Raw and heat-treated culban (Vicia peregrina) seed as protein source for mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings

An 80-day feeding trial was conducted in a recirculation system aquarium operating at 26 ± 0.3 °C, to evaluate the nutritive value of Vicia peregrina seed as a possible protein source in the diet of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. Vicia peregrina seed was included in the diets at different levels, viz. 100, 200, 300 g heat-treated and 100, 200, 300 g raw seed in experimental diets designated A1, B1, C1, A2, B2 and C2, respectively. Growth parameters of the fish fed these diets were compared to fish receiving a fish meal and soyabean meal based control diet. On the basis of the specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER), the control and diets A1, B1, C1 and A2 were similar and significantly better than diets B2 and C2. Fish fed diets B2 and C2 showed a lower growth performance compared to those fed diets A1, B1, C1 and A2. Whole body fat content of the fish fed the diets containing the higher levels (>10%) of raw V. peregrina was significantly lower than in fish in the other treatments. Vicia peregrine seed has a potential as an alternative feed ingredient. It can be used without any adverse effects at up to 10% of the diet as a protein source in diets for fingerling mirror carp. However, the seed should be heat-treated if inclusion rates are to exceed 10% of the diet. Keywords: Culban, Vicia peregrina, nutritive value, heat treatment, mirror carp, growth South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 36 (4) 2006: pp. 235-24

Partial replacement of fish and soyabean meal protein in mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) diets by protein in hazelnut meal

An 80-day feeding trial was conducted as two experiments to evaluate the effects of replacement of fish meal (FM) and soyabean meal (SBM) protein with hazelnut meal (HM) protein in the diets of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. Growth parameters and body composition were measured in fingerlings cultured under laboratory conditions in a recirculation system aquarium at 26 ± 0.3 °C. In Experiment I four isonitrogenous, isoenergetic diets were formulated by replacing 0, 25, 35 and 45% of protein from FM by HM. Fingerlings receiving the diets in which 0, 25 and 35% of the FM protein were replaced, had similar body weights, specific growth ratios (SGR), protein efficiency ratios (PER) and feed conversion ratios (FCR). In Experiment II four isonitrogenous, isoenergetic diets were formulated by replacing 0, 20, 40 and 60% of protein in SBM with HM. Fingerlings receiving the diets where 0, 20 and 40% of the SBM protein were replaced, had similar body weights, SGR, PER and FCR. However, fingerlings consuming the highest dietary inclusion level of HM (60% replacement) had significantly lower responses for all the above parameters than fingerlings receiving the other diets. The fat content of fingerlings fed diet FM3 where 45 % of FM protein was replaced by HM protein, was significantly lower than those on the other diets. It was concluded that HM could replace up to 35% of the protein in FM and 40% of protein supplied by SBM in fingerling carp diets without adverse effects on growth, FCR, PER, FI, BWG and body composition. Keywords: Fish, hazelnut meal, fish meal, soyabean meal,Cyprinus carpio,aquaculture South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 37 (1) 2007: pp. 35-4

Water deficit and nitrogen affects yield and feed value of sorghum sudangrass silage

This study was carried out to determine potential effects of water deficit and nitrogen treatments on yield components of sorghum sudangrass and nutritional composition, fermentation, organic matter digestibility, gas-methane production of sorghum sudangrass silage. Plants were grown under combinations of three different irrigation levels (I100: 100, I75: 75 and I50: 50% of depleted water from field capacity) and three different nitrogen doses (N1: 100, N2: 200, N3: 300 kg ha−1). Experiments were conducted in randomized blocks - split plots design for two years in 2013 and 2014. Harvested plants were ensilaged, silage samples were opened after 60 days and relevant analyses were performed on silage samples. Irrigation treatments increased green herbage yield, yield components, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), dry matter and crude ash and decreased crude protein, gas production and organic matter digestibility. Increasing nitrogen doses increased panicle and leaf ratio, crude protein ratio and green herbage yield and decreased dry matter and pH levels. The greatest ADF, NDF, metabolic energy, gas production and organic matter digestibility values were obtained from 200 kg ha&nbsp;-1treatment. Current findings revealed that increasing yield but decreasing quality values were observed with increasing irrigation levels. Appropriate nitrogen doses had positive impacts on green herbage yield and feed quality. There were not significant differences between N3&nbsp;× I100&nbsp;and N2&nbsp;× I75&nbsp;treatments. Therefore, a slight water deficit (I75) and normal nitrogen supply (200 kg ha−1) is recommended for sorghum sudangrass culture without any significant losses in yield and quality parameters.</p

Effect of supplementation with protein differ for rumen degradability on milk production and nutrients utilization in early lactating Sahiwal cows

Early lactating Sahiwal cows (n=24) of approximately similar yield and lactation were selected and randomly divided into four groups of six cows in each. These groups were fed ad libitum four iso- energetic and iso- proteic diets with different rumen undegradable protein (RUP) sources: diet A 30% RUP, diet B 40% RUP, diet C 50% RUP and diet D 60% RUP in a completely randomized design. Among nutrients intake, dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intake was significantly (P<0.01) different, while neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) intakes were similar across four diets. DM, CP and NDF digestibility were also different (P<0.05) except, NDF digestibility. Whole milk yield (kg/d) and 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) (kg/d), fat (g/d) and protein (g/d) was found maximum on diet B, followed by diet A. Not significant differences were found in fat, solid not fat (SNF), protein, lactose, salts and total solids percentage across all diet except SNF, lactose and salts percentages which were significantly lower (P<0.05) on diet D. Nitrogen intake, balance and utilization were statistically similar across all diets however, nitrogen excretion in milk (g/d and percentage of intake) and urine (percentage of intake) were significantly different across diets. Nitrogen intake and output varied (P<0.01) across all diets. Nitrogen balance and its utilization were maximum (P<0.001) on diet B, while other diets showed not significant differences among themselves. Based on presenting findings, it is concluded that feed intake, digestibility and production performance was maximum in early lactating Sahiwal cows when fed 40% rumen undegradable protein in total mixed ration based diet