ABSTRACT
Background: Faba bean [Vicia faba] is a rich source of protein and carbohydrates that is used as a vegetable ingredient in diet of livestock, poultry and fish, in many countries
Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the effects of different levels of faba bean on the serum lipid levels and liver function of farmed beluga sturgeon [Huso huso]
Methods: 144 juvenile beluga [82.38 +/- 0.83 g] were located into 18 oval tanks [300 L] and triplicate groups were fed by experimental diets inclusion 6 levels of faba bean [0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%] for 50 days. At the end of the trial, blood samples were taken from the caudal vein of 54 beluga juveniles and some of biochemical parameters [cholesterol and triglycerides] and liver enzymes such as Alkaline Phosphatase [ALP], Aspartate Aminotransferase [AST], Alanine Aminotransferase [ALT] and Lactate Dehydrogenase [LDH] were investigated. Then nine fish per treatment were sampled to measure Hepatosomatic index [HSI] and liver composition per each treatment
Results: The results showed that by increasing the levels of faba bean in diets ALP, AST and LDH contents were significantly decreased compared to the control treatment [p<0.05]. However, the lowest level of ALT[0.76 +/- 0.2 U/l] was measured in fish fed with 10% faba bean meal [p<0.05]. The moisture and fat contents of liver showed significant difference by increasing the levels of faba bean in diet [p<0.05]. No significant differences were shown in cholesterol, triglyceride, HSI, liver protein and liver ash contents [p>0.05]. Highly significant positive correlation were observed between total protein, cholesterol, AST, LDH, ALP and liver fat [p<0.01]
Conclusions: Use of lower levels of faba bean [up to 25%] had no significant effect on serum lipids and no adverse effect on liver function of juvenile beluga
ABSTRACT
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for teleost fish. It plays vital role in immune system function. A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of different levels of dietary vitamin C supplement on growth performance, hematological indicators and response to heat stress in rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss] fingerlings kept at different densities. The fingerlings [initial weight of 2.1 +/- 0.1] were reared in triplicate groups in fiberglass tanks at two different densities [400 and 600 /m[2]]. The fish were fed with four experimental diets containing different levels of vitamin C [0, 100, 200 and 1000 mg vitamin C /kg diet] for 9 weeks. To evaluate the effect of heat stress on survival, fish were exposed to different temperatures [24, 26 and 28 °C] at the end of feeding experiment. Growth performance in fish which fed diets containing different levels of vitamin C [100, 200 and 1000 mg /kg diet] was significantly [p<0.05] higher than those fed diet without vitamin C supplement. In terms of hematological indicators, it was shown that different levels of vitamin C significantly [p<0.05] effected the hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cell [RBC] count. However, it did not make any effect on the MCH and MCHC values. On the other hand, stocking density only had significant effect on RBC count. Survival of fish which fed diets containing different levels of vitamin C was significantly [p<0.05] higher than those fed diet without vitamin C in response to heat stress