No abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the prebiotic effect of different Dietary Fibre Concentrates (DFC) (Mucilage = MG; Pectin = PN or b-glucan + mannan = bg + M) on growth and somatic parameters, body composition and digestive enzyme activities of jundi a (Rhamdia quelen). After acclimation, fish (7.16 AE 0.06 g) were allocated into 24 tanks (30 fish per tank) and triplicate groups were fed with Control diet (0 g kg À1 of DFC); diet supplemented with 5 g kg À1 commercial prebiotic (CP) or diets supplemented with 5 or 10 g kg À1 diet of MG; PN or bg + M. At the end of the trial (8 weeks), growth was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fish fed diets supplemented with DFCs and did not differ from animals supplemented with CP. The animals that were fed Control diet presented a body protein content higher compared to those supplemented with diets containing pectin or bglucan + mannan (P < 0.05). However, fish fed diets added with b-glucan + mannan yielded a higher level of protein deposited in the whole body. The activity of digestive enzymes was lower in the group supplemented with Pectin. Results indicate that supplementation with DFCs in the diet had positive effects on the performance of jundi a and are prebiotic potential candidate.

The present study aimed to determine the growth and activity of proteolytic digestive enzymes of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) fed by replacing increased fish meal in the diet by either phosphorylated protein concentrate or pumpkin seed meal (PPCPS). Five experimental diets were formulated with levels: 0 (control), 25 (25% pumpkin seed meal (PSM) and 25% PPCPS) and 50% (50% PSM and 50% PPCPS). Crude protein from fish meal was replaced either by PSM or PPCPS crude protein. Each diet was fed to four replicate groups of silver catfish (initial weight 24 ± 0.46 g) to apparent satiation three times a day. Four orthogonal contrasts were applied to the biological assay data. When compared to other diets, the replacement of fish meal by either 25% or 50% of PPCPS in the diet of juvenile catfish does not change growth rates and promotes improvement in feed conversion. The use of PSM as a protein ingredient is not recommended due to its negative influence on fish growth. Thus, it can be concluded that the nutritional value of PSM can be improved by the simple chemical process of phosphorylation, yielding a protein concentrate (PPCPS) that may be used as a promising alternative ingredient.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of different dietary fibre concentrates (DFC: Mucilage = MG; pectin = PN or β-glucan+mannan = βg+M), on biochemical parameters, stress and immune response and skin mucus of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen). The fish (7.16 ± 0.06 g) were fed with Control diet (0 g/kg of DFC); diet supplemented with 5 g/kg of commercial prebiotic (CP 5) or diets supplemented with 5 or 10 g/kg of MG; PN or βg+M. After 8 weeks of the feeding trials, biochemical parameters (cholesterol, glucose, albumin and total protein), cortisol, immunoglobulin IgM and mucoproteins of skin mucus were assessed. Results demonstrated that supplementation with PN increased cholesterol levels (p<.05). After application of the stressor, most fish, except those in the PN and 10 g/kg MG groups, showed significant increases (p<.05) in cholesterol, glucose and albumin levels. The jundiás showed no difference in cortisol levels after application of the stressor (p>.05). IgM levels were significantly high in fish supplemented with DFC (p<.05). However, the concentration of mucoproteins in skin mucus was not influenced in the different treatments (p>.05). The results showed that supplementation with DFC promoted beneficial effects on the metabolism of jundiá. K E Y W O R D Sfibre dietary, mucilage, pectin, prebiotics, Rhamdia quelen, β-glucan+mannan