The production of the Amazonian fish Cachama blanca has been rising continuously and its cultivation has become heavily dependent on the provision of supplementary feed at low cost. Information on ...the suitability of locally available, cheap feed sources for this fish is required. The locally available duckweeds (Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza) and water fern (Azolla filiculoides) were tested in Cachama blanca evaluating growth performance, feed conversion ratio, and digestibility. A total of five diets, four test diets (35% crude protein) supplemented with fermented duckweeds (DW) and water fern (WF) at 15% and 25% inclusion level and a control diet without aquatic plants, were compared. Ingredients were processed in a micro extruder. Diets were based on a low-fish meal diet. A total of 390 fish (1.6 ± 0.02 g) were randomly selected and stocked into fifteen 250 L plastic tanks providing three replicates per diet. Tanks were arranged in a recirculating system comprising a biofilter and aeration with a turn-over of and a daily water exchange. Fish were fed to apparent satiation twice a day for 60 days. Fish from each tank were weighed collectively every 2 weeks to monitor growth and after 8 weeks final biomass of each tank was recorded. Data from each treatment were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the triplicate groups (n=3). Fish fed on DW15 and WF15 revealed significantly higher (P<0.05) SGR and weight gain than fish fed the other diets. Feed intake did not vary among diets (P>0.05). FCR and PER were also better (P<0.05) for fish fed on DW15 and WF15 than for fish fed on DW25 and WF25 but not significant compared to the control diet. Apparent digestibility coefficients decreased significantly (P<0.05) in DW25 and WF25 diets. Fish feed supplementation with the fermented aquatic macrophytes at 15% inclusion level improved the growth performance of Cachama blanca (P. brachypomus) fed on low-fishmeal-diets.
Juveniles of Cachama blanca and Nile tilapia averaging 86.7 g and 39.6 g, respectively, were co-stocked in 12 experimental units (18m² in area) at a total density of three fish m-².The species ...mixture consisted of 25% Cachama blanca and 75% tilapia. The fish were fed with a commercial aquafeed (24% crude protein) as control diet. Fermented duckweeds (DW), Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza, and fermented water fern (WF), Azolla filiculoides, at 15% substitution level of the commercial aqua feed were offered as experimental diets for a total of three treatments with four replicates per treatment. The experiment was carried out during a period of 120 days of rearing. Growth performance and productive parameters were evaluated. Results on Cachama blanca showed that no significant differences were found for FCR (from 2.7 to 3.0), total Biomass (5536 to 6444 g) and yield (from 3076 to 3580 kg/ha) among treatments. Mean final weight (from 423 to 494 g), weight gain and specific growth ratio (SGR) were higher for Cachama blanca fed on control and DW diets than for those fed on WF diets. Similar results were observed for Nile tilapia. Mean final weight, weight gain and SGR of Nile tilapia fed on DW do not differed significantly from the control diet, but for those fed on WF, which performance was significantly lower. Yield for Nile tilapia varied from 3124 to 3829 kg ha-1 and did not differ between the treatments. Average FCR was calculated for Nile tilapia between 2.1 and 2.5 and was better than for Cachama blanca. Results indicated that fermented duckweeds (Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza) can effectively replace commercial aqua feed at a 15% level for rearing juveniles of Cachama blanca and Nile tilapia in a traditional polyculture.
The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter (ADCdrymatter), crude protein (ADCprotein) and the gross energy (ADCenergy) of the aquatic macrophytes Spirodela polyrhiza, Lemna minor and ...Azolla filiculoides treated by sun drying and lactic acid fermentation were determined for juveniles (31.0 ± 5.2 g) of Cachama blanca, Piaractus brachypomus. Each test ingredient was included at 300 g kg-1 in a semipurified reference diet containing chromium oxide as an indicator. Faeces were collected by a specific sedimentation system. The ADCdrymatter, ADCprotein and ADCenergy of the reference diet were 56.8%, 97.2% and 70.1%, respectively. The 3 x 2 factorial analysis of variances indicated that the digestibility coefficients of the tested macrophytes were significantly different between plant material and treatments, but not between their combinations. ADCprotein ranged from 74.9% to 84.5% in fermented macrophytes and from 51.1% to 60.4% in sundried macrophytes, indicating that the fermentation process had increased the protein digestibility of the aquatic plants (P<0.05). Among the plants, fermented Spirodela polyrhiza showed the highest nutrient and energy digestibility. Lactic acid fermentation is a highly recommendable treatment when aquatic macrophytes should be include into diets for Cachama blanca.
Juveniles of Cachama blanca and Nile tilapia averaging 86.7 g and 39.6 g, respectively, were co-stocked in 12 experimental units (18m2 in area) at a total density of three fish m-2.The species ...mixture consisted of 25% Cachama blanca and 75% tilapia. The fish were fed with a commercial aquafeed (24% crude protein) as control diet. Fermented duckweeds (DW), Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza, and fermented water fern (WF), Azolla filiculoides, at 15% substitution level of the commercial aqua feed were offered as experimental diets for a total of three treatments with four replicates per treatment. The experiment was carried out during a period of 120 days of rearing. Growth performance and productive parameters were evaluated. Results on Cachama blanca showed that no significant differences were found for FCR (from 2.7 to 3.0), total Biomass (5536 to 6444 g) and yield (from 3076 to 3580 kg/ha) among treatments. Mean final weight (from 423 to 494 g), weight gain and specific growth ratio (SGR) were higher for Cachama blanca fed on control and DW diets than for those fed on WF diets. Similar results were observed for Nile tilapia. Mean final weight, weight gain and SGR of Nile tilapia fed on DW do not differed significantly from the control diet, but for those fed on WF, which performance was significantly lower. Yield for Nile tilapia varied from 3124 to 3829 kg ha-1 and did not differ between the treatments. Average FCR was calculated for Nile tilapia between 2.1 and 2.5 and was better than for Cachama blanca. Results indicated that fermented duckweeds (Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza) can effectively replace commercial aqua feed at a 15% level for rearing juveniles of Cachama blanca and Nile tilapia in a traditional polyculture.
Los coeficientes de digestibilidad aparente de la materia seca (ADC materia seca), la proteína cruda (ADC proteína cruda) y la energía bruta (ADC energía bruta) de las macrófitas acuáticas Spirodela ...polyrhiza, Lemna minor y Azolla filiculoides, tratadas mediante secado al sol y fermentación ácido láctica, fueron determinados para juveniles de Cachama blanca, Piaractus brachypomus (31.0 ± 5.2 g). Cada ingrediente de ensayo se incluyó en 300 g kg-1 en una dieta de referencia semipurificada que contenía óxido de cromo como indicador. Las heces se recogieron mediante un sistema de sedimentación específico. Los ADC materia seca, ADC proteína cruda y ADC energía bruta de la dieta de referencia fueron 56.8%, 97.2% y 70.1%, respectivamente. El análisis de varianzas factorial 3 x 2 indicó que los coeficientes de digestibilidad de las macrófitas estudiadas variaron significativamente entre el material vegetal y los tratamientos, pero no entre sus combinaciones. ADC proteína cruda varió de 74.9% a 84.5% en los macrófitas fermentadas y de 51.1% a 60.4% en los macrófitas secados al sol, lo que indica que el proceso de fermentación incrementó la digestibilidad de la proteína disponible en las plantas acuáticas (P<0.05). Entre las plantas estudiadas, la Spirodela polyrhiza fermentada mostró la mayor digestibilidad de los nutrientes y la energía. La fermentación ácido láctica es así un tratamiento altamente recomendable cuando se incluyen macrófitas acuáticas en las dietas para Cachama blanca.
La producción del pez amazónico Cachama blanca ha ido en continuo aumento y su cultivo se ha vuelto dependiente en gran medida de la disposición de alimento suplementario a bajo costo. Por eso se ...requiere información sobre la idoneidad de las fuentes de alimentación disponibles a nivel local que sean más económicas para este pez. Las lentejas de agua (Lemna minor y Spirodela polyrhiza) y el helecho de agua (Azolla filiculoides), disponibles localmente, fueron probadas en dietas para Cachama blanca evaluando el desempeño del crecimiento, conversión alimenticia y digestibilidad. Un total de cinco dietas: cuatro dietas de experimentación con un contenido de proteína cruda de 35%, suplementadas al 15% y 25% de inclusión con lentejas de agua (DW) y Azolla (WF) fermentadas, y una dieta control sin plantas acuáticas, fueron comparadas. Todos los ingredientes fueron procesados en una extrusora de micro-tornillo. Todas las dietas fueron basadas en un bajo contenido de harina de pescado. Un total de 390 peces (1,6 ± 0,02 g) fueron seleccionados al azar y distribuidos en quince tanques de plástico de 250 L con tres réplicas por dieta. Los tanques fueron dispuestos en un sistema de recirculación con un biofiltro y aireación constante y un recambio diario de agua. Los peces fueron alimentados hasta aparente saciedad dos veces al día durante 60 días. Los peces de cada tanque fueron pesados colectivamente cada 2 semanas para monitorear el crecimiento y después de 8 semanas se registró la biomasa final en cada tanque. Los datos de cada tratamiento fueron sometieron a un análisis de varianza (ANOVA) de los grupos por triplicado (n = 3). Los peces alimentados con las dietas DW15 y WF15 revelaron un crecimiento (SGR) y ganancia de peso significativamente mayor (p <0,05) al de los peces alimentados con las otras dietas. El consumo de alimento no varió entre las dietas (P> 0,05). El FCR y PER fueron mejores (P <0,05) para los peces alimentados con DW15 y WF15 que para los peces alimentados con DW25 y WF25 pero no hubo diferencias significativa en comparación con la dieta control. Los coeficientes de digestibilidad aparente disminuyeron significativamente (P <0.05) en las dietas DW25 y WF25. El suplemento del alimento con las plantas acuáticas fermentadas al nivel de inclusión de 15% mejoró el desempeño del crecimiento de la Cachama blanca (P. brachypomus) alimentada con dietas de bajo contenido de harina de pescado.
Zur Sicherung der Fischbestände muss die Aquakultur ihren Beitrag zur Weltfischversorgung weiter steigern. Solange jedoch die Fischfutter Produktion stark von der Gewinnung von Fischmehl abhängig ...ist, bestehen für die Aquakultur natürliche Begrenzungen und die Gefahr der Überfischung der Fischbestände bleibt erhalten. Wenn das Wachstumspotenzial der Aquakultur ausgeschöpft werden soll, müssen beträchtliche Mengen von Nährstoffeinträgen in Form von vollständigen Aquakultur-Mischfuttermitteln auf einer nachhaltigen Basis verfügbar sein. Aufgrund des gestiegenen Preises von kommerziellem Fischfutter sind Kleinproduzenten nicht in der Lage dieses zu erwerben. Daher ist es notwendig, ihnen alternatives Fischfutter zur Verfügung zu stellen. Wasserpflanzen können eine bedeutende Nahrungsquelle für herbivore- und omnivore Fische sein. Dennoch ist die Nutzung dieser Pflanzen als Zusatz für Fischfutter durch eine Reihe antinutritiver Substanzen, welche das normale Fischwachstum negativ beeinträchtigen, begrenzt. Unterschiedliche Behandlungen der Pflanzen können den Anteil an antinutritiven Substanzen reduzieren. Das Ziel dieser Dissertation war es, das nutritive Potential von Wasserpflanzen zu bestimmen. Die Wirkung der Behandlungen wie Sonnentrocknung oder Fermentierung zu bewerten und den Effekt ihrer Nutzung als Fischfutter auf das Wachstum von kultivierten Fischen zu erfassen. Dazu wurden Rationen mit einem geringen Gehalt an Fischmehl (3%) und bis zu 25% der Wasserpflanzen an die Fischspezies P. brachypomus und O. niloticus verfüttert. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zeigen dass, eine ausschließlich auf aquatischen Makrophyten basierende Fütterung nicht empfehlenswert ist. Indem sie jedoch mit anderen lokal verfügbaren Agrar-Nebenerzeugnissen oder sogar mit kommerziellen Futtermitteln kombiniert werden, könnten die Futterkosten erheblich reduziert werden und bäuerlichen Kleinbetrieben eine Möglichkeit zum Wettbewerb auf den lokalen Märkten eröffnen.
It is commonly known that aquaculture needs to increase further its net contribution to the total world fish supplies. However, at present almost all farming operations, based on the use of fish feed, are highly dependent on available fishery resources for the production of fish meal, becoming a reducing activity rather than an activity suppling fishery resources. If the aquaculture growth potential is to be maintained, then considerable quantities of nutrient inputs in the form of aquafeeds will have to be available on a sustainable basis. On a long-term the small producers will be unable to depend on commercial aquafeeds based traditionally on fish meal, due to its increased price. Small-scale farmers need an alternative fish feed wherever possible based on the use of non-food grade locally feed resources, which is available in rural areas, is low-cost and is suitable for the proper growth and maintenance of native fish. Aquatic plants are considered important nutritional sources for herbivorous-omnivorous fish. However, the use of plant-derived materials as fish feed ingredient is limited by the presence of wide variety of antinutrients that affect the normal fish growth negatively; so that plants should be processed to reduce the effects of these compounds. Considering these aspects, this study assessed the nutritional potential of aquatic plants available in rural Colombia treated by sun drying and by fermentation and the effect of their use as fish feed on the growth performance of common cultured tropical fish (Piaractus brachypomus and Oreochromis niloticus) fed low fishmeal diets (3%) and until 25% of aquatic plants. The results of this study showed that a feeding exclusively based on aquatic plants is not recommendable; but to combine them with other locally available by-products of agriculture or even with commercial diets might considerably reduce feeding cost and provide to the small-scale farmers the opportunity to compete in local markets.
