No abstract

Soybean lecithin dietary supplementation was tested on Octopus vulgaris performance in individual or grouped kept animals. Individually reared animals were fed two semi‐moist diets (N = 8) without (VEGENAT‐LS0) or with supplementation (VEGENAT‐LS2, substituting 20 g/kg of starch by lecithin). VEGENAT‐LS2 had higher polar and total lipid content (p < 0.05). Growth (1.1%–1.3%BW/day), feed intake (2.2%BW/day) and feed efficiency (48%–60%) were similar (p > 0.05). VEGENAT‐LS0 presented higher dry matter, protein and lipid digestibility (p < 0.05). VEGENAT‐LS2 increased lipids in carcass and whole animals (p < 0.05) but preserved lipid classes proportion. Group kept octopuses (N = 10) were fed a mixed natural diet (2BOGUE:1CRAB) or VEGENAT‐LS2. VEGENAT‐LS2 had lower protein but higher polar lipid content (p < 0.05). VEGENAT‐LS2 presented less growth (1.1% vs. 1.8%BW/day), feed intake (1.8% vs. 3.2%BW/day) and similar feed efficiency (53.5% vs. 59.9%). Dry matter and protein digestibility were similar while lipid digestibility was significantly lower in 2BOGUE:1CRAB (31.8% vs. 65.4%). VEGENAT‐LS2 digestive gland presented higher mineral and carbohydrate contents and lower triglycerides (p < 0.05), while a similar macronutrient composition was analysed in the carcass and whole animals. Individual or group keeping did not affect VEGENAT‐LS2 performance. In conclusion, dietary soybean lecithin supplementation did not promote a performance enhancement.

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) has aroused great interest in recent years as a new species for aquaculture. The current research is focused on developing a formulated feed, although a proper diet management has also promoted rearing success of other commercial cultured species. It is documented that wild animals eat depending on prey availability and most experience fasting in nature. Hence, O. vulgaris subadults were subjected to two different feeding schemes, with a similar semi-moist diet, including either 2 (2FDb, control) or 3 (3FDb) non-consecutive days of fasting per week. Growth, feed efficiency (FE), digestibility and condition were assessed after 56 days of rearing. Both feeding schemes promoted similar growth and digestibility (P>0.05), 100% of survival and higher food-intake after fasting. Interestingly, feed efficiency (FE) was enhanced with the 3

Cephalopods are the sole invertebrates included in the list of regulated species following the Directive 2010/63/EU. According to the Directive, achieving competence through adequate training is a requisite for people having a role in the different functions (article 23) as such carrying out procedures on animals, designing procedures and projects, taking care of animals, killing animals. Cephalopod Biology and Care Training Program is specifically designed to comply with the requirements of the "working document on the development of a common education and training framework to fulfil the requirements under the Directive 2010/63/EU". The training event occurred at the ICM-CSIC in Barcelona (Spain) where people coming from Europe, America and Asia were instructed on how to cope with regulations for the use of cephalopod molluscs for scientific purposes. The training encompasses discussion on the guidelines for the use and care of animals and their welfare with particular reference to procedures that may be of interest for neuroscience. Intensive discussion has been carried out during the training sessions with focus on behavioural studies and paradigms, welfare assessment, levels of severity of scientific procedures, animal care, handling, transport, individual identification and marking, substance administration, anaesthesia, analgesia and humane killing.