Effects of Dietary Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles and Soybean Meal on Extruded Pellet Characteristics and Growth Responses of Juvenile Yellow Perch

A 126-d feeding trial was performed to investigate graded combinations of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and soybean meal (SBM) in diets formulated for yellow perch Perca flavescens. Six experimental diets contained DDGS and SBM at 0 and 31.5% (dry matter basis), respectively (0/31.5 diet), 10 and 26% (10/26), 20 and 20.5% (20/20.5), 30 and 15% (30/15), 40 and 9.5% (40/9.5), and 50 and 4% (50/4) to obtain similar levels of crude protein (mean ± SE = 30.1 ± 0.2%), crude lipid (16.7 ± 0.7%), and digestible energy (13.5 ± 0.2 kJ/g). Fourteen fish (initial individual weight = 19.1 ± 0.5 g) were randomly selected and stocked into each of twenty-four 110-L tanks (4 replicate tanks/diet). Common biological and mechanical filter systems were used to recirculate the water and maintain similar water quality. Fish that received the 40/9.5 diet exhibited the highest apparent absolute weight gain and percent weight gain, while fish that were fed the 10/26, 20/20.5, 30/15, and 40/9.5 diets exhibited similar absolute weight gain. Fish that were given the 20/20.5, 30/15, and 40/9.5 diets also exhibited similar percent weight gain. Fulton’s condition factor and apparent protein digestibility were significantly lower and higher, respectively, for fish that received the 50/4 diet than for all other treatment groups. Crude protein and crude lipid levels in muscle samples did not significantly differ among treatment groups. Results indicated that yellow perch can utilize DDGS plus SBM at a combined inclusion level of up to 49.5% without negative effects on growth. The mechanical strength and color of the extruded pellets were related to the level of DDGS plus SBM in the feed blends. Hepatosomatic indices were correlated with pellet color, while protein digestibility decreased with increasing pellet strength

Commercial ‘ready-to-feed’ infant foods in the UK: macro-nutrient content and composition

Quantitative analyses of the macronutrient content of eight popular commercial ‘ready-to-feed’ baby meals for 6–9-month old infants in the UK market have been undertaken in order to ascertain their nutritional suitability in relation to the total daily dietary intake as well as nutritional profiling of the products. The chemical analyses conducted included Kjeldhal for protein, acid hydrolysis and extraction for fat, phenol sulphuric acid for carbohydrate and Association of Official Analytical Chemists 985.29 for fibre. The only difference found between different varieties (meat- and vegetable-based) was with respect to the protein content (P = 0.04) per 100 g of food. The experimentally determined concentrations of macronutrients (g/100 kcal) were compared with the declared values provided by the manufacturers on the product labels and, despite some variations, the values obtained comply with regulatory requirements (Commission Directive 2006/125/EC). The total daily intake of fat (27.0 g per day) – based on the menu composed from commercial complementary food – is suggested to exceed the daily recommended values for fat (31%), if the intake of snacks and desserts are incorporated. These findings imply that the formulation of recipes, based on a standard commercial menu, is an important consideration in relation to the nutritional quality of the diet of infants