Apparent nutrient digestibility of carbohydrate (corn) in Cirrhinus mrigala under the influence of chromium chloride hexahydrate

Digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes oriundos de carboidratos (milho) em Cirrhinus mrigala sob a influência do cloreto de cromo hexa-hidratado

Abstract

A feeding trial was carried out to assess the effect of dietary chromium supplementation on apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient (%) of gelatinized and non-gelatinized corn in Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings for 90 days. Using various levels of chromium chloride hexahydrate six test diets designated as T1 (G/0.0 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1), T2 (NG/0.0 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1), T3 (G/0.2 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1), T4 (NG/0.2 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1), T5 (G/0.4 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1) and T6 (NG/0.4 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1) were prepared. Results showed highest apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of nutrients dry matter, crude lipid and gross energy in test diet T5 that was gelatinized and supplemented with chromium 0.4 mg/Kg while, for crude protein higher value of nutrient digestibility was recorded in T3 test diet (G/0.2 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg/Kg). It was concluded that chromium supplementation with gelatinized corn in fish (Cirrhinus mrigala) diet can improve the nutrients digestibility more efficiently.

Keywords:
dietary chromium; apparent digestibility coefficient; corn and Cirrhinus mrigala

Resumo

Um experimento referente à alimentação foi realizado para avaliar o efeito da suplementação dietética de cromo, no coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente do nutriente (%) do milho gelatinizado e não gelatinizado em alevinos de Cirrhinus mrigala por 90 dias. Usando vários níveis de cloreto de cromo hexa-hidratado, seis dietas testes foram designadas e preparadas como: T1 (G/0,0 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1); T2 (NG/0,0 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1); T3 (G/0,2 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1); T4 (NG/0,2 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1); T5 (G/0,4 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1) e T6 (NG/0,4 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1). Os resultados mostraram maior coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) em matéria seca de nutrientes, lipídios brutos e energia bruta na dieta teste T5, que foi gelatinizada e suplementada com cromo 0,4 mg / Kg; enquanto que para a proteína bruta, foi registrada maior digestibilidade dos nutrientes na dieta teste T3 (G/0,2 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg/Kg). Concluiu-se que a suplementação de cromo com milho gelatinizado na dieta de peixes (Cirrhinus mrigala) pôde melhorar a digestibilidade dos nutrientes de forma mais eficiente.

Palavras-chave:
cromo dietético; coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente; milho e Cirrhinus mrigala

1. Introduction

In many parts of the world aquatic food products are essential component of human diet and especially are source of protein. Due to increasing population we are facing shortage of food especially in protein form, fish farming has expanded as substitute cheap source of protein (Zeitoun and Mehana, 2014). During the past four years global annual aquaculture production has been expanding at an average rate of 2.9% (FAO-FISHSTAT, 2012). Intensive and semi-intensive fish cultures are gaining more importance for production of low cost diet (Khan et al., 2015). For growth and survival of fish species nutrition is most important. Fish meal is a rich source of protein and also containing essential amino acids, low carbohydrates content and fatty acids (Altan and Korkut, 2011). But it is most expensive and not a reliable source. Fish meal can be replaced with other inexpensive sources that would be of different types and originated from plants (Slawski et al., 2013). The trial to improve the feeding strategies is to improve the fish welfare (Silva et al., 2016). Cirrhinus mrigala is commonly called mori, white carp and mrigal. It is one of Indian major carps developed mostly in Southeast Asian nations. It feeds generally on natural vegetation but in the absence of natural feed Cirrhinus mrigala feeds on artificial feed (Khan et al., 2015).

To reduce feed cost carbohydrates are utilized in fish feed formulation because carbohydrates are most economical, low cost than lipids and protein and a rich source of energy. According to self -nutrition data, a cup of yellow corn may contain 82% carbs, 11% fats, 7% proteins. But it is inevitable to completely eliminate the fish meal as protein ingredient. However the metabolism of feed being supplying depend upon the source and incorporation of feed ingredients (Chen et al., 2013). Some factors such as dietary level, source or type and gelatinization treatment are responsible for better digestibility of carbohydrates in fishes. From an economic point of view, it is desirable to enhance the nutrient utilization by increasing the carbohydrates use in aqua feeds where they are more readily available and less expensive also than other micro nutrient (Fry et al., 2016). ^{As compared to other fishes major carps have enhanced digestibility for carbohydrates (}Kumar et al., 2007^{). In this experiment corn was utilized as carbohydrate source because it is a rich source carbohydrates and its digestibility and utilization can be enhanced by gelatinization of corn. Gelatinization is a procedure in which corn is treated in the presence of water and heated as a result breaking down of intermolecular bonds occur and swelling of starch granules occur that improves digestibility and palatability (}Yengkokpam et al., 2007^).

Chromium has various oxidation states from Cr⁺² and Cr⁺⁶ but in nature mostly trivalent and hexavalent form of chromium are found (NRC, 2005). Chromium chloride hexahydrate reacts with protein and amino acids because it can easily crosse all biological membranes that’s why Cr⁺⁶ is an powerful oxidizing agent (Pechova and Pavlata, 2007). The purpose of this experimental trial is to utilize low cost diet carbohydrates that improve palatability and digestibility of C. mrigala. Chromium choride hexahydrate works as a cofactor for insulin activity and in this experiment it was utilized as food additives which improves metabolism of C. mrigala.

2. Materials and Methods

This nutritional trial was performed in research lab, Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

2.1. Test specie

C.mrigala specie was selected as experimental fish. Its fingerlings were purchased from fish seed hatchery, Staina road Faisalabad, Pakistan.

2.2. Acclimatization of experimental fish

C. mrigala fingerlings were acclimatized for one week and stocked in aquaria having 29 L water capacity. Throughout acclimatization period C.mrigala fingerlings were fed to satiations on control diet (32% CP). By using following standard method (APHA, 1985) water quality parameters such as pH (7.5-8.5), dissolved oxygen (5.2-7.3 mg/L) and temperature (28-31 °C) were noted on daily basis and were found within the acceptable range.

2.3. Stocking density

^{Six hundred fingerlings of equal size were} dispersed arbitrarily in six experimental groups with two replicates each. Oxygen pumps with capillary system were used to supply oxygen (5-6 ppm) for proper aeration.

2.4. Experimental diets

Fish feed ingredients were purchased from local market. By using corn (gelatinized & non-gelatinized) with various levels of chromium chloride hexahydrate (0, 0.2 and 0.4 Cr₂Cl_3.6H₂O mg Kg^-1) six experimental diets were prepared (Table.1). Corn flour was added with almost 80% water (v/w) to form it dough.Then place this dough in autoclave for one hour at 120 °C to attain maximum gelatinization (25%). By spreading this mass in try positioned it in oven at 60 ^oC for an hour. The dried and gelatinized corn flour with all test ingredients were then pulverized to pass through 5mm sieve size. All ingredients were mixed thoroughly for 10 min and fish oil was added gradually while mixing the diet. During mixing 10-12% water was added to form dough (Lovell, 1989). Dough was then steam conditioned for 10 min. Hand pelletizer was used to prepare pellets of 2mm diameter, oven dried for 24 h at 60 °C and stored in air tight jars at room temperature until use.

2.5. Feeding protocol

Twice a day Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings were fed on experimental diet at the rate of 4% live wet body weight. For proximate analysis this nutritional trial was continued for 90 days to collect appropriate amount of fecal matter. Chromic oxide was added at the rate of 1% as an inert marker. After the feeding period of 2 hours fingerlings were shifted to partitioned aquaria for the collection of fecal matter. By siphoning out fecal matter was collected from each aquarium, then dried at room temperature and stored for proximate analysis.

2.6. Digestibility studies

The ADC_s (%) of dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude lipid, crude protein, and gross energy was calculated by using following formula (Maynard and Loosli, 1969):

Apparent nutrient digestibility = 100 × [1- (dietary Cr₂0₃/ fecal Cr₂0₃) ×(fecal nutrient or energy concentration / dietary nutrient or energy concentration)

2.7. Proximate analysis

The representative samples of dried feed ingredient (corn), test diets and feces were homogenized by using mortar and pestle separately and were analyzed using standard method (AOAC, 1995) for dry matter (DM), ash, crude lipid (CL) and crude protein (CP). Dry matter contents were measured by drying the samples in oven at 105 °C for 12 hours; ash analysis was performed in electric muffle furnace at 650 °C for 6 hours (Eyela-TMF 3100); crude lipid by petroleum ether extraction method through Soxtec system (Model HT2, 1045); Crude protein (N x 6.25) was determined by micro kjeldahl apparatus. Percent N-free extract was calculated by subtracting the sum of % crude proteins, crude lipids and moisture from 100 i.e. NFE % = 100 – (crude protein% + crude fat% + moisture %). Gross energy was calculated by using the following formula (Crisan and Sands, 1978, equation 1) :

$$GE\left(Kcal{g}^{-1}\right)=\left(5.64\times proteins\%\right)+\left(9.44\times lipids\%\right)+\left(4.11\times NFE\%\right)$$ (1)

Chromium assay: The chromium oxide content in the feeds and fecal matter was estimated by using UV-VIS 2001 Spectrophotometer at 370 nm absorbance (Divakaran et al., 2002).

2.8. Statistical analysis

Highly significant difference among gelatinized and non-gelatinized carbohydrate diets with various levels of chromium chloride hexahydrate was tested by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and comparison of means was done by Tukey’s Honestly significant difference test and considered significant at p>0.05 (Senedecor, 1991).

3. Results

The results for proximate analysis of fish feed, and fecal matter are given in Table 1 and 2 respectively. While apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient (%) of nutrients dry matter, ash, crude lipid, crude protein and gross energy for test diets is given in Table 3.

Table 1
Proximate nutrient analysis of fish test diets and estimation of chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃) %.

Test Diets
Nutrients	T1 (G)	T2 (NG)	T3 (G)	T4 (NG)	T5 (G)	T6 (NG)
Dry matter (%)	98	96	97	98	99	98
Ash (%)	20.10	21.61	22.79	35.13	25.60	28.00
Crude lipid (%)	20	19	24	26	32	22
Crude protein (%)	39.06	35.93	31.25	37.5	35.93	32.81
Chromic oxide (%)	0.97	0.97	0.98	0.96	0.97	0.96
Gross energy (Kcal/g)	569.04	550.79	574.4	598.73	632.41	570.27

Table 2
Proximate nutrient analysis of fish fecal matter and estimation of chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃)%.

Fecal matter
Nutrients	T1 (G)	T2 (NG)	T3 (G)	T4 (NG)	T5 (G)	T6 (NG)
Dry matter (%)	88.02	92.05	88	92	91	91
Ash (%)	17.19	19.31	21.72	31.62	24.50	24.12
Crude lipid (%)	10.15	11.05	9.5	9	11.5	10.5
Crude protein (%)	34.90	32.40	25.78	29.68	34.37	31.22
Chromic oxide (%)	1.29	1.20	1.42	1.31	1.57	1.48
Gross energy(Kcal/g)	469.17	486.79	451.75	471.5	487.88	477.70

Table 3
Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient (%) of test diets used in trial.

Sr.No	Dry matter	Ash	Crude lipid	Crude protein	Gross energy
T1 (G)	34.00±1.00C	37.00	63.00±3.00BC	34.0±1.00AB	39.00±2.00BC
T2 (NG)	24.00 ± 0.00D	36.00	54.00±2.00C	28.00±1.00B	30.00±1.00C
T3 (G)	38.00±1.00BC	35.00	74.00±1.00AB	44.00±4.00A	47.00±2.00 AB
T4 (NG)	33.00±0.00C	39.00	76.00±3.00AB	43.00±1.00A	44.00±1.00 AB
T5 (G)	45.00±2.00A	43.00	79.00±2.00A	43.00±3.00A	54.00±3.00A
T6 (NG)	42.00±1.00AB	45.00	70.00±4.00AB	40.00±1.00AB	47.00± 2.00AB

• Means sharing similar letters are statistically non-significant (P>0.0).

3.1 Apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient (%).

The digestibility of nutrients is not defined accurately in numerous commercial feed stuffs and it is revealed that feed performance and digestibility can be improved with the use of extrusion technology.In this research work we compared the carbohydrate digestibility of two types of corn (G & NG) at different levels of chromium chloride hexahydrate in fish feed. Obtained results showed maximum apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient (%) of nutrients dry matter, ash, crude lipid, crude protein and gross energy in experimental group that was fed on diet supplemented with gelatinized corn and chromium chloride hexahydrate.

The apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient (ADC) of nutrient dry matter was found highest for the experimental group-T5 (45.00±2.00^A) and lowest value was recorded for T2 (24.00±0.00^D). While apparent ash digestibility was found maximum in experimental group-T6 (45.00). In case of nutrient crude lipid ADC was found highest in experimental group-T5 (79.00±2.00^A) and lowest values was observed for T2 (54.00±2.00^C). For crude protein apparent nutrient digestibility was recorded highest in experimental group-T3 (44.00±4.00^A) and lowest for group- T2 (28.00±1.00^B). The highest value of apparent digestibility coefficient for gross energy was found maximum for group-T5 (54.00±3.00^A) and minimum for group-T2 (30.00±1.00^C).

4. Discussion

This feeding trial revealed that apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient values for all nutrients (dry matter, ash, crude lipid, crude protein and gross energy) were maximum in experimental groups that were treated with diets supplemented with gelatinized corn and chromium chloride hexahydrate. Inclusion of gelatinized corn improves the digestibility and utilization of fish feed. Some factors are responsible for better digestibility of carbohydrates i.e. type of carbohydrate, level of gelatinization and dietary addition level (Mohapatra et al., 2003). The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter was found maximum in experimental group-T5 (G/0.4Cr₂Cl₃.6H₂Omg/kg). It may be due to the reason that gelatinized corn increased utilization of feed and as a result better growth attained that improved dry matter in fish body. These results are in favor of Yengkokpam et al. (2007) who stated that apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter improved by using gelatinized carbohydrates as compared to non-gelatinized carbohydrates. While Mohapatra et al. (2003) reported that apparent dry matter digestibility was greater in those experimental groups that were fed on non-gelatinized corn.

Highest value of ADC for ash was recorded in experimental group-T6. Liu et al. (2010) reported that Cr-pic had no beneficial effects on ash deposition in fish body meat. However, contrary results of our finding were observed by Asad et al. (2014) who concluded maximum ash value of ADC for non-gelatinized corn. Apparent nutrient coefficient for crude lipid was found highest in group-T5 (G/0.4Cr₂Cl₃.6H₂Omg/kg). These results are in accordance with Shahzad et al. (2006) who reported that lipid digestibility was highest for corn as compared to feather and wheat meal. However, dissimilar conclusions were observed by Asad et al. (2014) who stated highest ADC of lipid in non-gelatinized corn as compared to gelatinized corn. Diet containing rich source of carbohydrates maximize lipogenic enzyme activity in omnivorous fish and as a result maximum lipid deposit in various tissues (Yengkokpam et al., 2007). Apparent protein digestibility was positively correlated with gelatinized feed because maximum value was recorded for experimental group-T3 (G/ 0.2 mg kg^-1). Similar results were reported by Shahzad et al. (2006) who found highest apparent digestibility coefficient of crude protein in corn meal. Gelatinization of corn enhanced digestibility of feed which result improved protein profile of fish.In case of gross energy maximum value of apparent digestibility coefficient was recorded for group-T5 (G/0.4Cr₂Cl₃.6H₂Omg kg^-1). However, contradictory results were observed by Asad et al. (2014) who reported maximum value of ADC for gross energy in non-gelatinized corn. It might be due to variation in feed ingredients or addition of chromium chloride hexahydrate.

5. Conclusion

From trial it was concluded that inclusion of dietary chromium (chromium chloride hexahydrate) with gelatinized corn in fish feed of Cirrhinus mrigala improved digestibility coefficient of dry matter, ash and crude lipid and gross energy at level of 0.4 mg kg^-1chromium chloride hexahydrate and improved digestibility coefficient of crude protein at 0.2 mg kg^-1level. However, additional work is needed to investigate the most appropriate amount of chromium chloride hexahydrate with varying gelatinized levels of other carbohydrate sources for more sustainable aquaculture production.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  26 Sept 2019
• Date of issue
  Jul-Sep 2020

History

• Received
  17 Sept 2018
• Accepted
  29 Apr 2019