietary supplementation with clove essential oil (CEO), its main constituent eugenol (EUG), and their nanoformulated emulsions (Nano-CEO and Nano-EUG) against experimental coccidiosis in broiler chickens. To this aim, various parameters (oocyst number per gram of excreta (OPG), daily weight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), serum concentrations of total proteins (TP), albumin (ALB), globulins (GLB), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CHO) and glucose (GLU), serum activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione s-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were compared among groups receiving CEO supplemented feed (CEO), Nano-CEO supplemented feed (Nano-CEO), EUG supplemented feed (EUG), Nano-EUG supplemented feed (Nano-EUG), diclazuril supplemented feed (standard treatment, ST), or basal diet [diseased control (d-CON) and healthy control (h-CON)), from days 1-42. Chickens of all groups, except h-CON, were challenged with mixed Eimeria spp. at 14 days of age. Coccidiosis development in d-CON was associated with impaired productivity (lower DWG and higher DFI and FCR relative to h-CON; p < 0.05) and altered serum biochemistry (decreased TP, ALB, and GLB concentrations and SOD, GST, and GPx activities relative to h-CON; p < 0.05). ST effectively controlled coccidiosis infection by significantly decreasing OPG values compared with d-CON (p < 0.05) and maintaining zootechnical and serum biochemical parameters at levels close to (DWG, FCR; p < 0.05) or not different from (DFI, TP, ALB, GLB, SOD, GST, and GPx) those of h-CON. Among the phytogenic supplemented (PS) groups, all showed decreased OPG values compared with d-CON (p < 0.05), with the lowest value being measured in Nano-EUG. All PS groups showed better values of DFI and FCR than d-CON (p < 0.05), but only in Nano-EUG were these parameters, along with DWG, not different from those of ST. Furthermore, Nano-EUG was the only PS group having all serum biochemical values not different (or even slightly improved) relative to ST and h-CON. In conclusion, the tested PS diets, especially Nano-EUG, can limit the deleterious effects of coccidiosis in broiler chickens, due to anticoccidial activity and possibly their reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, thereby representing a potential green alternative to synthetic anticoccidials.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of feeding frequency on feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) in broiler. The research method used in this study is the experimental method, which is the type of research used to find the effect of certain treatment against others in controlled conditions. This research was conducted on poultry breeding farm at Company Farm. Method of data collection used in this research using instrument that is observation sheet to get feed intake, average daily gain, and FCR. The data obtained were analyzed by using independent sample t-test test with SPSS version 17. 00 software. The feeding method did not affect feed intake, ADG and FCR. The average intake of chicken feed maintained by using the method of feeding 2 times was 59.33 g lower than using the method of feeding 3 times, namely 59.41 g. The ADG by feeding method 2 times was 45.29 g, while by feeding method 3 times was 46,21 g. The value of FCR method of feeding 3 times is 1,286, meaning that to produce 1 kg of meat requires 1,286 kg of feed. While the value of chicken FCR on feeding method 2 times is 1,311, that means to produce 1 kg of meat requires as much as 1,311 kg of feed.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Average Daily Gain, Broiler, Feed Intake, Feed Conversion Ratio