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The present study was conducted to determine the dietary folic acid ( FA) requirement of genetically improved Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Experimental diets were supplemented with 0.04, 0.22, 0.48, 0.96, 2.25, or 4.07 mg/kg FA, respectively, and fed to three replicate groups of 15 tilapia (mean initial weight = 60.23 ± 2.60 g; mean ± SD) for 12 weeks. Results showed that the weight gain rate increased linearly with increasing dietary FA from 0.04 to 0.40 mg/kg, then remained stable with higher supplementation. Similarly, hepatic FA concentration, red blood cell count ( RBC), hemoglobin concentration ( HB) and hematocrit ( HCT) all markedly increased in fish fed with 4.07 mg/kg FA compared to those fed a control diet ( p < .05). Serum aspartate aminotransferase ( AST) and alanine aminotransferase ( ALT) activities decreased with increasing dietary FA ( p < .05). The FA requirement was estimated to be 0.4 mg/kg based on weight gain rate, and 0.7 mg/kg based on liver FA accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the effects of dietary dextrin feed utilization, growth and body composition of juvenile Chinese sturgeon or Acipenser sinensis. The study involves iso-protein and iso-lipid diets containing concentrations of dextrin as well as casein and gelatin used as protein source. Results showed improved growth and feed utilization by an increase in dietary dextrin. Assessments found no differences in muscle moisture, muscle crude protein or liver moisture.