Effect of addition level of Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. on Broiler performances at starter period

Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves are commonly used as food additives in many countries. Beside to improve taste, it is recognized to contain various compound groups namely alkaloid, saponins, flavonoids and tannins that have a role in antibacterial activity. However, the current research aim was to examine effect of using Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves as feed additive in broilers. The method used was experiment, employing 6 treatments included P0: control feed; P0: control feed added with 0.1% zinc bacitracin; P1: control feed added with 0.5% Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves powder; P2: control feed added with 1.0% Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves powder; P3: control feed added with 1.5% Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves powder; P4: control feed added with 2.0% Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves powder. The variables measured were feed consumption, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The results indicated that in all variables no significant results were reported. Those indicated that addition of Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves powder in broiler feed did not affect growth performances of broiler. It is concluded that the use of Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. leaves powder as feed additive did not change growth of broiler, probably due partly to its antibacterial effect.

Photosynthetic Conversion of CO2 Into Pinene Using Engineered Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002

Metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria has received much attention as a sustainable strategy to convert CO2 to various longer carbon chain fuels. Pinene has become increasingly attractive since pinene dimers contain high volumetric energy and have been proposed to act as potential aircraft fuels. However, cyanobacteria cannot directly convert geranyl pyrophosphate into pinene due to the lack of endogenous pinene synthase. Herein, we integrated the gene encoding Abies grandis pinene synthase into the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 through homologous recombination. The genetically modified cyanobacteria achieved a pinene titer of 1.525 ± 0.l45 mg L−1 in the lab-scale tube photobioreactor with CO2 aeration. Specifically, the results showed a mixture of α- and β-pinene (∼33:67 ratio). The ratio of β-pinene in the product was significantly increased compared with that previously reported in the engineered Escherichia coli. Furthermore, we investigated the photoautotrophic growth performances of Synechococcus overlaid with different concentrations of dodecane. The work demonstrates that the engineered Synechococcus is a suitable potential platform for β-pinene production.

Valorization of Macroalgae through Fermentation for Aquafeed Production: A Review

The increased development of aquaculture has resulted in increased demand for high-protein aquafeed. An increased demand for high-protein aquafeed means an increase in exploitation of unsustainable protein sources such as fishmeal for aquafeed production. Thus, alternative protein sources such as fermented macroalgae is explored. Fermented macroalgae had been tested as aquaculture diets in some studies, but with limited coverage in relation to aquaculture. Therefore, this review provides a new perspective regarding their nutritional qualities as aquaculture diets, and their impacts on growth performances of aquaculture animals.

Among-individual variation of risk-taking behaviour in group and solitary context is uncorrelated but independently repeatable in a juvenile Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) aquaculture strain

Behavioural traits have been shown to have implications in fish welfare and growth performances in aquaculture. If several studies have demonstrated the existence of repeatable and heritable behavioural traits (i.e., animal personality), the methodology to assess personality in fishes is often carried out in solitary context, which appears to somewhat limit their use from a selective breeding perspective because these tests are too time consuming. To address this drawback, group-based tests have been developed. In Nordic country, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is widely used in aquaculture, but no selection effort on behavioural traits has yet been carried out. Specifically, in this study we examined if risk-taking behaviour was repeatable and correlated in group and solitary context and if the early influences of physical environment affect the among-individual variation of behavioural trait across time in order to verify whether a group risk-taking test could be used as a selective breeding tool. Here, we found that in both contexts and treatments, the risk-taking behaviour was repeatable across a short period of 6 days. However, no cross-context consistency was found between group and solitary, which indicates that Arctic charr express different behavioural trait in group and solitary.

Exploration of Microalgal Species for Nutrient Removal from Anaerobically Digested Swine Wastewater and Potential Lipids Production

Bio-treatment of anaerobically treated swine wastewater (ADSW) mediated by microalgae has been deemed as a promising strategy. In the present study, six microalgal strains were used to conduct batch experiments in 0~100% ADSW in order to evaluate their potentials for nutrient removal and biodiesel production. Two strains, Chlorella vulgaris FACHB-8 and Chlorella sp. FACHB-31, were selected based on their better growth performances, higher tolerance to wastewater (up to 100%), and better nutrient removal abilities. The capacity of each strain to remove TN, TP, NH4+-N, as well as lipid production and biomass composition in 100% ADSW were further examined. After 15 days of culture, 87.68~89.85%, 92.61~93.68%, and 97.02~97.86% of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and ammonia nitrogen were removed by Chlorella sp. FACHB-31 and C. vulgaris FACHB-8. Their lipid content and lipid productivities were 29.63~33.33% and 18.91~23.10 mg L−1 d−1, respectively. Proteins were both the major biomass fraction followed by lipids and then carbohydrates. Their fatty acid profiles both mainly consisted of C-16:0, C-18:1, C-18:0, and C-18:2. Taken together, our results suggest that C. vulgaris FACHB-8 and Chlorella sp. FACHB-31 are potential candidates for biodiesel production by using ADSW as a good feedstock.

Cardoon Meal as Alternative Protein Source to Soybean Meal for Limousine Bulls Fattening Period: Effects on Growth Performances and Meat Quality Traits

Soybean meal is the most important protein source in beef cattle feeding. The research of alternative protein sources to replace soy use, avoiding negative effects on in vivo performance and on the product’s quality, is an important issue. In this context, cardoon represents a non-OGM resilient crop that can be cultivated in marginal lands for extracting its seed oil (utilized for biodiesel and biodegradable bioplastic production) and whose and the residual meal from its seed oil (utilized for biodiesel and biodegradable bioplastic production) could be a suitable by-product for animal feeding, due to its fairly high protein content. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using cardoon meal as an innovative protein source during the Limousine bulls’ fattening period. Thirty-two bulls were divided into two groups and fed with a diet containing soybean meal (SG) or partially replacing soybean meal with cardoon meal as a protein source (CG), respectively. The feeding trial lasted about 11 months. Growth performances and meat physical–chemical traits were evaluated. No statistical differences in feed efficiency, average daily gain, or in the main meat quality indicators, as well as in fatty acid profiles were found among the groups. Therefore, cardoon meal could be considered as an alternative to soybean meal in fattening Limousine bulls in order to enhance the sustainability of the farming system.

The use of fish silage to increase feed efficiency and growth of grouper (Epinephelus coioides) in floating net cages

This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of fish silage mixed in compounded diets on growth and survival rate of grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Grouper (2,34±0,24 cm, and 4,17±1,82 g) were divided into four groups and cultivated in 1x1x1,5 m floating net cages. Each group fed with compounded diets containing 0, 1, 3 and 5 g/kg fish silage diet twice daily. Fish were sampled for growth performances and feed efficiency at 14 days interval for 10 weeks. Results indicated that compounded diets at 1 and 3 g/kg silage affected the growth rate. Total length, specific growth rate and weight gain significantly increased in fish received 1 and 3 g/kg silage diets. The feed intake seen to be highest in groups administered 3 g/kg silage, whereas the best feed conversion ratio was found in fish fed 1 g/kg silage. Thus, this study indicated that using fish silage in compounded diets may affect feed efficiency and growth performances of grouper juveniles.Keywords:Artificial dietFeedingFish silageGrouperNet cages