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The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of amino acids (AA), protein, and energy in six feed ingredients (Brazilian fish meal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, alcoholic yeast, corn, and wheat bran) we evaluated for pacu juveniles. In general, all ingredients showed high digestibility values for all AA, and differences among ADCs of individual amino acid were detected (P < 0.01). Corn gluten, soybean, and fish meals had the highest ADCs of AA. The ADCs of protein in fish meal, yeast, and corn gluten meal should not be used as AA digestibility indicators, because those showed differences up to 6.7% between the ADCs of protein and AA. All ingredients had lower ADCs of energy than corn gluten meal (P < 0.01). Lysine was the first limiting amino acid in fish meal, corn gluten meal, wheat bran, and corn, and the second limiting amino acid in soybean meal, as methionine was the first limiting amino acid in soybean meal and yeast. However, the soybean meal was the best quality protein source, as it had the highest digestible essential amino acid index. This demonstrated that digestible amino acid values can be used to formulate practical diets for pacu, preventing potential deficiencies or excess that might cause environmental and economic losses.

Due to lack of information on the use of non‐protein energy sources in diets for pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance and digestibility of 12 diets containing approximately two crude protein (CP; 220 and 250 g kg−1), two lipid (40 and 80 g kg−1) and three carbohydrate levels (410, 460 and 500 g kg−1). The pacu juveniles‐fed diets containing 220 g kg−1 CP did not respond (P > 0.05) to increased dietary lipid and carbohydrate levels, but the fish‐fed diets containing 250 g kg−1 CP showed a better feed conversion ratio. There were interactions in weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), crude protein intake (CPI) and feed conversion rate (FCR) dependent on dietary carbohydrate and lipid levels, showing positive effects of increasing carbohydrate levels only for fish‐fed diets containing 80 g kg−1 lipid level. However, when the diets contained 40 g kg−1 lipid, the best energy productive value (EPV) results were obtained at 460 g kg−1 carbohydrate. A higher usage of lipids (80 g kg−1) reduced CPI and was detrimental to protein [apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC)CP] and energy (ADCGE), but did not affect growth. The ADCGE improved proportionally as dietary carbohydrate levels increased (P < 0.05), increasing the concentration of digestible energy. In addition, the WG, CPI, ADCGE results showed best use of the energy from carbohydrates when dietary protein level was 250 g kg−1 CP. The utilization of 250 g kg−1 CP in feeds for juvenile pacu for optimal growth is suggested. Therefore, the optimum dietary lipid and carbohydrate levels depend on their combinations. It can be stated that pacu uses carbohydrates as effectively as lipids in the maximization of protein usage, as long as it is not lower than 250 g kg−1 CP or approximately 230 g kg−1 digestible protein.

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This study proposed the use of the stable isotope technique to track the type of food utilized by pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus larvae during their development, and to identify the moment when the larvae start using nutrients from the dry diet by retaining its carbon and nitrogen atoms in their body tissues. Five-day-old pacu larvae at the onset of exogenous feeding were fed Artemia nauplii or formulated diet exclusively; nauplii1formulated diet during the entire period; or were weaned from nauplii to a dry diet after 3, 6 or 12 days after the ¢rst feeding. d 13 C and d 15 N values for Artemia nauplii were À15.1% and 4.7%, respectively, and À 25.0% and 7.4% for the dry diet. The initial isotopic composition of the larval tissue was À 20.2% and 9.5% for d 13 C and d 15 N respectively. Later, at the end of a 42-day feeding period, larvae fed Artemia nauplii alone reached values of À 12.7% and 7.0% for d 13 C and d 15 N respectively. Larvae that received the formulated diet alone showed values of À 22.7% for d 13 C and 9.6% for d 15 N. The stable isotope technique was precise, and the time at which the larvae utilized Artemia nauplii, and later dry diet as a food source could be clearly de-¢ned.Keywords: pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg 1887), live food, dry diet, larval feeding, stable carbon (d 13 C) isotope, stable nitrogen (d 15 N) isotope

RESUMO -Para melhorar a alimentação do pacu (Piaracatus mesopotamicus), é necessário conhecer o nível de aproveitamento dos ingredientes utilizados em suas dietas. Neste trabalho, inicialmente, foram analisados quatro métodos de coleta de fezes, em função da precisão e da versatilidade (dissecação, extrusão, Guelph e Guelph modificado), e o tempo entre as coletas de fezes nos sistemas de Guelph, por intermédio do coeficiente de digestibilidade da proteína bruta de uma dieta-referência para o pacu. Não houve diferença entre os métodos de coleta de fezes; já os intervalos de tempo das coletas apresentaram diferenças, podendo interferir nos resultados de digestibilidade da proteína. Em uma segunda etapa, para determinação dos coeficientes de digestibilidade da proteína e da energia de cinco concentrados protéicos de origem animal, cinco de origem vegetal e quatro energéticos, foram utilizadas rações elaboradas com 69,5% de uma dieta-referência, 30% do ingrediente teste e 0,5% de Cr 2 O 3 , utilizando o método de extrusão manual para a coleta de fezes. Os valores de digestibilidade da proteína da maioria dos alimentos apresentaram-se altos e não variaram estatisticamente, de 93,89 a 75,73% para o farelo de trigo e a farinha de penas, respectivamente. Entretanto, a farinha de sangue e a levedura apresentaram valores de digestibilidade da fração protéica significativamente inferiores (57,72 e 68,86%, respectivamente). Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da energia dos alimentos variaram consideravelmente, apresentando altos valores (acima de 90%) para o sorgo, o farelo de arroz e as sojas crua e tostada, e baixos valores (menores que 70%) para as farinhas de vísceras e de sangue, os farelos de soja e de algodão e a levedura. Quanto aos métodos de coleta de fezes, conclui-se que qualquer um pode ser adotado para a determinação de digestibilidade, desde que sejam rigorosamente aplicados. De maneira geral, a maioria dos concentrados protéicos pode ser utilizada como ótimas fontes de proteína, com exceção da farinha de sangue e a levedura, enquanto os alimentos energéticos confirmaram-se como excelentes fontes de energia em dietas para o pacu. Palavras-chave: pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, métodos de coleta de fezes, digestibilidade, proteína, energia Fecal Collection Methods and Determination of Crude Protein and of Gross Energy Digestibility Coefficients of Feedstuffs for Pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887)ABSTRACT -To improve the pacu (Piaracatus mesopotamicus) feeding in the growth phase, it's necessary to know the digestibility of the ingredients used in his diets. Initially, four fecal collection methods were analyzed (dissection, stripping, Guelph and modified Guelph), based on precision and versatility and also the most efficient time among fecal collection of the Guelph sedimentation systems, through crude protein digestibility coefficient of pacu basic diet. There was no difference among the fecal collection methods while the intervals of time among the collections were significantly different, which m...

RESUMO -Foi conduzido um experimento, com 100 dias duração, utilizando-se 288 alevinos de pacu, distribuídos em 36 caixas de cimento amianto com volume de 100 litros, para avaliar a substituição da farinha de peixe por farelo de soja e os níveis protéicos nas dietas. Durante o período experimental, a temperatura média da água permaneceu em 28 o C e os demais parâmetros limnológicos (oxigênio dissolvido, pH, alcalinidade e condutividade) apresentaram-se dentro dos níveis adequados para o desenvolvimento desta espécie. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, em que foram avaliados nove tratamentos em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, três níveis de proteína bruta (22, 26 e 30%) e três níveis de substituição da farinha de peixe pelo farelo de soja (0, 50 e 100%). O nível de 26% de proteína bruta foi mais adequado. A farinha de peixe pode ser substituída parcial ou totalmente pelo farelo de soja, sem influir no ganho de peso, na conversão alimentar, na taxa de crescimento específico e na taxa de eficiência protéica dos alevinos. A substituição das fontes protéicas também não influenciou a composição corporal dos peixes, a eficiência de retenção de nitrogênio, o nitrogênio corporal, a gordura corporal e o nitrogênio e a gordura no ganho de peso.Palavras-chave: alevinos de pacu, fontes de proteína, níveis de proteína Sources and Levels of Crude Protein in Diets for Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)Fingerlings ABSTRACT -A 100-d experiment was carried out with 288 fingerlings of pacu, allotted to 36 cement mansory box with 100 liters volume, with eight fishes per each unit, to evaluate the replacement of fish flour by soybean meal and the protein levels in the diets. During the experimental period, the average temperature of the water was 28 o C and other limnology parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity and conductivity) remained within the adequate levels for the development of this specie. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks, with nine treatments in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, three level of crude protein (22,26 and 30%) and three levels of fish meal replacement by soybean meal (0,50 and 100%). The results showed that 26% of crude protein was better and the fish meal, can be partially or totally replaced by soybean meal without affecting fingerlings weight gain, feed: gain, specific growth rate and protein efficiency rate of the fingerlings. The protein source replacement also did not affect the body composition, nitrogen retention efficiency, body nitrogen, body fat and nitrogen and fat in the weight gain of the fingerlings.Key Words: fingerlings of pacu, protein sources, protein levels 1 Parte da tese de Doutorado em Aqüicultura do primeiro autor apresentada ao Centro de Aqüicultura da UNESP. 2 Zootecnista, técnico especializado em piscicultura do Centro de Aqüicultura da UNESP, Rod. Carlos Tonani, Km 5, 14870-000, Jaboticabal, SP. E.mail: jbatista@caunesp.unesp.br 3 Zootecnista, professor do Centro de Aqüicultura da UNESP, Rod. Carlos Tonani, Km 5, 14870-000, Jaboticabal, SP. E.mail: ...