Simulation of Artificial Grain Feeding in Order to Reach Dynamical Bed Stabilisation Along the River Rhine

The Wesel-Xanten stretch of the fiver Rhine between km-812.5 and km-821.5 is one of the reaches where strong erosion leads to high maintenance efforts conceming navigability.In order to improve the naviga- tion conditions without aggravating the flood protection,but also ensuring that the ecological system of the river is not damaged,investigations of the morphodynamical processes in connection with artificial grain feeding ac- tivities have to be carried out by Federal Waterways Engineering and Research...

Comparison of Nutritional Components in the Muscle of Juvenile Siganus guttatus Fed with Enteromorpha prolifera and Artificial Feed

[ Objective] This experiment was conducted to analyze and compare the nutritional components in the muscle of juvenile Siganus guttatus fed with Enteromorpha prolifera and artificial feed. [ Method] A total of 180 healthy S. guttatus juveniles with similar body size were assigned into two groups： one fed with E. prolifera, and the other fed with artificial feed, respectively. There were three replicates in each group, and 30 fish in each replicate. And the experiment lasted for 90 d. [ Result] The results showed that the weight gain rate, specific growth rate and relative growth rate of E. prolifera-fed group were significantly lower than those of artificial feed-fed group （P 〈0.05） ; the contents of crude protein and crude ash of E. prolifera-fed group were significantly higher than those of artificial feed-fed group （P 〈 0.05 ）. However, the content of crude fat of E. prolifera-fed group was significantly lower than that of artificial feed-fed group （P 〈 0.05 ）. The moisture content had no significant difference between the two groups （P 〉 0.05 ）. The amino acid composition was similar between the two groups. Seventeen amino acids were found in both groups, and the essential amino acid index （EAAI） was 76.71 in E. prolifera-fed group and 70.05 in artificial feed-fed group, both of which met the criteria set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations （FAO）/World Health Organization （WHO）. The content of eicosapentaenoic acid （EPA） ＋ docosahexaenoic acid （DHA） and the content of to-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids （ to-3 PUFAs） of E. prolifera-fed group were significantly higher than those of artificial feed-fed group （ P 〈 0.05 ）. [ Conclusion ] In conclusion, the juvenile S. guttatus in both groups contains a variety of nutritional components. S. guttatus fed with E. prolifera has higher levels of essential amino acids, more balanced composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids, higher nutritive val- ue and better taste than that fed with artificial feed.

Determination of Weaning Regimes for Anguilla mormorata Glass Eels

[Objective] The aim was to find a suitable weaning regime, including weaning period and weaning feed, for Angui//a mormorata glass eels. [Method] A weaning processing experiment was conducted indoor in fiberglass tanks, two kinds of artificial feeds （eel grower powder feed and eel grower piece feed） were selected as weaning diets against a control group fed on natural food （minced octopus flesh）, two weaning periods, 5 and 15 d, were introduced in weaning experiment. [Result] The growth rate and survival rate of the groups with 15-day＇s weaning period were higher than that of the groups with 5-day＇s weaning period, revealing that a 20% increase every 3 d from 0% to 100% in the proportion of grower paste in the minced octopus flesh during weaning is suitable for A. mormorata glass eels. [Conclusion] A. mormorata glass eels can be weaned from natural food to the commer- cially available eel grower feeds over a certain weaning period, and of the artificial feeds with same ingredients and nutrient, A. mormorata glass eels accepted powder feed more readily over 28 d than piece feed.

Effects of Glutamate and Na^+ on the Development and Enzyme Activity of the Oriental Migratory Locust,Locusta migratoria manilensis(Meyen) in Successive Generations

Rapid and mass rearing ofLocusta migratoria manilensis is an urgent need to meet the increasing demand for food of people. In this study, the effects of four artificial feeds on the development, reproduction and the activities of detoxification and protective enzymes of L. migratoria manilensis in three successive generations were investigated. The results showed that sucrose and monosodium glutamate （MSG） significantly increased the net reproductive rate （R0） and the intrinsic growth rate （rm） ofL. migratoria manilensis, but sodium chloride （0.17%） suppressed this increase. Furthermore, the artificial feed with sucrose and monosodium glutamate increased the activities of esterase （EST）, acetylcholinesterase （ACHE）, glutathione-S- transferase （GST）, multi-function oxidase （MFO）, phenol oxidase （PO）, catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POD）, but inhibited the activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD）. However, sodium chloride （0.17%） increased the activities of EST, ACHE, CAT and SOD, and inhibited the activities of MFO, GST, PO and POD. Correlation analysis found that the increasing of PO activity and the decreasing of SOD activities were significantly related with the increasing of the intrinsic growth rate （rm）. The above results indicated that sucrose and monosodium glutamate could promote the development and reproduction of L. migratoria manilensis, but Na＋ inhibit such promotion with the concentration above 0.2%. The activities of PO and SOD can be used as biochemical standard to assess the effect of artificial feed.

Current and future prospects for nanotechnology in animal production

Nanoparticles have been used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in the human medical field for quite some time, though their application in veterinary medicine and animal production is still relatively new. Recently,production demands on the livestock industry have been centered around the use of antibiotics as growth promoters due to growing concern over microbial antibiotic resistance. With many countries reporting increased incidences of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, laws and regulations are being updated to end in-feed antibiotic use in the animal production industry. This sets the need for suitable alternatives to be established for inclusion in feed.Many reports have shown evidence that nanoparticles may be good candidates for animal growth promotion and antimicrobials. The current status and advancements of nanotechnological applications in animal production will be the focus of this review and the emerging roles of nanoparticles for nutrient delivery, biocidal agents, and tools in veterinary medicine and reproduction will be discussed. Additionally, influences on meat, egg, and milk quality will be reviewed.

Effects of small peptides, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on growth performance, digestive enzymes, and oxidative stress in orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides, juveniles reared in artificial seawater

Aquaculture production efficiency may increase by using feed additives. This study investigated the effects of different dietary additives [w/w: 2% small peptides, 0.01% probiotics( Bacillus licheniformis) and 0.2% prebiotics(inulin)] on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and oxidative stress in juvenile Epinephelus coioides reared in artificial seawater of two salt concentrations(13.5 vs. 28.5). Weight gain rate was significantly higher in fish fed the diet supplemented with small peptides, B. licheniformis, inulin, or synbiotics than that in fish fed the basal diet; the greatest weight gain rate was found in fish fed the small peptide treatment [56.0% higher than basal diet]. Higher feed efficiency was detected in fish fed the diet supplemented with small peptides than that of fish in the other dietary treatments. Total protease activity in the stomach and intestines was highest in fish fed the small peptide-treated diet, whereas lipase activity was highest in those fed synbiotics(combination of Bacillus licheniformis and inulin) than that in fish fed the other treatments. Antioxidant enzyme(total superoxide dismutase and catalase) activities and hepatic malondialdehyde content were higher in fish receiving the dietary supplements and maintained in artificial seawater containing 13.5 salinity compared with those in the control(28.5). Hepatic catalase activity in grouper fed the diets with small peptides or synbiotics decreased significantly compared with that in control fish. Overall, the three types of additives improved growth rate of juvenile grouper and digestive enzymes activities to varying degrees but did not effectively improve antioxidant capacity under low-salinity stress conditions.

Indoor Artificial Rearing Technique of Spodoptera frugiperda

[Objective]The paper was to develop a standardized rearing technique of Spodoptera frugiperda.[Method]A set of simple,practical and long-term scale standard feeding technique was summarized through indoor rearing of S.frugiperda from the aspects of feeding vessels,artificial feed components,feeding methods and procedures,notes,etc.[Result]S.frugiperda population maintained under the standard rearing technique for successive five generations which had high fitness parameters.[Conclusion]The new feed formula and rearing technique are suitable for massive rearing of S.frugiperda,which also provide a reference for scale rearing of other Noctuidae insects.

Evaluation of Effects of Tea Saponin on Behavior, Growth and Development of Cylas formicarius (Coleoptera: Brentidae)

[Objectives] This study was conducted to expand the insect resistance spectrum of tea saponin, and its control effect on Cylas formicarius and the potential as an insecticide for pest control were explored. [Methods] The olfactory avoidance rate of C. formicarius to tea saponin aqueous solution was determined by Y-type olfactometer;the feeding avoidance rate of C. formicarius to tea saponin was determined by the selective method;the antifeedant rate of C. formicarius to tea saponin was determined by non-selective method;and the development duration and mortality of C. formicarius under the influence of tea saponin were determined by artificial feeding method. [Results] C. formicarius had no significant olfactory tendency to every concentration of tea saponin, and the olfactory avoidance rate of 20.0% tea saponin aqueous solution was only 9.14%. Tea saponin had a feeding avoidance effect on C. formicarius, and the avoidance rate increased with the increase of tea saponin concentration. At 6 h, the feeding avoidance rates of 0.5%, 1.0%, 5.0%, 10.0% and 20.0% tea saponin on C. formicarius were 58.14%, 77.77%, 88.23%, 95.00% and 97.65 %, respectively;and the feeding avoidance effect at 6 h was significant, and the feeding avoidance rate was higher than that of 1 h. Tea saponin had a significant antifeedant effect on C. formicarius, and the longer the feeding time, the higher the antifeedant rate. At 72 h, the antifeedant rates of 0.5%, 1.0%, 5.0%, 10.0 % and 20.0% tea saponin to C. formicarius were 63.01%, 67.54%, 97.14 %, 96.42% and 98.57%, respectively. The larval development duration of C. formicarius was shortened with the increase of tea saponin concentration, and the larval death occurred. The development duration of larvae under the influence of 1.0% tea saponin was the shortest, which was 4.01 d shorter than that of the control, and the mortality was the highest, which was 26.65%. [Conclusions] Tea saponin had neither olfactory avoidance effect nor olfactory attracting effect to C. formicarius, but had obvious feeding avoidance effect and strong antifeedant effect. Tea saponin can shorten the development duration of the larvae of C. formicarius and cause the death of the larvae.