Fish nutrition researchers often feed fishes at between 3-5% of their body weight daily. Environmental risks associated with excess feed leachate are so enormous in tropical waters leading to algal bloom which can toxify the aquaculture products and threaten their safety. Considering that feed requirements by fishes depend on a number of factors such as size, health status and the general condition of the culture environment; there is every need for the determination of the actual feed desired to meet their physiological needs, promote growth and reproduction based on peculiar conditions. This study was conducted to determine the appropriate feeding rate for tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus and consequential changes in the water quality. A 30% crude protein diet was fed to triplicate groups of O. niloticus fingerlings (10.13±0.58g) in glass tanks (75x45x40 cm) (20 fish/tank) at 2, 3, 4 and 5% body weight daily. The holding tanks were cleaned every two days after measuring the water quality parameters, pH, temperature and the dissolved oxygen. Results of the experiment indicated that the weight gain (WG, %) and specific growth rate (SGR) of the fishes fed at 3, 4 and 5% body weights were similar (p>0.05) but differed significantly (p<0.05) from the WG and SGR of the group of fishes fed at 2% body weight. However, there were no significant differences in FCR and PER of fishes fed at the various body weights. While the pH and the temperature of the culture media were not affected by the treatments, the dissolved oxygen was marginally lower in tanks fed at 4 and 5% body weights than in those fed at 2 and 3% body weights. The study established the optimum feeding rate for O. niloticus at 3% body weight daily, and the tendency for water quality deterioration with higher feeding rates.

Key words: Aquaculture production, dissolved oxygen, nutrient utilization


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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2 (6): 329-334, 2003
© Asian Network for Scientific Information 2003

The objective of this study was to find the effective soil variables on the distribution of vegetation types in Hoz-e-Soltan region. Study area was located in the saline region of Qom province. After delimitation the study area and determining plant types, sampling of soil and vegetation were done by randomized-systematic method. The area of quadrants was identified according to the minimal area procedure and the kind of plants distribution. Among vegetation properties, cover percentage and density were estimated quantitatively. Soil was sampled at 0-20 and 20-60 cm depths. Measured soil factors included texture, electrical conductivity (EC), acidity (pH), lime, soluble ions such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, CO₃^2- and HCO₃^-. In order to find the relationship between soil factors and vegetation properties and also to determine the most effective factors on the distribution of plant types, multivariate procedures, i.e., principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used. Results showed that there was a specific relationship between soil variables and plant types. The most effective factors on the separation of different communities were soil salinity and texture.

Key words: Iran, rangelands, salinity, soil characteristics, vegetation types


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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2 (6): 335-338, 2003
© Asian Network for Scientific Information 2003

The proximate chemical composition of freshly harvested mature conophor nut (Tetratcarpidium conophorum Mull. (Arg) Euporbiaceae) showed that it contains on a dry weight basis, 29.09% protein, 6.34% fibre, 48.9% oil, 3.09% ash and 12.58% carbohydrates. The elemental concentrations in the raw conophor nut showed it has a high phosphorus content (465.95 mg/100g); cadmium and nickel were very low (0.01 and 0.38 mg/100g, respectively). Two methods of processing were applied to the mature nuts, namely, cooking for 2 h and toasting in hot sand at 100 ^oC for 30 min. Antinutritional factors in the raw, cooked and toasted nuts were determined. Cooking brought about significant (P<0.05) decreases in tannin and phytate contents, while toasting enhanced the concentration of these factors in the oilseed. The functional properties of the full-fat raw and processed forms were examined, alongside those of defatted raw conophor nut. The highest values for water absorption capacity (186.64%); oil absorption capacity (168.70%) and foaming capacity (8%) were recorded for the defatted raw conophor nut. The lowest protein solubilities or the iso-electric points for the samples occurred at pH 4 (full-fat raw nut), pH 3 (cooked nut) and pH 4 (toasted nut) and pH 6 (defatted raw nut). The results show that defatting brought about an improvement in the functional characteristics of the oilseed. Also, cooking enhanced its functional significance.

Key words: Conophor nut, processing, chemical and functional properties


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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2 (6): 339-345, 2003
© Asian Network for Scientific Information 2003

Feeding trials and digestibility studies were conducted in recirculatory systems to assess the effect of replacing fish meal with 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40% fermented shrimp head waste meal (FSHM) in practical diets for African catfish Clarias gariepinus. The different levels of FSHM were mixed with other ingredients to formulate 40% protein diets (Diets 1-6). The diets were fed to fingerlings of C. gariepinus (12.0± 0.03g) at 3% body weight per day for 84 days. The effect of the diets on the growth, carcass and mineral compositions of the fishes were evaluated. Results showed no significant variation (p>0.05) in apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of nutrients ADC_protein and ADC_energy, protein efficiency ratio (PER), food conversion ratio (FCR) and hepasomatic index of the fishes fed all the diets. However, the fishes fed diets (1-5) had similar (p>0.05) mean weight gain (MWG) and specific growth rate (SGR), which differed significantly (p<0.05) from the MWG and SGR of the group of fishes fed diet 6. Carcass yield and mineral depositions differed marginally in the fishes fed the various diets. Comparative costs analyses indicated that the best profit margin would be realized by replacing fish meal with 30% FSHM in the diet of the fish.

Key words: Shrimp waste, fish meal, African catfish


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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2 (6): 346-349, 2003
© Asian Network for Scientific Information 2003

Present study was performed on three hundred and twenty samples of poultry meat and poultry meat products, 40 samples each from fresh poultry meat, fresh chicken boneless, frozen poultry meat, frozen chicken nuggets, frozen chicken burgers, chopping boards, mincing machines and cleaning cloths collected from different poultry meat sale centers, supermarkets and shops at Faisalabad. Listeria species could be isolated from all the examined samples at different percentages ranging from 10 to 37.5%. Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) was differentially identified from other Listeria species by colony characteristics, "beta haemolysis", "cold enrichment procedure", "Anton test", "aesculin test", characteristic "tumbling motility", sugar fermentation tests and serotyping. L. monocytogenes could be isolated at variable percentages ranging from 2.5 to 17.5% of the examined samples from poultry meat and poultry meat products. From the 31 isolates of L. monocytogenes isolated from examined samples, 23 strains belonged to type 1 and 8 strains belonged to type 4. Study revealed that the incidence of L. monocytogenes was much higher in frozen poultry meat products and other related inanimates as compared to fresh poultry meat samples. The public health hazards as well as suggestive measures to reduce human Listeriosis have been discussed.

Key words: Poultry meat, poultry meat products, L. monocytogenes


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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2 (6): 350-360, 2003
© Asian Network for Scientific Information 2003

Obesity is a risk factor for the development of various diseases like CHD, hypertension, stroke, NIDDM, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and cancers of endometrium, breast, prostrate and colon. Psychological consequences of obesity range from lowered self-esteem to clinical depression. Many of these conditions are revisable through weight loss and maintenance. Weight reduction may be life saving so it is necessary to reduce weight.

Key words: Obesity, risk factor, coronary heart disease (CHD)


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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 2 (6): 361-373, 2003
© Asian Network for Scientific Information 2003

Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) is a multi-purpose forage legume. It provides bioactive compounds for medicinal use and it is also an ornamental plant and cover crop. It is adaptable to a wide range of temperature, rainfall and altitude. Butterfly pea, a highly palatable forage legume is generally preferred by livestock over other legumes. It has thin stem and large leaves, nil bloat and non toxic which make it ideal for forage and hay making. It's vigorous growth, tolerance to frost and dry periods and heavy grazing pressures make this suitable for waste land development. Production and utilization of this legume for animal production will provide adequate nutrition and also reduce grazing pressure on natural ranges. This paper reviews distribution, plant description, agronomic characteristics, genetic variation, medicinal use, chemical composition and utilization of butterfly pea in livestock production.

Key words: Clitoria ternatea, bioactive compound, forage legume, ornamental value


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