Two feeding trials were carried out to determine the optimum feeding rates in juvenile olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, at the optimum rearing temperature. Fish averaging 5.0 ± 0.11 g (mean ± SD) in experiment 1 and 20.2 ± 0.54 g (mean ± SD) in experiment 2 were fed a commercial diet at the feeding rates of 0%, 3.0%, 4.0%, 4.25%, 4.5% and 4.75% body weight (BW) day−1 and satiation (5.52% BW day−1) in experiment 1 and 0%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0% and 3.5% BW day−1 and satiation (4.12% BW day−1) in experiment 2 at 20 ± 1 °C. Both feeding trials lasted for 2 weeks. Results from experiment 1 indicated that weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed to satiation were significantly higher than those of fish fed at other feeding rates while feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of fish fed at 4.25% BW day−1 were significantly higher than those of fish fed to satiation and fish fed at 3.0% BW day−1 (P < 0.05). In experiment 2 WG, SGR and PER leveled out after the feeding rate of 3.5% BW day−1 whereas FE reached a plateau at 3.0% BW day−1. anova of FE indicated that the optimum feeding rates in 5.0 and 20 g juvenile olive flounder could be 4.25% and 3.0% BW day−1, respectively. Broken line analysis of WG suggested the optimum feeding rates of 5.17% and 3.47% BW day−1 in 5.0 and 20 g fish, respectively. Therefore, these results indicated that the optimum feeding rates could be >4.25 but <5.17% BW day−1 for 5.0 g, and it could be >3.0 but <3.47% BW day−1 for 20 g size of juvenile olive flounder at the optimum rearing temperature.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed concentrate level on carcass characteristics and meat quality of sika deer (Cervus nippon). A total of 16 sika deer (mean bodyweight 30 kg) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments, namely Treatment 1 (T1): fed concentrate at 1.5% of total bodyweight); and Treatment 2 (T2): fed concentrate ad libitum. Both groups had free access to roughage (hay) and water. Each group was fed concentrate twice daily (at 09h00 and 16h00) for eight months. The fat concentration of venison from deer in T2 was significantly greater than that of T1. However, fat loss through cooking, shear force, and pH did not differ significantly between the two groups. Water-binding capacity of venison from deer in T1 was significantly greater (2.83%) than that of T2. Colour parameters a* (redness) and b* (yellowness) were significantly greater for venison from T2 than for deer in T1. Likewise, cholesterol concentration of venison from deer in T2 was significantly greater than for deer in T1. However, the cholesterol concentration in venison from deer that were subjected to both treatments was less than that of meat from other livestock species. In conclusion, the results of this study provide a baseline to estimate fodder cost standards to produce sika deer venison, and would aid commercial deer farmers in developing optimal management strategies for venison production.

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of ozonation of the swine nursery building on indoor air quality and growth efficiency of the weanling piglets. Forty 21-day-old, cross-bred weanling piglets were housed in two ozonated or unozonated pens(10 males and 10 females per pen) for 3 wk alternately in a swine nursery building and this procedure was repeated three times. Ozone was generated using a commercial apparatus outside the nursery building and infused into the nursery building through a duct at a level of 0.03 ppm. Indoor concentrations of harmful gases were measured at 2-h intervals for a 24-h period per each 3-wk feeding trial. Indoor ammonia and carbon dioxide gas concentrations were reduced by the ozonation(P 0.01) by 21% and 7%, respectively, compared with those of the control(unozonation), although hydrogen sulfide concentration was not affected by the treatment.However, the weight gain, feed intake and feed/gain of the piglets did not change due to the ozonation. Results suggest that ozonation of the swine nursery building is effective for improving the indoor air quality without affecting the production efficiency of weanling piglets.