Effect of Digested Sewage Sludge on the Ventilation and Coughing Rates of Two Fresh Water Fish

Addition of digested sewage sludge at concentrations of 2% and 10% (v/v) to the water increased coughing rate in big head and tilapia (P<0.05). Ventilation rate was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in big head and tilapia at sludge concentrations of 6% and 2% (v/v)respectively. Copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) are trace metals which are commonly found in sludge. Cu caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in coughing rate in both tilapia and big head at concentrations of 0.3 and 0.2 μg/ml respectively. Zn caused significant increase (P<0.05) in coughing rate only in big head at 2 μg/ml. Neither fish responded to Cd of up to 2μg/ml in the water. However, when the levels of these trace metals in the digested sludge were measured, they were below that which can cause significant changes in the respiratory movements. Therefore, the changes in ventilation and coughing rates after addition of sludge may be due to the presence of substances other than these metals. The results of this experiment provides a guideline to control the level of sludge that can be used in rearing these fresh water fish in ponds

Molecular quantification of copepod Acartia erythraea feeding on different algae preys

Quantitative evaluation of the copepod feeding process is critical for understanding the functioning of marine food webs, as this provides a major link between primary producers and higher trophic levels. In this study, a molecular protocol based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) targeting 18S rDNA was developed and used to investigate the feeding and digestion rates of the copepod Acartia erythraea in a laboratory experiment using microalgae Thalassiosira weissflogii, Prorocentrum shikokuense, and Alexandrium catenella as prey. Although offered an equal encounter rate based on biovolume, prey uptake varied substantially among the three algal species, with the ingestion rate(IR) and digestion rate(DR) of A. erythraea differing significantly(P <0.001) based on both cell counting and qPCR detection. Acartia erythraea showed the highest IR(2.79×10~4 cells/(ind.·h)) and DR(2.43×10~4 cells/(ind.·h)) on T. weissflogii, and the lowest amounts of ingested P. shikokuense were detected. The highest assimilation rate(~90.64%, IR/DR) was observed in copepods fed with P. shikokuense. The qPCR method used here can help determine the digestion rate and assimilation rate of copepods by detecting cells remaining in the gut hence providing the possibility to examine trophic links involving key species in the marine ecosystem. Our results indicate that A. erythraea has diet-specific feeding performance in different processes, and a quantitative assessment of copepod feeding is needed to accurately determine its functional role in the energy and matter uptake from marine food webs.

Digestive Rate of Dongtian F_1 Red Dear in Weaning Period and Growth Period

in this paper, 4N-HCLAIA method was adopted to conduct digestive tests in young female and male Dongtian F1 red deer (Cervus elaphus) of rearing seperatefy in growth period and mixed raising in weaning period in Harbin Specialty Research Institute. Results indicated that digestive rate of crude protein and crude fiber were 95.35% and 73.68% respectively when rational protein content was 26.8% in growth period. Digestive rate was not significantly different between female and male(P>0.05)i During weaning period, When rational crude protein content is 22.06%, digestive rate of crude protein and crude fiber were 93.05% and 63.96%, respectively. The tests suggest that higher rational protein can be effective in accelerating groWth of young Dongtian F1 red deer during growth period and weaning period(before 10 months old).

Physical and chemical changes of rapeseed meal proteins during toasting and their effects on in vitro digestibility

Background： Toasting during the production of rapeseed meal（RSM） decreases ileal crude protein（CP） and amino acid（AA） digestibility. The mechanisms that determine the decrease in digestibility have not been fully elucidated. A high protein quality, low-denatured, RSM was produced and toasted up to 120 min, with samples taken every 20 min. The aim of this study was to characterize secondary structure and chemical changes of proteins and glucosinolates occurring during toasting of RSM and the effects on its in vitro CP digestibility.Results： The decrease in protein solubility and the increase of intermolecular β-sheets with increasing toasting time were indications of protein aggregation. The contents of NDF and ADIN increased with increasing toasting time.Contents of arginine, lysine and O-methylisourea reactive lysine（OMIU-RL） linearly decreased with increasing toasting time, with a larger decrease of OMIU-RL than lysine. First-order reactions calculated from the measured parameters show that glucosinolates were degraded faster than lysine, OMIU-RL and arginine and that physical changes to proteins seem to occur before chemical changes during toasting. Despite the drastic physical and chemical changes noticed on the proteins, the coefficient of in vitro CP digestibility ranged from 0.776 to 0.750 and there were no effects on the extent of protein hydrolysis after 120 min. In contrast, the rate of protein hydrolysis linearly decreased with increasing toasting time, which was largely correlated to the decrease in protein solubility, lysine and OMIU-RL observed. Rate of protein hydrolysis was more than 2-fold higher for the untoasted RSM compared to the 120 min toasted material.Conclusions： Increasing the toasting time for the production of RSM causes physical and chemical changes to the proteins that decrease the rate of protein hydrolysis. The observed decrease in the rate of protein hydrolysis could impact protein digestion and utilization.

Protein digestive dynamics of meat and bone meals in broiler chickens

This study determined the variations in protein digestibilities and digestion rates in broiler chickens offered diets containing 7 different meat and bone meals(MBM).A total of 252 male Ross 308 broiler chickens were offered 7 atypical diets largely based on maize and MBM from 24 to 28 d post-hatch.Each experimental diet was offered to 6 replicates with 6 birds per replicate cage.Excreta were collected in their entirety from 25 to 27 d post-hatch and on 28 d post-hatch.Digesta samples were collected from the proximal jejunum,distal jejunum,proximal ileum and distal ileum.Apparent digestibilities of protein were determined in each segment and apparent digestibilities of amino acids were measured in the distal ileum.There were significant differences in apparent protein digestibility coefficients in the proximal jejunum(P=0.006),where broiler chickens offered the high ash beef meal(diet 7)generated the lowest protein digestibility in the proximal jejunum(0.318).Similarly,there were significant differences in apparent digestibility coefficients in the distal jejunum(P<0.001)and distal ileum(P<0.001)but not in the proximal ileum.More pronounced differences were found in the disappearance rate of protein and there were significant differences in all 4 segments of the small intestine(P<0.001).Broiler chickens offered the high ash beef meal had the lowest protein disappearance rate(P<0.001).No difference was observed in the predicted protein digestion rate(P=0.486)but chickens offered the high ash beef meal had the lowest potential digestible protein(0.662,P=0.034)whereas the highest potential digestible protein(0.739)was detected in diet 5(containing a beef meal).This study contributed to the establishment of a preliminary database to include digestion rates of starch and protein into practical diet formulation.