Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

The Effect of Level and source of Poultry By-Product Meal as a Promising Protein Source on the Sustainability of Aquaculture Biomass Production of (Oreochromis Niloticus) in KSA

Suad Raad — 2023-10-18

Fish meal (FM) is an essential product as a primary protein source in the fish feed industry. Due to the expensive price of FM and the negative impact of its high consumption on the environment, alternative protein sources for FM were necessary to be tested. Poultry by-Product meal (PBPM) is a high quality and low-cost protein source. In this study, FM was partially and completely replaced by PBPM in Nile tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus) diet to study its effect on biomass performance and nutrient utilization. Six formulas were prepared to replace FM protein with PBPM protein: Maram feed as a commercial control (CC), feed, the experimental control (EC) 0% PBPM, (C3) 32% PBPM, (C4) 67% PBPM, (C5) 100% PBPM-Saudi Radwa Feed company (SRFC), and (C6) 100% PBPM-Con. The study period was extended for 56 days in outdoor ponds. Nile tilapia fingerlings were fed three times daily (initial average weight = 41 g). Final survival ranged between 97% and 72% in all diet treatments and final gain was (41.32g – 14.73g). However, the gain of C4 (41.32) was higher than in the controls CC (38.24) and EC (40.69) also, feed conversion ratios FCR (1.21– 4.29). The best results of growth performance and nutrient utilization were for C4 (67% PBPM). The results of this study showed that poultry by-product meal is a great alternative protein source up to 67% of the fish meal for fish meal for the feeding of Nile tilapia fingerlings.

Litterfall production and nutrient dynamics in mangrove systems on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia

Refaat Abohassan — 2023-12-11

Litterfall production, decomposition and the release of chemical components were estimated in two Avicennia marina mangrove systems on the Red Sea coast, a northern site in Yanbu and a southern site in Shuaiba regions. Over a period of 2 years, monthly litterfall and litter standing stock production were estimated using litter traps and ground plots, respectively. The decomposition of leaf litter was assessed over a period of 256 days using litterbags, the changes in the chemical composition (carbon and nitrogen) and their ratios, and the chemical compound concentrations (leachable carbohydrates, cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin) were estimated at each decomposition stage. The annual litterfall rates did not differ significantly between sites. In Shuaiba, monthly litterfall ranged from 87.7 kg ha-1 to 543.1 kg ha-1 with an annual litterfall rate of 3.68 t ha-1 y-1 while in Yanbu, the monthly litterfall ranged from 142 kg ha-1 to 539.5 kg ha-1 with an annual litterfall rate of 3.51 t ha-1. Monthly standing stock litter was significantly lower than monthly litterfall in both sites (p <0.05) indicating litter removal from the forest floor, however, the removed litter is retained within the mangrove system rather than exported owing to low tidal ranges. The litterfall lost 41% of its mass in the first 64 days with no significant differences in final mass loss between Shuaiba and Yanbu sites (p >0.05) and with a half-life value of approximately 90 days. The N concentration in the decomposing leaves was 40% lower than those of fresh leaves. In addition, the lignin concentration in litter increased over time and was negatively correlated to mass loss. These findings indicate low litter production and litter quality compared to systems in other parts of the world. Moreover, it indicates the accumulation and conservation mechanism of mangrove ecosystems in the extreme Red Sea environment.

The Efficiency of Aloe vera in inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus flavus fungus and its protective effects on growth performance and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed by Aflatoxin B1

Reda Hassan — 2023-12-11

The study aimed to assess how well different Aloe vera gel extract (AVGE) concentrations inhibited the development of Aspergillus flavus in a potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture medium. According to the data, Aspergillus flavus growth in PDA culture medium was variably inhibited by Aloe vera gel extract at concentrations of 1, 2, 3, and 4%; these rates were 97, 100, 5.88, and 17.64%, respectively. The in vitro best concentration of AVGE was (2%). An in vivo study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of Aloe vera powder (AVP) on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens fed on diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). A total 450 broiler chicks (Ross-308) were randomly allocated to five treatments. 1) basal diet (control group), 2) contaminated diet with 1 mg AFB1/ kg diet (AFB1-diet), 3) AFB1-diet plus AVP 1g / kg diet, 4) AFB1-diet plus A 2 g / kg diet and 5) AFB1-diet plus AVP 3 g / kg diet. Each treatment consisted of six replicates of 15 birds. Growth performance was lower for groups fed 1 mg AFB1/ kg diet. At the same time, growth parameters were improved by incorporating 1 and 2 g/kg AVP in the AFB1 contaminated feed. Chicks fed AFB1 had significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid, and creatinine than other groups. In addition, Aloe vera powder improved biomarkers of the liver and kidney functions and reduced AFB1 residue in broilers' liver and muscle tissue. The results demonstrated that AVP at 2 g / kg diet could reduce the adverse effects of AFB1 exposure in broiler chicks.

Detoxification of Aflatoxin B1 and Fumonsinin B1 in Broiler chickens by grape seed extract and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate

Reda Hassan — 2023-12-11

A feeding trial was conducted on commercial broilers for a period of 35 days to determine the individual effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Fumonsinin B1 (FB1) toxins on performance, organ weights and immune status. The efficacy of dietary grape seed extract (GSE) and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) in preventing the adverse effects of AFB1 and FB1 toxin was also evaluated. Seven dietary treatments were tested on 420 commercial broiler chickens divided randomly into 42 replicates of 10 chicks each. the nutritional treatments: (1) control (non-contaminated diet); (2) non contaminated diet + 1mg/kg of AFB1; (3) non-contaminated diet + 400 mg/kg FB1 ; (4) 1 mg/kg AFB1 + 500 mg/kg GSE; (5) 1 mg/kg AFB1 + 5 g/kg HSCAS; (6) 400 mg/ kg FB1 + 500 mg/kg GSE; and (7) 400 mg/kg FB1 + 5 g/kg HSCAS. Feed intake and body weight gain were recorded weekly. On the 35th day, organ morphology and antibody titers for infectious bursal disease (IBD) and Newcastle disease (ND) were assessed. Individually, AFB1 and FB1 reduced weight gain while raising the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality rate (p ≤ 0.05). AFB1 alone (p ≤ 0.05) raised the weights of the liver, kidney, gizzard, and spleen while decreasing the weights of the thymus and bursa. FB1 increased liver and gizzard weights and decreased thymus weight. Individual doses of AFB1 and FB1 substantially impacted NDV and IBD titers. GSE supplementation increased weight gain, enhanced feed conversion efficiency, and restored organ weights (p ≤ 0.05). With the addition of GSE, antibody titers against NDV and IBD were dramatically increased. Adding HSCAS increased body weight gain and restored organ weights in birds fed AFB1 alone but not in birds given FB1 (p ≤ 0.05). FCR in groups fed toxins was unaffected by HSCAS addition. Adding HSCAS (p ≤ 0.05) increase antibody titers against NDV and IBD. In conclusion, mycotoxins cause adverse effects, especially aflatoxin B1, which is more severe than Fumonsinin B1. Whereas HSCAS (5 g/kg diet) is effective solely against AFB1, GSE (500 mg /kg diet) prevents the individual toxicity of AFB1 and FB1 in commercial broilers.

Analysis of climate extremes over the Arabian Peninsula using downscaled RCM data

Mansour Almazroui — 2023-12-11

Climate change is likely to severely affect the economies of countries in the Arabian Peninsula and make their populations vulnerable to weather extremes. This study aimed to investigate the changes in future temperature and precipitation extreme indices over the Arabian Peninsula using regional climate model simulations for the future time slices mid-century (2036-2065) and end-century (2071-2100) with respect to the reference period (1976-2005). For this purpose, three Global Climate Models (GCMs) simulations from the WCRP Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) are downscaled over the Arabian Peninsula using the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Regional Climate Model (RegCM4). The results show that the warm days/nights (TX90p/TN90p) will increase more than 50% over most parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Warm spell duration index (WSDI) will increase over the Arabian Peninsula while the cold spell duration index (CSDI) will decrease in the mid-century under the high-emission scenario. The number of cold days/nights (TX10p/TN10p) will decrease over most parts of the Arabian Peninsula in the middle of the 21st century. The number of very wet days will increase over the whole Arabian Peninsula under both scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Towards the end-century, it will decrease in the central and southern regions under both scenarios. Heavy rainfall days will increase over the Arabian Peninsula in the mid-century. By the end-century, the number of heavy-precipitation days will mix of decrease and increase depending on region to region and model to model. Overall, the extreme precipitation is projected to increase rather than decrease at the end-century under both scenarios. The number of consecutive dry days (CDD) will increase over a large area of central and western Arabian Peninsula under the moderate scenario in the mid-century while it will decrease under the high-emission scenario. The present findings indicate that a careful interpretation of climate projections is needed for policy purposes as well as for climate change impact and adaptation related studies.

Influence of Limited or Completed Food Ingredients Shortage on the Longevity of Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitits capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Naimah Asid Alanazi — 2023-12-11

One of the greatest harmful fruit pests is the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). To study the feeding habits and how long the Mediterranean fruit fly, C. capitata can withstand the deficiency of a few food ingredients (water - sugar - protein), three laboratory experiments were executed. The first test; continuous feeding (through the live adults). The second test; 24 hours feeding for just emerged flies. The third test; 24 hours feeding for 24 hours - age flies. Each experiment consisted of the following formulations: Protein, sugar, water, sugar plus water, water plus protein, 10% sugar solution, and 5% buminal protein solution. Also, two control diet regimes were included in which they were total starvation and a typical adult fly meal of water and a mixture of (4 sugar: 1 protein). According to the findings, sugar was the most important dietary component, and its absence resulted in a clearly shorter fly life span across the three feeding groups. In contrast to sugar-free formulations (75.2 hrs.), which come in second place in terms of adult life span, water-based formulations (either alone (80 hrs.) or combined with protein (140.8 hours) or sugar (240 hours) or protein (alone (64.6 hours), in mixture with other components, or even as a 10% solution (240 hrs.)) all contributed to the adult fly's superior longevity. Also, flies can exist starved in for three successive days without any sort of food. Overall, removing any sort of food from the area under interest, specially, materials that contains sugar or any sort of carbohydrates such as fruit residues, fallen ripen fruits as well as controlling honeydew producing insects is recommended to control the fruit fly.