Two experiments were conducted to compare the performance and behaviour of lactating sows and piglets in farrowing pens with crates or multisuckling systems (group housing of sows and piglets in the second half of lactation). All sows were farrowed in commercial accommodation based on farrowing pens with crates. In experiment 1, fifteen purebred Landrace or Large White sows and litters were recorded in crates as a control (C). Three replicates of six sows and litters were recorded in a multisuckling system (M) in which the sows and litters were group-housed from 2 weeks after farrowing until weaning. Experiment 2 involved 30 Manor Meishan sows (0·25 Meishan genes). The sows and litters were arranged into three treatments and two replicates with five sows and litters in each group. Treatments comprised a control farrowing pen with crate system and two multisuckling systems differing in degree of accessibility of the piglet creep area. Multisuckling 1 (Ml) had a solid creep front with an open doorway (0·5 X 0·9 m) for piglet access. In multisuckling 2 (Ml), the lower 30 cm of the solid creep front was removed to facilitate piglet access and allow visual contact with the sows. Piglets were weaned at 31 days in experiment 1 and 29 days in experiment 2. After weaning, piglets were moved to controiled-environment, fully slatted accommodation and monitored for 7 days in experiment 1 and for 12 days in experiment 2. Mortality rate in the two systems was not significantly different. However, some piglets in the M system were crushed after grouping (0·3 and 0·2 piglets per litter in experiments 1 and 2, respectively). Growth rate was reduced in M piglets in the week after grouping (256, 184 (s.e.d. 21·4) g/day, P < 0·01 for C and M respectively in experiment 1 and 243, 150 and 209 (s.e.d. 12·2) g/day, P < 0·01 for C, Ml and Ml respectively in experiment 2) but was higher after weaning (271, 313 (s.e.d. 35·7) g/day, P > 0·05 for C and M respectively in experiment 1 and 148, 280 and 222 (s.e.d. 15·0) g/day, P < 0·01 for C, Ml and Ml respectively in experiment 2). In consequence, piglet live weight at 1 week after weaning did not differ between treatments (9·33, 9·74 (s.e.d. 0·36) kg for C and M respectively in experiment 1 and 9·30, 914 and 9·53 (s.e.d. Oil) kg for C, Ml and Ml respectively in experiment 2). Sucking behaviour of M piglets in both experiments was severely disrupted (P < 0·01) on the day of grouping and the day after grouping. Despite synchronized suckling, M litters had a high incidence of cross suckling (> 50%) throughout lactation. M piglets spent more time than C outside the creep area, even with a more open creep (Ml). The Meishan sows tended to be more docile and fought less at grouping than the white breeds (0·39 and 1-71 fights per sow per h). Immediately after weaning, C piglets spent more time fighting (8·0 and 1·0 (s.e.d. 0·99) % of time, P < 0·01 for C and M respectively in experiment 1 and 4·51, 0·09 and 0·09 (s.e.d. 019) % of time, P < 0·01 for C, Ml and M2 respectively in experiment 2). These studies demonstrate that, in a multisuckling system, piglets achieved similar overall growth rate to C piglets, since both received checks in growth at different times and for different reasons.

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Background color has significant effects on the lifestyles of various animal species. In this study, the effects of wall background color on growth, feed utilization, specific activity of gastric and pancreatic enzymes in fecal samples, fecal thermal properties, carapace elemental profile, and hematological parameters were investigated in northern river terrapin (Batagur baska Gray, 1831) in order to optimize the head-starting conditions. The terrapins (70.13 ± 0.04 g initial weight) were completely randomized into five types of colored tanks (transparent, green, red, blue, and black) and reared for twelve weeks. At the end of the experiment, tank color had no effect on survival and growth performance, but had significant effects on feeding rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio (p < 0.05). Terrapins reared with black, red, or blue backgrounds had the highest feed utilization among the treatments. Among these three groups, analysis of specific activity of gastric and pancreatic enzymes in fecal samples and fecal thermal properties suggested improved digestive functionality in terrapins reared with a blue background relative to the other treatments. Carapace elemental composition and hematological parameters indicated no negative effects on health status of the terrapins reared with this optimal treatment. Findings from the current study support the head-starting program of northern river terrapins before release to natural habitats, and could also be applied in aquaria or zoos for public display.

The optimal protein replacement of fish meal (FM) by fish condensate (FC) was investigated in striped snakehead, Channa striata (Bloch) (1.78 ± 0.02 g initial weight). The FM-based diet (0FC) was replaced by substituting protein from FC for 100 (100FC), 200 (200FC), 300 (300FC), 400 (400FC), 500 (500FC) or 600 (600FC) g kg of the FM, and a commercial diet (CD) for carnivorous fish was included for comparison. The experiment was conducted indoors under completely randomized design (8 treatments × 3 replications × 60 fish per pond) over a 6-month trial. There were no significant differences in water quality during the experiment. The fish fed with 500FC had superior growth performance and feed utilization. This dietary treatment gave similar levels to all observed specific activities of digestive enzymes as did baseline 0FC. Survival, carcass composition, hematological parameters and liver histopathology were not negatively impacted by this protein replacement level. Economic analysis also supports the use of this by-product as a potent protein replacer in striped snakehead diet. Findings from the current study indicate that a 500 g kg protein replacement of FM by FC is near optimal for striped snakehead, and similar use of it in the aquafeed of other species appears worth further studies.

The optimal protein replacement of fish meal (FM) by mackerel condensate (MC) was investigated in giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (0.90 AE 0.01 g initial weight) over a 12-week trial. The experimental diets replaced the FM partially in a baseline FM-based diet (0MC), by substituting MC for 10% (10MC), 20% (20MC), 30% (30MC), 40% (40MC), 50% (50MC) and 60% (60MC) of the FM, and a commercial diet (CD) was included for comparison. The prawn fed with 40MC had superior growth performance and feed utilization. Significant increases in amylase and cellulase-specific activities indicated improved carbohydrate utilization in this dietary group (P < 0.05). The proteolytic activity was maintained through the key gastrointestinal enzymes (pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin). A slight improvement in carcass compositions was also observed in the prawns fed 40MC, and the total haemocyte count was significantly increased by this diet, without negative effects on the hepatopancreatic histology. These findings indicate that a 40% protein replacement of FM by MC is optimal for giant freshwater prawn, and similar use of it in the aquafeed of other species appears worth further studies.

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