• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2007

The status of recently expanded exotic pangasiid catfish Pangasius hypophthalmus, Pangasiidae farming in rural Bangladesh has been studied for finding research needs, through knowing the culture methods, associated activities and problems, to make the farming sustainable. Data were collected using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools in nine villages in three upazilas (sub-district) of Mymensingh district. The farmers have not got any formal training and have developed their knowledge on farming the fish through practice over years and sharing of knowledge among fellow farmers. Linked industries, e.g. hatcheries, nurseries, feed mills, trading of feed and fish etc. have developed that created employment opportunities. Most of the farmers produce two crops a year. About 90% of the farmers were found to practice mono culture of pangasiid catfish at high stocking density. The feeding rates started from 10-15% of the body weight per day at fingerling stage that reduced to 4-6% with growth. The average yield was found to be 25 tonslha/year. The livelihood of the farmers has been improved through farming the fish. Women and children were rarely engaged in the activities. The identified major problems in farming the fish were water quality deterioration, high feed costs and declining consumer demand and market price.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.671-676
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• 2005

A total of 50 individual catfish, the Tra (Pangasius hypophthalmus) cultivated in either floating cages (Tra-c) or in ponds (Tra-p) and the Basa (Pangasius bocourti) raised in three floating cages, were collected in two of the Mekong Delta provinces. The caudal fin of each individual fish was used for protein electrophoresis employing the SDS-PAGE method. The one fillet sides were used as a representative sample to determine the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and amino acids (AAs). The catfish oil was extracted from the belly fats, and the fatty acid (FA) composition was analyzed. There were 21 bands of the Tra and the Basa. Protein bands of the two varieties were 28.6-33.3% polymorphic, while polymorphic individuals of the Tra ranged from 80.0 to 100.0%, and the Basa was 90.0% polymorphic. The phenotypic diversity (Ho) of the Tra ranged from 1.71 to 1.80, while the Basa ranged as high as 2.14%. Diversity values (H$_{EP}$) for genetic diversity markers were equal in the Tra and the Basa. The sum of the effective number of alleles (SENA) of both varieties ranged from 3.40 to 3.83 for the Basa and the Tra, respectively. The lower values of Ho and SENA, as compared with those of the fresh water prawn (Macrobrachium equidens) in the area, would suggest that the species with the low values will become extinct due to inbreeding; the gene pools of each observed population were below a suitable threshold. Many of the differences in the nutritional values of the Tra-c, the Tra-p and the Basa were measured; their nutrient values were comparable to fishmeal or fish oil. Most of the DM, CP, and EE were higher in the Tra, especially in the Tra-c. The essential AA content, especially that of lysine, was highest in the Tra-c, next highest in the Tra-p, and lowest in the Basa. Therefore, the amino acid patterns were closer to the ideal patterns in the same sequences. In contrast, the essential FAs were concentrated in the Basa fish oil. It was found that suitable selection of parents for seed production is required to avoid inbreeding. Catfish may be valuable sources of nutrition for both humans and animals, and the differences in their nutritional values by variety and/or management must be taken into account.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2008

Excessive growth of phytoplankton is a common and severe problem in intensively farmed pangasiid catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) culture ponds. It can lead to cyanobacterial blooms, reduced fish growth, bad-tasting fish flesh, and lower market demand. To investigate how to manage undesirable phytoplankton growth, we evaluated three stocking strategies in nine rural fishponds (0.020-0.022 ha) owned by various farmers: a pangasiid catfish mono culture (treatment 1, $T_1$), and pangasiid catfish-silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) polycultures at two stocking ratios of 1:1 (treatment 2, $T_2$) and 2:1 (treatment 3, $T_3$). The total density of all ponds was approximately 30,000 fishes/ha. Monoculture ($T_1$) resulted in significantly higher (p < 0.05) nutrient levels (nitrate and phosphate) in ponds than did polyculture ($T_2$ and $T_3$). Nutrient loads increased with culture time, resulting in increased growth of phytoplankton, including Cyanophyceae (9 genera), Chlorophyceae (15 genera), Bacillariophyceae (8 genera), and Euglenophyceae (3 genera). The introduction of silver carp as a co-species helped to regulate phytoplankton growth and to improve the water quality of pangasiid catfish culture ponds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.924-930
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• 2010

Ileal and total tract digestibility and nitrogen (N) balance of diets with four different protein sources were determined in growing pigs. The diets were based on rice bran, broken rice and maize meal and contained Tra catfish by-product (CBP), processed using three different methods, and marine fish meal (FM). The CBP diets consisted of the by-product in meal form, ensiled with molasses, and CBP waste water (WWBD). The four diets were fed to four growing pigs fitted with post-valve T-cecum (PVTC) cannulas in a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square design. All experimental diets included $Cr_2O_3$ at 5 g/kg feed as an indigestible marker. The ileal apparent digestibility of organic matter and ether extract was higher on diet WWBD than on the other three diets (p<0.05), and the total tract apparent digestibility was higher on diet WWBD than on the FM diet (p<0.05). The ileal and total tract apparent digestibility of crude protein and amino acids was not significantly different among diets (p>0.05). No significant effects of diet were found on N-retention and N utilization. In conclusion, the catfish by-product meal, ensiled catfish by-product and processing waste water diets and the fish meal diet had similar ileal and total tract apparent digestibility, and similar N utilization in growing pigs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.581-593
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• 2016

The advantages of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been well established. However, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-diabetic action of MUFAs remain unclear. This study examined the anti-hyperglycemic effect and explored the molecular mechanisms involved in the actions of fish oil- rich in MUFAs that had been acquired from hybrid catfish (Pangasius larnaudii${\times}$Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) among experimental type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetic rats that were fed with fish oil (500 and 1,000 mg/kg BW) for 12 weeks significantly reduced the fasting plasma glucose levels without increasing the plasma insulin levels. The diminishing levels of plasma lipids and the muscle triglyceride accumulation as well as the plasma leptin levels were identified in T2DM rats, which had been administrated with fish oil. Notably, the plasma adiponectin levels increased among these rats. The fish oil supplementation also improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and pancreatic histological changes. Moreover, the supplementation of fish oil improved insulin signaling ($p-Akt^{Ser473}$ and p-PKC-${\zeta}/{\lambda}^{Thr410/403}$), $p-AMPK^{Thr172}$ and membrane GLUT4 protein expressions, whereas the protein expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$ and nuclear NF-${\kappa}B$) as well as p-PKC-${\theta}^{Thr538}$ were down regulated in the skeletal muscle. These data indicate that the effects of fish oil-rich in MUFAs in these T2DM rats were partly due to the attenuation of insulin resistance and an improvement in the adipokine imbalance. The mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic effect are involved in the improvement of insulin signaling, AMPK activation, GLUT4 translocation and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine protein expressions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1186-1193
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• 2008

The growth performance of pangasiid catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and catla (Catla catla) was evaluated in polyculture at varied combinations and stocking ratios in earthen pond for a period of 16 weeks. Combinations of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla with the total density of 30,000 fish per hectare were evaluated. A commercial pelleted feed containing 28% crude protein and 6% lipid was fed only to pangasiid catfish at the rate of 8% of body weight during the first six weeks, 6% during the second six weeks and 4% thereafter twice daily. The growth and feed utilization efficiency of pangasiid catfish were found similar in all treatments. The growth of silver carp was markedly decreased upon the increase of its own stocking density. The highest growth of silver carp achieved in polyculture of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla at 2:1:1 ratio where density of silver carp was lowest. The growth of catla was found to be affected by the presence of silver carp. The growth rate of catla markedly declined with the increase of silver carp density. The highest growth of catla obtained in polyculture of pangasiid catfish only with catla stocked at 1:1 ratio. The highest yield and economic return achieved in polyculture of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla at the ratio of 2:1:1 due to higher growth of silver carp and higher market value of catla. The water quality conditions in all different treatment ponds were within optimum ranges throughout the culture period and the values did not show any significant variation (p>0.05) among the treatments.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2008

An experiment was conducted in twelve 0.02-ha rain-fed earthen ponds for 18 weeks to evaluate the effects of including pangasiid catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) in polycultures of major Indian carps, catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita), and mrigal (Cirrhinus cirrhosus), on yield and economic gain. Treatment 1 ($T_1$) consisted of 5,000 catla+2,500 rohu+2,500 mrigal per ha, treatment 2 ($T_2$) consisted of 5,000 catla+2,500 rohu+2,500 mrigal+2,500 pangasiid catfish per ha, treatment 3 ($T_3$) consisted of 5,000 catla+2,500 rohu+2,500 mrigal+5,000 pangasiid catfish per ha, and treatment 4 ($T_4$) consisted of 5,000 catla+2,500 rohu+2,500 mrigal+7,500 pangasiid catfish per ha. The growth performance of fishes was evaluated by calculating specific growth rate, daily weight gain, and percent weight gain. Inclusion of pangasiid catfish in the carp polyculture resulted in significant increases in the growth and yield of catla and rohu. Catla and rohu grew most in $T_4$, with 7,500/ha of pangasiid catfish. The presence of pangasiid catfish did not influence the growth of mrigal. The growth of pangasiid catfish varied with stocking density, and they grew best at 5,000/ha ($T_3$). The carp and the combined fish yields were significantly higher in the carp polycultures with pangasiid catfish than with carps alone. The total carp and the combined fish yields were highest in $T_4$, in which the density of pangasiid catfish was greatest. However, the total carp and the combined fish yields in $T_3$ and $T_4$ were not significantly different. Profit differed significantly among treatments. Economic gain was highest in $T_3$, with 5,000/ha of pangasiid catfish, and lowest in $T_1$. The inclusion of pangasiid catfish in major carp polycultures results in higher fish yields and greater economic gain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.762-771
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• 2010

Two experiments were conducted to determine i) the fermentation characteristics of catfish by-product (C) ensiled with rice bran (RB) or sugarcane molasses (M) in different ratios, and ii) the digestibility of the silages in growing pigs. In the ensiling experiment, there were three ratios of C, ensiled with RB or M, of 8:2, 7:3 and 6:4 (wet basis for C and air-dry basis for RB and M). The six treatments were CRB8:2, CRB7:3, CRB6:4, CM8:2, CM7:3 and CM6:4, with 3 replications per treatment and seven sampling times. The pH of CRB7:3 and CRB6:4 decreased (p<0.05) from the first week and stayed stable until 8 weeks of ensiling, but the pH did not decrease in CRB8:2. The pH of CM8:2, CM7:3 and CM6:4 decreased rapidly from the first week until week 8. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) contents were slightly lower when catfish by-product was ensiled with RB than with M. Ammonia content in all treatments increased (p<0.05) during ensiling. Lactic acid content in silages with molasses increased from the first week, with the highest value at week 4. However, the lactic acid content in CRB8:2 did not increase with time and had the lowest value of all treatments. Acetic acid proportions of total volatile fatty acids were low at day 0, with the highest value at day 7, decreasing slowly until 8 weeks. The butyric acid proportion was highest at day 0 and decreased up to week 8. The proportion of propionic acid increased during ensiling. The digestibility experiment had a 4${\times}$4 Latin-square design and included 4 castrated crossbreed (Yorkshire${\times}$Landrace) male pigs fed four diets. The basal diet (BD) included rice bran, broken rice and maize meal, and the other three diets included fish meal (FMD) or catfish by-product ensiled with rice bran (CRBD) or sugarcane molasses (CMD). The silages chosen were those which gave the best results in the ensiling experiment for each additive. The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of DM and organic matter (OM) was not significantly different among treatments. The CTTAD of CP was not different among the silage diets, but was lower in BD (p<0.01). The CTTAD of ether extract (EE) was higher in the catfish by-product silage diets than in FMD and BD. There was no significant difference in the digestibility of DM, OM, CP and EE between the fish meal and the by-product silages. In conclusion, catfish by-product can be successfully preserved by ensiling. Moreover, the total tract apparent digestibility of OM, CP and EE in ensiled catfish by-product was comparable with that of fish meal.