The aquaculture industry depends upon the development of sustainable protein sources to replace fishmeal (FM) in aquafeeds and the products derived from soybeans are some of the most studied plant feedstuffs. A key area of investigation for continuing to improve modern aquafeeds includes the evaluation of varying proportions and combinations of plant ingredients to identify mixtures that are more efficiently utilized by the fish. This study investigated the effects of increasing soybean meal (SBM) by replacing a mix of plant ingredients in low FM (20%) diets on growth, blood biochemistry profile and gut histology on European sea bass. Five isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated: four diets containing increasing SBM levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%; 0SBM, 10SBM, 20SBM and 30SBM, respectively) with a low content of FM (20%) and one control diet (0% SBM; 35% FM). Diets containing SBM brought to comparable performance and protein utilization, while 0SBM had negative impact on feed conversion rate and protein utilization. Blood parameters suggested an optimal nutritional status under all feeding treatments, even though slightly decreased values were reported at increasing dietary SBM. Histology examination did not show any changes indicative of soy-induced enteritis. We can conclude that for European sea bass: (i) different blends of plant protein did not affect feed intake despite the 20% FM dietary level; (ii) the inclusion of SBM maintains optimal growth and feed utilization in low FM diets; (iii) blood biochemistry profile showed a good nutritional status under all feeding regimes; (iv) no evidence of soy-induced enteritis was reported in any group fed low FM diets. For formulation of practical diets in on-growing of European sea bass, SBM up to 30% can be successfully incorporated into feeds containing low FM inclusion.

Knowledge about the nutritional requirements of common sole (Solea solea) is limited and no information regarding the optimal dietary lipid level is available yet. Thus, this study was undertaken to assess the growth response and feed utilization of common sole juveniles fed diets with increasing lipid levels. Four isonitrogenous (59% protein) pelletized diets with different dietary lipid levels (8, 12, 16 and 20%; L8, L12, L16 and L20, respectively) were fed to triplicate fish groups of 80 individuals to apparent satiation over 150 days. A one-way ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc test and linear regression were used to analyse the data (P ≤ 0.05). At the end of the trial, final body weight was significantly higher in fish fed L8 (40.7 ± 1.7 g), followed by those fed L12 (35.1 ± 1.2 g), L16 (27.9 ± 2.5 g) and L20 (22.1 ± 0.3 g). The specific growth rate was higher in fish fed L8 and L12, compared to the other treatments, and it was lowest in L20. Voluntary feed intake decreased with an increase in the dietary lipid level. The feed conversion rate, the protein efficiency ratio and the gross protein efficiency were lower in fish fed L20, while no significant differences were observed among L8, L12 and L16. Gross lipid efficiency was significantly higher in fish fed low lipid diets.Histological observations showed that 19 of 36 observed subjects had lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of enterocytes at the apex of the mucosal folds and, in some cases, also along the entire fold (intestinal steatosis). The number of fish with intestinal steatosis in groups L20 and L16 was significantly higher than the number in group L8.Ultrastructure showed large electrondense lipid droplets within the cytoplasm of enterocytes and warping of the cytoplasmic membrane (steatosis); in some cases, lipid droplets were also present within the Golgi apparatus.In conclusion, the results of this trial suggest that the diet for Solea solea juveniles should include no more than 12% lipids. Higher lipid inclusions not only led to a substantial decline in performance but also affected gut health. This should be taken into consideration in formulating specific practical diets for common sole.

The terms and conditions for the reuse of this version of the manuscript are specified in the publishing policy. For all terms of use and more information see the publisher's website.Feeding European sea bass with increasing dietary fibre levels: impact on growth, blood biochemistry, gut histology, gut evacuation

We investigated the effects of different dietary lipid levels on gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, reared at Mediterranean summer temperature. Sixty fish (average weight 75 g) per tank were randomly distributed, in triplicate groups, in a recirculating rearing system (27±1°C) and fed ad libitum five isonitrogenous (46% dietary protein) diets with increasing lipid level (16, 18, 20, 22 and 24% named D16, D18, D20, D22 and D24, respectively), over 89 days. Specific growth rate and final body weight were not affected by dietary lipid levels. Feed conversion ratio was significantly higher (P≤0.05) in D16 as compared to the other treatments, most likely due to the shortage of dietary energy supply, coped with a significantly higher voluntary feed intake. Consequently, we obtained a significantly lower protein efficiency ratio and gross protein efficiency in D16. Gross lipid efficiency was significantly higher in D16 and D18 than in the other treatments. Biometric parameters and lipase activity in gut content were not influenced by dietary treatments. In conclusion, D18 seems the most suitable diet for gilthead seabream reared at Mediterranean summer temperature, providing both the lowest fish in fish out (FIFO) ratio and a protein sparing effect, which makes gilthead seabream's production economically and environmentally more sustainable.

The study of lipids and fatty acids (FAs) has been used in the assessment of egg quality because their composition can influence the fertilization rate, hatching, survival and growth of marine fish larvae. For these reasons, the lipid content (TL) and fatty acid composition of common sole (Solea solea) eggs were measured and correlated to egg and larval viability parameters throughout an entire reproductive season. Seventeen batches of fertile eggs obtained from natural spawning of captive breeders were characterized for the TL, FA profile, hatching rate (HR) and survival rate of larvae (SR) at 0-6 days post-hatching (dph). The egg FA composition reflected the composition of the feed supplied to the broodstock during summer and autumn (before and during vitellogenesis) rather than that supplied during the spawning season. In general, the egg FA profile showed minimal differences among the early-, mid- and late-spawning periods (possibly due to the change of the diet and/or water temperature) indicating that it is possible to obtain a similar egg quality in terms of egg FA profile over 2 months of spawning. Saturated FAs and monounsaturated FAs (MUFA) were positively correlated with HR, while TL, 22 : 6n-3 (DHA), 20 : 4n-6 (ARA), polyunsaturated FAs of the (n-3) series (n-3 PUFA) and polyunsaturated FAs of the (n-6) series were negatively correlated (p ≤ 0.05). MUFA, 20 : 5n-3 (EPA), n-6/n-3 were positively correlated with SR, while DHA, n-3 PUFA, DHA/EPA were negatively correlated (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, the feed supplied before and during vitellogenesis has a major role in determining the egg FA profile in common sole. The relationships found between TL and FAs with egg and larval viability parameters differ from many other farmed marine fish species, which may suggest the need for a specific broodstock feed for this species.