In the context of Mediterranean aquaculture, the manipulation of feeding frequency during the on-growing phase has received little attention. To address this gap, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of different feeding frequencies on the growth, digestive enzyme activity, feed digestibility, and plasma biochemistry of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). The fish were fed diets with varying levels of fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO), and three different feeding frequencies were tested: one meal per day, two meals per day, and three meals per day. Over a period of 109 days, triplicate groups of fish were fed isonitrogenous and isolipidic extruded diets by a fixed ration. The results showed that feeding frequency did not have significant effects on overall performance or feed efficiency in gilthead sea bream fed high or low FM and FO dietary levels. However, pepsin activity appeared to decrease in fish receiving more than one meal a day without an accompanying increase in alkaline protease production; this effect was particularly evident in fish fed on low FM diets. Trypsin levels decreased significantly with an increasing number of meals only under the low FMFO diet; this suggests that consecutive meals may have amplified the potential trypsin inhibitor effect of the vegetable meal-based diet used. The study also examined plasma parameters related to nutritional and physiological conditions and found that they were not affected by feeding frequency. However, fish fed a single daily meal with a high FMFO level exhibited higher levels of plasma creatinine; although this increase was within physiological values it correlated with higher protein efficiency observed with this diet. Based on these findings it can be concluded that gilthead sea bream is capable of maximizing feed utilization regardless of the number of meals provided. This information could be valuable for planning feeding activities at the farm level to optimize fish growth and reduce feeding costs. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the effects of feeding frequency on the performance and physiology of gilthead sea bream in Mediterranean aquaculture.
In this study, scientists looked at how often fish are fed in fish farms in the Mediterranean. They tested three different feeding schedules: one meal per day, two meals per day, and three meals per day. They found that the number of meals didn't make a big difference in how well the fish grew or how efficiently they used their food. However, when the fish were given more than one meal a day, a substance called pepsin decreased. Another substance called trypsin also decreased when the fish had more meals but only if their diet had less fishmeal and fish oil. Other things like blood tests didn't change with different feeding schedules. The scientists think these findings could help farmers grow fish better and save money on food."
Definitions
- Feeding frequency: How often something is fed.
- Aquaculture: Farming of aquatic organisms like fish.
- Gilthead sea bream: A type of fish commonly farmed in the Mediterranean.
- Feed efficiency: How well an animal uses its food to grow.
- Pepsin activity: A substance involved in digestion that helps break down proteins.
- Trypsin levels: Another substance involved in digestion that helps break down proteins.
- Plasma parameters: Measurements taken from blood samples that show how healthy an animal is.
- Nutritional conditions: How well an animal's body is getting all the nutrients it needs from its food.
- Physiological conditions: How well an animal's body is functioning overall.
- Creatinine levels:
Feeding Frequency and Its Effects on Gilthead Sea Bream in Mediterranean Aquaculture
Aquaculture has become an increasingly important source of food for humans, with fish being one of the most popular seafood products. In the Mediterranean region, gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) is a commonly farmed species due to its high market value and fast growth rate. The manipulation of feeding frequency during the on-growing phase has received little attention in this context; however, it can have a significant impact on fish performance and feed utilization. To address this gap, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of different feeding frequencies on the growth, digestive enzyme activity, feed digestibility, and plasma biochemistry of gilthead sea bream.
Experimental Design
The experiment was conducted over a period of 109 days using triplicate groups of fish that were fed isonitrogenous and isolipidic extruded diets by a fixed ration. The diets contained varying levels of fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO), which were tested at three different feeding frequencies: one meal per day, two meals per day, and three meals per day.
Results
The results showed that overall performance or feed efficiency in gilthead sea bream fed high or low FM/FO dietary levels did not differ significantly between different feeding frequencies. However, pepsin activity appeared to decrease in fish receiving more than one meal a day without an accompanying increase in alkaline protease production; this effect was particularly evident in those fed low FM diets. Trypsin levels decreased significantly with an increasing number of meals only under the low FM/FO diet; this suggests that consecutive meals may have amplified the potential trypsin inhibitor effect associated with vegetable meal-based diets such as those used here.
Plasma parameters related to nutritional and physiological conditions were also examined but found not to be affected by feeding frequency except for creatinine levels which increased slightly but remained within physiological values when single daily meals containing high FM/FO levels were provided; these higher protein efficiency rates correlated with this result.
Conclusion
Overall, these findings demonstrate that gilthead sea bream are capable of maximizing feed utilization regardless of how many times they are fed each day - suggesting that planning feeding activities at farm level could optimize both growth rates and reduce costs associated with aquaculture operations involving these species in Mediterranean regions. This research contributes valuable information towards understanding how manipulating factors such as frequency can affect performance outcomes for farmed aquatic animals like gilthead sea bream
In the context of Mediterranean aquaculture little attention has been paid to the manipulation of feeding frequency at the on-growing phase. The effects of different feeding frequencies: one meal per day, two meals per day, three meals per day on growth, digestive enzyme activity, feed digestibility and plasma biochemistry were studied in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L. 1758) fed with high and low fishmeal and fish oil levels. Isonitrogenous and isolipidic extruded diets were fed to triplicate fish groups by a fixed ration over 109 days. No significant effects of feeding frequency on overall performance, feed efficiency and feed digestibility during the on-growing of gilthead sea bream fed high or low fishmeal and fish oil dietary level were observed. Pepsin activity showed an apparent decrease in fish receiving more than one meal a day which was not compensated by an increased production of alkaline proteases particularly in fish fed on low FM. Although there were no effects on growth and feed utilisation at increasing feeding frequency, trypsin decreased significantly with an increasing number of meals only under low FMFO diet. Thus, it seemed that consecutive meals could have amplified the potential trypsin inhibitor effect of the vegetable meal-based diet adopted. Results of the plasma parameters related to nutritional and physiological conditions were not affected by feeding frequency. The higher level of plasma creatinine detected in fish fed a single daily meal with high FMFO level seems to be within physiological values in relation to the higher protein efficiency observed with this diet. According to the results, gilthead sea bream seems able to maximise feed utilisation regardless of the number of meals, and this could be a useful indicator for planning feeding activity at farm level to optimise growth of fish and costs of feeding procedures.
