Dietary mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) from commercial product, Bio-Mos supplementation, has been examined for its effects on weight gain and feed conversion of domestic mammals and birds, but very few studies have evaluated the responses of aquacultural species to MOS. A feeding and digestibility trial was performed to asses the potential beneficial effect of two levels of Bio-Mos on growth, feed utilization, survival rate and nutrientsÕ digestion of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) with an initial average weight of 170 g. Bio-Mos was added at 2 or 4 g kg )1 to a fish mealbased control diet, and each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 1-year-old gilthead sea bream. After 12 weeks, there were no differences in survival rate among fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). It was observed that a significant improvability existed for both growth and feed utilization in fish fed diets supplemented with Bio-Mos (P < 0.05). Body proximate composition remained unaffected by Bio-Mos supplementation in fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). Apparent digestibility values for protein, carbohydrate and energy were appreciably affected by the inclusion of two different levels of Bio-Mos, only lipid digestibility was the exception. In conclusion, the results of this trial indicate that 2 g kg )1 dietary supplementation with BIO-MOS seem to be most positive for gilthead sea bream production. KEY WORDS

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A feeding trial was performed to assess the potential beneficial effect of two levels of mannanoligosaccarides (MOS) on the growth performance, feed utilization, hematological parameters, and liver histopathology of gilthead seabream Sparus auratus (also known as gilthead bream). Mannanoligosaccarides were added at the rates of 2 and 4 g/kg to a fish-meal-based control diet, and each diet was given (twice daily [midmorning and midafternoon] to apparent satiation) to triplicate groups of gilthead seabream growers (mean weight = approximately 170 g) in sea cages. The trial lasted 12 weeks, and the average ambient water temperature ranged from 19.6 degrees C to 24.7 degrees C during the experimental period. At the end of the experiment, fish attained market size (350-450 g) and their health status was evaluated by blood analysis and liver histology. There were no differences in survival rates among fish fed experimental diets. However, there were significant improvements in both growth and feed utilization among fish fed diets supplemented with MOS. Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) levels and erythrocyte, leukocyte, and thrombocyte (Thr) counts were unaffected by any dietary MOS. The levels of Hb (g/dL; mean +/- SD) and Ht (%; mean +/- SD) were 11.0 +/- 2.5 and 45.6 +/- 6.7 for the control group, 11.1 +/- 1.7 and 39.3 +/- 8.0 for the 2-g/kg group, and 11.2 +/- 1.9 and 40.2 +/- 8.4 for the 4-g/kg group. The mean Thr count ranged from 47.6 to 53.8 x 10(3)/mm3. Despite the apparently higher Thr counts for fish fed diets supplemented with MOS, these differences were not significant. Moreover, no histopathological differences were observed in liver tissue cross sections between control and treatment groups. These results suggest that supplementation of diets with MOS had no significant effects on general fish health.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of various lengths of starvation periods on following compensatory growth (CG) in rainbow trout under summer conditions (18.1°C and day length of 12.5-14.5 hours). Five treatments with triplicate tanks were as follows: control (C) fed to satiation over 84 days; one (S1), two (S2), three (S3), and four (S4) weeks of starvation; and then refeeding for the remaining eight weeks of the experiment. Starvation periods induced hyperphagia during refeeding but only S1 and S2 were able to catch up with C. Repeated measures of analysis of variance suggested a convergence in body mass but not in body length (structure). Organo-somatic indices of the starvation groups were significantly reduced at the end of starvation periods and restored to levels of the control fish within the first two weeks of the refeeding period. Broadly speaking, starvation longer than one week significantly reduced apparent digestibility of dry matter, lipid, and energy compared with the control group but did not affect protein and ash, and a complete recovery in the digestibility coefficients occurred within two weeks of satiation feeding. There was a linear increase in body moisture and a decrease in lipid and lipid/lean body mass ratio with the severity of starvation periods, but these divergences largely disappeared at the end of refeeding. During the starvation period, the protein synthesis rate (estimated using RNA/DNA ratio in the muscle and liver) reduced but in subsequent refeeding period, it increased in starved fish. The findings of the present experiment suggest that an application of single starvation episodes to elicit CG as a management tool in summer conditions should not be longer than two weeks.

SummaryThis study was conducted to determine the effects of various time lengths of restricted feeding at 0.5% of body weight on compensatory growth (CG) in rainbow trout under summer conditions. Seven treatments with triplicate tanks consisted of control (C) fed to satiation over 98 days and the remainder being one (R1) to six (R6) weeks of restriction and then refeeding for the remaining 8 weeks of the experiment. At the end of the experiment R1 and R2 were able to catch up with C. Repeated measures ANOVA suggested a convergence in body mass but not in body length (structure), whereas there was an association between mass and structural CG responses. Hyperphagia and transiently better food utilisation were main mechanisms of the observed CG. Organosomatic indices of the restricted groups were significantly reduced at the end of the restriction periods, but were restored to the control fish levels by the end of the refeeding period. There was a linear increase in body moisture and a decrease in lipid and lipid/lean body mass ratio with the severity of the restriction periods, but these trends vanished by the end of refeeding. The findings of the present experiment suggest that restricted feeding and the following realimentation to elicit CG as a management tool can be used in rainbow trout, but for no more than 2 weeks under summer conditions.