ABSTRACT This study evaluated the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of essential (EAA) and non-essential (NEAA) amino acids of 13 ingredients for tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) diets. Proteic and energetic ingredients were analyzed separately. The trial with energetic and proteic ingredients were arranged in a randomized block design, with four replicates: energetic ingredients (corn, wheat bran, broken rice, and sorghum) with four treatments, whereas proteic ingredients (corn gluten meal, soybean meal, poultry byproduct meal, salmon meal, fish meal [tilapia processing residue], wheat gluten meal, feather meal, cottonseed meal, and alcohol yeast [spray dried]) with nine treatments. Each block was considered as one round of fecal collection. A total of 420 tambaqui juveniles (mean initial weight: 70±8.58 g) were used. Among energetic ingredients, corn (94.6%) and wheat bran (91.9%) had the highest ADCEAA, followed by broken rice (75.7%), and sorghum (72.8%). On average, ADCEAA and ADCNEAA values of proteic ingredients were 79.5-98.5%, except for alcohol yeast (ADCEAA: 68.4 and ADCNEAA: 76.7%). Tryptophan was the first limiting amino acid in most ingredients tested and had the lowest chemical scores (0.06-0.51), except for wheat bran, corn gluten meal, and soybean meal, in which lysine was the first limiting amino acid. Soybean meal had the highest digestible essential amino acid index (EAAI: 1.02) and the most balanced amino acid profile, whereas wheat gluten meal had the lowest EAAI (0.48). Overall, tambaqui was very efficient to digest proteic and energetic ingredients.

ABSTRACT Supplementing high levels of dietary crude protein in the absence of amino acid balance and enough energy in fish diets may results in reduced growth, improper feed intake and poor protein utilization efficiency coupled with unviable feed costs and adverse environmental effects due to high nitrogen excretion. It is necessary to improve the dietary protein quality to avoid unnecessary nitrogen excretion, and the use of protein as an energy source by fish, quality and determine proper dietary protein to energy (DP:DE) ratios in order to maximize protein utilization efficiency. It will help the aquaculture sector to obtain better growth response at a low-cost and without any adverse environmental effects. In the present article, we have deliberated in detail the previous and ongoing researches about protein research in fish nutrition. Besides, we have made a comparison between two so far commonly used methods in protein research, i.e., the graded supplementation and diet- dilution technique. According to the data presented here, is focusing on the formulation of balanced diets, the diet-dilution technique seems to be more accurate than the graded supplementation method. Thus, future studies should be focused on the use of diet-dilution technique along with proper dietary protein to energy ratios in order to formulate well-balanced diets. These attempts will significantly improve the protein and energy research in aquaculture nutrition. Moreover, feed industries will become able to formulate biologically balanced and environment-friendly diets at a low cost.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to describe the growth of freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) using the Gompertz model, determining the relative growth and allometric coefficients of body components in relation to body weight and protein weight. Six hundred animals were grown until 233 days of age. Data on chemical composition (water, lipid, protein, and ash) and weight measurements were obtained each 30 days. The Gompertz growth equation was used to analyze chemical allometry and to estimate growth parameters. The relationship between chemical components and body protein was estimated. Protein and body weight increased proportionally, with ash being the earliest nutrient (209.2 days), while lipid deposition occurred later. Linear regression analysis showed an inverse relationship between lipids and body water. This study provided a useful equation to predict the growth, chemical body composition, and rate of nutrient deposition across the life stages of freshwater angelfish. The rates of nutrient deposition as a function of body weight are important to understand the growth process of freshwater angelfish. Thus, mature weight was estimated in 26.14 g. The allometric relationships of body components and deposition rates indicated that protein and body weight are highly correlated across the life stages of freshwater angelfish. The Gompertz equation is a useful tool to describe the growth and body composition of freshwater angelfish.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da substituição parcial do farelo de soja pela farinha de carne e ossos em dietas para juvenis de tilápia-do-nilo na digestibilidade, na saúde, no desempenho e no custo de arraçoamento. O experimento foi conduzido durante 14 semanas, com 400 juvenis (4,9±0,6 g) distribuídos ao acaso em 16 tanques. Os peixes foram alimentados com quatro dietas contendo 0, 15, 30 e 45% de substituição da proteína do farelo de soja pela proteína da farinha de carne e ossos. Foram avaliados parâmetros de desempenho, digestibilidade, hematologia e custo de arraçoamento. Os melhores resultados para ganho em peso e conversão alimentar aparente foram observados com 40 e 32% de substituição, respectivamente. O menor custo de arraçoamento foi obtido com 30 e 45%. Houve efeito linear decrescente dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da proteína com o aumento nos níveis de farinha de carne e ossos. Os peixes alimentados com dietas contendo até 24% de substituição apresentam aumento da concentração de hemoglobina. A dieta com 32% de substituição da proteína do farelo de soja pela proteína da farinha de carne e ossos promove melhor conversão alimentar para tilápia-do-nilo.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the partial replacement of soybean meal by meat and bone meal in diets for juvenile Nile tilapia on digestibility, health, performance, and feeding cost. The experiment was carried out for 14 weeks, with 400 juveniles (4.9±0.6 g) distributed randomly into 16 tanks. The fish were fed with four diets containing 0, 15, 30, and 45% replacement of protein from soybean meal by protein from meat and bone meal. Performance parameters, digestibility, hematology, and feeding cost were evaluated. The best results for weight gain and apparent feed conversion were observed with 40 and 32% replacement, respectively. The lowest feeding cost was obtained with 30 and 45%. There was a linear decrease in the apparent digestibility coefficients of protein with increasing levels of meat and bone meal. Fish fed diets containing up to 24% replacement show increase of hemoglobin concentration. The diet with 32% replacement of protein from soybean meal by protein from meat and bone meal promotes better feeding conversion for Nile tilapia.

O presente estudo avaliou a digestibilidade aparente da proteína e da energia de ingredientes (farelo de soja, farinha de peixe, farelo de trigo e milho) por juvenis de apaiari (Astronotus ocellatus) usando dois diferentes intervalos de coleta (30 min. e 12h). Os 160 juvenis de apaiari utilizados (22,37 ± 3,06 g de peso corporal) foram divididos em quatro tanques rede plásticos e cilíndricos, cada um colocado em um tanque de alimentação de 1.000 L. O experimento foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2 x 4 (2 intervalos de coleta de fezes e 4 ingredientes foram) com quatro repetições. Os testes estatísticos não detectaram efeito da interação entre o intervalo de coleta e tipo de ingrediente nos coeficientes de digestibilidade. O intervalo de coleta não afetou a digestibilidade da proteína e da energia. As características físicas das fezes dos juvenis de apaiari aparentemente as tornam menos sensíveis à perda de nutrientes por lixiviação, permitindo intervalos de coleta maiores. A digestibilidade da proteína dos ingredientes avaliados foi semelhante, mostrando que a digestibilidade aparente de ingredientes animais e vegetais por juvenis de apaiari é eficiente. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da energia foram maiores para a farinha de peixe e o farelo de soja comparado a farelo de trigo e milho. Ingredientes ricos em carboidratos (farelo de trigo e milho) apresentaram os piores coeficientes de digestibilidade da energia e, portanto, não são usados eficientemente pelos juvenis de apaiari.

This study evaluated the apparent protein and energy digestibility of common feed ingredients (soybean meal, fish meal, wheat meal and corn) by juvenile oscars using two different sampling intervals (30 min. and 12h). The 160 juvenile oscar fish tested (22.37 ± 3.06 g BW) were divided into four cylindrical plastic net cages, each one placed in a 1000 L feeding tank. The experiment was completely randomized in a 2 x 4 factorial design (2 feces collection intervals and 4 feed ingredients) with four replications. The statistical tests did not detect an interaction effect of sampling interval and type of ingredient on digestibility coefficients. Sampling interval did not affect protein and energy digestibility. The physical characteristics of juvenile oscar feces likely make them less susceptible to nutrient loss by leaching and can therefore be collected at longer intervals. Protein digestibility of the different ingredients was similar, showing that apparent digestibility of both animal and plant ingredients by juvenile oscars was efficient. Energy digestibility coefficients of fish meal and soybean meal were higher than those of wheat meal and corn. Carbohydrate-rich ingredients (wheat meal and corn) had the worst energy digestibility coefficients and are therefore not used efficiently by juvenile oscars.