Oseni M. Millamena

Replacement of fish meal by animal by-product meals in a practical diet for grow-out culture of grouper Epinephelus coioides

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the potential of replacing fish meal with processed animal by-product meals, meat meal and blood meal (4:1 ratio), in practical diets for juvenile grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Eight isonitrogenous diets were formulated to contain 45% protein and 12% lipid. Fish meal was replaced by 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of meat meal and blood meal (4:1) mixture (diets 1–8). The diet with 100% fish meal (diet 1) or trash fish as feed (diet 9) were used as controls. Grouper juveniles were reared in 250-l circular fiberglass tanks maintained in a flow-through seawater system. Each dietary treatment was tested in quadruplicate groups of 25 fish per tank arranged in a completely randomized design. Fish were fed the diets twice per day at a daily feeding rate of 5–6% of biomass and trash fish at 10–12% of biomass for 60 days. Percentage weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), survival, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and body composition of grouper juveniles were measured. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in growth performance among fish fed diets 1–7 (0–80% fish meal replacement) with those fed diet 9 (trash fish as feed). However, fish fed diet 3 had significantly higher (P<0.05) growth than those fed diet 8 (100% fish meal replacement). Survival among fish fed the experimental diets did not significantly differ (96–100%) but was significantly higher (P<0.05) than survival (90%) of fish fed trash fish. These results showed that up to 80% of fish meal protein can be replaced by processed meat meal and blood meal coming from terrestrial animals with no adverse effects on growth, survival, and feed conversion ratio of E. coioides juveniles.

Requirements of juvenile marine shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) for lysine and arginine

Abstract Feeding experiments were conducted using amino acid test diets to determine the dietary requirements of juvenile Penaeus monodon for lysine and arginine. Two sets of the test diets were prepared. The natural protein was supplied by casein and gelatin. Crystalline l -amino acids were added to provide an amino acid profile similar to shrimp muscle protein except for the test amino acid. One set of experimental diets contained graded levels of lysine at 1.18–3.28% of the diet and another set contained arginine at 0.6–3.0% of the diet. The amino acid mixture was pre-coated with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and diets were further bound with CMC, cornstarch, and K–carrageenan to prevent leaching losses of amino acids. Shrimp postlarvae, PL20, with mean weight of 21±0.5 mg, were randomly distributed at 10 shrimp per tank in 40-l fiberglass tanks and reared on the diets for 50–56 days. Growth, survival and feed conversion efficiency were determined at termination of feeding trials and signs of nutritional deficiency noted. Lysine and arginine requirements were determined from relationships between weight gains and dietary lysine and arginine levels as analyzed by the broken-line regression method. The requirement of juvenile P. monodon for lysine was estimated to be 2.08% of the diet or 5.2% of dietary protein while the requirement for arginine was 1.85% of the diet or 5.3% of dietary protein. This information is crucial in formulating cost-effective practical diets for juvenile tiger shrimp.

Methionine requirement of juvenile tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon Fabricius

Abstract An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary requirement of postlarval Penaeus monodon for the sulfur-containing amino acid methionine. Shrimp postlarvae (mean weight 21 ± 0.3 mg) were reared in 40-1 fiberglass tanks in a flow-through seawater system. Test diets (37% protein and 360 kcal per 100 g diet) were formulated containing casein-gelatin as protein sources and supplemented with crystalline amino acids to simulate the amino acid pattern in shrimp tissue protein except methionine. The diets contained graded levels of methionine at a range of 0.72–1.12% of the diet or 2.0–3.0% of protein. In diet preparation, the crystalline amino acids were pre-coated with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to reduce leaching. Diets were further coated with CMC, cornstarch, and κ-carrageenan to improve water stability and the diet pH was kept at 7.0–7.2 by neutralization with 6N NaOH. Shrimp were fed the diets at 25–30% of their biomass thrice daily. At termination of the feeding experiment, various parameters including growth, survival, and feed conversion efficiency were determined and nutritional deficiency signs noted. The methionine requirement was determined from the relationship between weight gain and dietary methionine level using the broken-line regression method. The requirement of P. monodon postlarvae for methionine was 0.89% of the diet or 2.4% of protein. In a diet containing 0.41% cystine, the total sulfur amino acid requirement (methionine + cystine) would be 1.3% of the diet or 3.5% of protein. This requirement is slightly lower than the methionine level present in shrimp tissue protein.

Diet development and evaluation for juvenile abalone, Haliotis asinina : protein/energy levels

Abstract Juveniles of abalone, Haliotis asinina with mean initial weight and shell length of 0.6±0.03 g and 15±0.07 mm were fed practical diets for 90 days. The practical diets contained graded levels of protein from fish meal, shrimp meal, and soybean meal at 22 (diet 1), 27 (diet 2), and 32% (diet 3) with corresponding estimated metabolizable energy values of 3254, 3150, and 3090 kcal ME/kg diet. The amino acid profile and proximate analyses of muscle meat of the test animal and published nutrient requirements of other species of Haliotids were used as a basis for formulating and developing these practical diets. The diets were fed to abalone at 2–5% body weight once daily (1600 h) for biological evaluation in terms of weight gain (WG), increase in shell length (SL), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and for physical evaluation in terms of shell coloration of the animal. Natural food, Gracilariopsis bailinae (17% CP/2200 kcal ME/kg) (NF) fed ad libitum served as the control. Better growth rates, in terms of WG and SL, FCR and PER were noted in abalone fed the three formulated diets compared with those fed seaweed, G. bailinae . Abalone fed diets 3 (WG: 347%; SGR: 0.81; SL: 140%) and 2 (WG: 307%; SGR: 0.70; SL: 139%) showed significantly better growth rate than those fed diet 1 (WG: 252%; SGR: 0.51; SL: 132%). Natural food-fed abalone had the lowest WG (134%), SGR (0.06) and increase in SL (77%). Survival was generally high at 85–95% for all treatments. FCR (1.5–2.3) and PER (2.19–2.47) for animals fed the three diets were significantly better than for those fed natural food (0.10 PER and 6.98 FCR). Regression analysis showed the optimum protein level for juvenile abalone to be 27% with an energy level of 3150 kcal/kg ME. Abalone juveniles fed the formulated diets produced shells with light bluish green color while those fed seaweed retained the original brown color. Diet 2 which contained 27% protein, 5% lipid and 40% carbohydrates with an energy value of 3150 kcal/kg ME may be used as a basal diet for the rearing of juvenile abalone, H. asinina .

Commercial evaluation of monosex pond culture of the mud crab Scylla species at three stocking densities in the Philippines.

Abstract The effects of three levels of stocking density (0.5, 1.5 or 3.0 m −2 ) and monosex culture (male or female) on the growth, apparent feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, and production of mixed species of mud crabs, Scylla serrata and S. tranquebarica , were investigated. The juvenile crabs were stocked in 150 m 2 earthen ponds with Gracilariopsis bailinae as shelter and fed a mixed diet of 75% fresh mussel flesh and 25% fish bycatch. There was no interaction between stocking density levels and monosex culture ( P −2 ( P P >0.05). Male crabs attained significantly higher ( P P >0.05). Highest return on investment (ROI) and lowest production cost were obtained from 0.5 m −2 . Partial budgeting analysis showed that no net benefit accrued from stocking beyond 1.5 m −2 . Both male or female monosex cultures gave high net revenue and ROI of more than 100%. Results suggest that the culture of male or female mud crabs at 0.5–1.5 m −2 is economically viable but male monosex culture is more profitable.

The effects of diets on reproductive performance of eyestalk ablated and intact mud crab Scylla serrata

Abstract The reproductive performance of female mud crabs was evaluated as affected by various diets. Dietary treatments were as follows: D 1 — natural diet (mussel meat, squid, trash fish); D 2 — combination of natural and formulated diets; D 3 — formulated diet. Pond-sourced broodstock, with initial body weight of 300–400 g, were tagged in their carapace then stocked in three units of 10 m 3 broodstock tanks at eight females per tank. Half of the females were ablated and the other half were intact. Spawnings were monitored and berried females were transferred to individual 500-l tanks for incubation of eggs. Four experimental runs were conducted. Broodstock response in terms of number of spawnings, spawnings with hatching, fecundity, egg fertilization rate, total zoea produced and broodstock survival was enhanced in females fed the mixed diet (D 2 ) compared to those fed the natural diet (D 1 ) or the formulated diet (D 3 ). Larval quality measured as larval stage index followed the same trend. Results further showed that intact females fed diets D 1 and D 2 gave higher numerical values in reproductive performance and zoea growth index than ablated females while ablated females fed diet D 3 performed better than their intact counterparts. This may be attributed to presence of essential nutrients and vitamins A, C, E in the formulated diet. Latent period from gonadal maturation to first spawning was shortened by eyestalk ablation. Use of a combined diet would ensure the production of good quality eggs and large numbers of zoea with the best chance of completing the larval stages and thus, would serve as an appropriate starting point in establishing a viable mud crab aquaculture.

Quantitative dietary requirements of postlarval tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, for histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and tryptophan

Abstract The quantitative requirements of postlarvae Penaeus monodon for essential amino acids were determined through a series of feeding experiments. Test diets contained casein–gelatin as natural proteins supplemented with crystalline l -amino acids (CAAs) at levels based upon the tissue amino acid profile of postlarvae tiger shrimp. Each set of experimental diets contained graded levels of the test amino acid in a range below and above those found in shrimp muscle protein. The dietary CAA mixture was pre-coated with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and the diets were additionally bound with CMC, corn starch, and K-carrageenan to prevent leaching of amino acids and other nutrients. P. monodon postlarvae, PL20, mean body weight of 20 mg, were randomly distributed to 30-l fiberglass tanks at a density of 10/tank and each group was fed a particular diet for 56 days. A one-way analysis of variance was used to determine if there were any significant differences in weight gain, survival, and feed conversion among the dietary treatments for each experiments. Regression analysis of the weight gain responses against dietary amino acid levels was used to estimate the amino acid requirements. The optimum dietary requirements for essential amino acids, in percent of the diet, were: 0.8% histidine, 1.01% isoleucine, 1.7% leucine, 1.4% phenylalanine, and 0.2% tryptophan. Expressed as percent of the dietary protein, the requirement values were: 2.2% histidine, 2.7% isoleucine, 4.3% leucine, 3.7% phenylalanine, and 0.5% tryptophan. This information is crucial in optimizing growth and feed efficiency and in developing cost-effective diets for P. monodon.

Threonine requirement of juvenile marine shrimp Penaeus monodon

The threonine requirement was determined for juvenile marine shrimp. Penaeus monodon postlarvae, PL20, were stocked in 30-1 fiberglass tanks at ten shrimp per tank arranged in a completely randomized design with six replicates per treatment. They were fed amino acid test diets (40% protein) with casein-gelatin as natural protein sources and supplemented with crystalline L-amino acids to simulate the amino acid profile of shrimp muscle except for threonine. Graded levels of threonine were incorporated to obtain 0.72, 1.0, 1.28, 1.56, 1.84, and 2.12 g per 100 g diet or 1.8, 2.5, 3.2, 3.9, 4.6, and 5.3% of dietary protein. Relationship of weight gain with dietary threonine level was analyzed by the quadratic regression method to derive the threonine requirement. Results showed that the quantitative threonine requirement for growth is 1.4% of the diet or 3.5% of dietary protein. This requirement for growth conforms with the threonine level in the shrimp muscle.

Techniques on algae harvesting and preservation for use in culture and as larval food

A method of algae harvesting and preservation was developed. Test algal species consisted of two diatoms: Chaetoceros calcitrans and Skeletonema costatum, and two flagellates: Tetraselmis chui and Isochrysis galbana. Chemical flocculation using alum and lime were evaluated as methods of harvesting algae. Freezing and sun-drying were used as methods of preservation with viability tests done on frozen samples. The usefulness of sun-dried algae was evaluated through its ability to support survival of Penaeus menodon larvae. Results showed that alum and lime flocculation were effective for Chaetoceros, Tetraselmis and Skeletonema but ineffective for Isochrysis. Optimum pH for algae removal with alum was found to be 6.5. With lime, algae removals increased with pH and was optimum at pH 9.5. A simple freezing technique preserves the viability of algal concentrates for culture purposes. Good performance of sun-dried Chaetoceros and Tetraselnlis suggests that these algae may be used as larval feed for Penaens monodon alone or supplementarily to eliminate complete dependence on carefully-timed live algal production.

Effects of various diets on the nutritional value of Artemia sp. as food for the prawn Penaeus monodon

The nutritional value of Artemia sp. as food for marine fish and crustacean larvae has been linked to the level of its polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content. Experiments in August 1984 were conducted to determine the effects of various artificial diets and algae on fatty acid composition of PUFA-deficient Artemia sp. (Utah GSL strain) and their resulting value as food for postlarvae of the prawn Penaeus monodon (Fabricius). Nauplii of the brine shrimp were grown on extracts of corn, copra, soybean and rice bran containing precursors (C18) to long-chain PUFA and also on algal species containing different levels of long-chain PUFA (C20). The nauplii were then used as food for P. monodon postlarvae. The results revealed that absence of C20 polyunsaturates from the feeds and their presence in the algae were reflected in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the tissues of Artemia sp. When fed with brine shrimp fed on algae, P. monodon displayed better postlarval survival and significantly higher growth; related to the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in Artemia sp. A practical feeding approach in prawn hatcheries would be to grow Artemia sp. on a cheap diet such as rice bran, and then to enhance its nutritional value with a diet high in PUFA prior to harvesting, in order to improve hatchery production.