Sistemas intensivos de produção de peixes demandam o uso de dietas completas e manejo alimentar e nutricional precisos. O principal objetivo da nutrição dos peixes é melhorar a eficiência da utilização da energia e dos nutrientes da ração. Alta eficiência, na realidade, significa maior retenção de nutrientes e energia, i.e., maior crescimento, com menor descarga de nutrientes nos corpos d\'água. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a eficiência de utilização da energia e a proteína da ração para o pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus. Em um primeiro ensaio foram caracterizadas as propriedades físicoquímicas e os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da proteína e da energia de 28 amostras de rações para peixes onívoros comercializadas na região de Piracicaba, estado de São Paulo. Os dados obtidos foram utilizados no ajuste de modelos de regressão linear múltipla para predizer os conteúdos de energia digestível (ED) e proteína digestível (PD) das rações comerciais para a espécie. Uum segundo grupo de ensaios foi dedicado ao estudo da eficiência metabólica da utilização da energia e da proteína. Utilizando-se a técnica de respirometria de fluxo intermitente, foi quantificada a taxa metabólica padrão em peixes de diferente tamanho (17 g - 1050 g) em cinco temperaturas (19, 23, 26, 29 e 33°C). O coeficiente oxi-calórico para oxidação de gordura (13,72 J mg-1 O2) foi utilizado para converter os dados de consumo de oxigênio em taxas de produção de calor. O coeficiente alométrico da produção de calor em jejum foi próximo a 0,8, valor usual para outras espécies de peixes. A partir da aplicação do método fatorial de análise foram estimadas as exigências de energia digestível e proteína digestível para mantença e para o crescimento do pacu e o efeito do nível de lipídeos dietéticos (alto - AL, ou baixo - BL) sobre as exigências nutricionais. O nível de lipídeos da ração não influenciou a estimativa de exigência de energia para mantença (26,57 kJ de ED kg-0,8 dia-1 e 0,076 g de PD kg-0,7 dia-1). A exigência de energia digestível para crescimento (kJ de ED por kJ de energia retida) foi maior para a ração BL (1,387) do que para a ração AL (1,285). A exigência em proteína digestível (g de PD por g de proteína depositada) foi maior para peixes alimentados com a ração BL do que com a ração AL (1,7015 vs. 1,583). / Intensive fish farming systems entail the use of complete feeds and accurate feeding and nutrition management. The main objective of fish feeding and nutrition practices is the efficient use of feed energy and nutrients. High efficiency actually means increased retention of nutrients and energy, i.e., improved growth ratio and reduced discharge of nutrients in the water. This work aimed at studying the efficiency of use of feed energy and protein of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus. A first trial characterized physicochemical properties and apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and energy of 28 commercial, omnivorous fish feeds sampled in the region of Piracicaba, state of São Paulo. The data were used to set multiple linear regression models predicting the digestible energy (DE) and digestible protein (DP) contents of commercial, sampled feeds. A second group of trials studied the metabolic efficiency of use of energy and protein. The intermittent flow respirometry technique was used to quantify the standard metabolic rate of different fish size classes (17 g - 1050 g) at five temperatures (19, 23, 26, 29 and 33 ° C). The coefficient for oxy-caloric fat oxidation (13.72 J mg-1 O2) was used to convert the oxygen consumption data to heat production ratios. The allometric coefficient of heat production in fasting condition was 0.8, a typical value for other fish species. Digestible energy and digestible protein requirements for maintenance and growth and effects of dietary lipids (high - AL, or low - BL) contents on nutritional requirements of pacu were then studied with the aid of factorial analysis method. Dietary lipid contents did not affect energy requirements for maintenance (26.57 kJ DE kg-0.8 day-1 and 0.076 g DP kg-0.7 day-1). The digestible energy requirement for growth (kJ of ED per kJ of energy retained) was higher for BL feeds (1.387) than for AL feeds (1.285). The requirements of digestible protein (g DP per g of deposited protein) was higher for the BL than for the AL feed (1.7015 vs. 1.583).

Sistemas intensivos de produção de peixes demandam o uso de dietas completas e manejo alimentar e nutricional precisos. O principal objetivo da nutrição dos peixes é melhorar a eficiência da utilização da energia e dos nutrientes da ração. Alta eficiência, na realidade, significa maior retenção de nutrientes e energia, i.e., maior crescimento, com menor descarga de nutrientes nos corpos d\'água. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a eficiência de utilização da energia e a proteína da ração para o pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus. Em um primeiro ensaio foram caracterizadas as propriedades físicoquímicas e os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da proteína e da energia de 28 amostras de rações para peixes onívoros comercializadas na região de Piracicaba, estado de São Paulo. Os dados obtidos foram utilizados no ajuste de modelos de regressão linear múltipla para predizer os conteúdos de energia digestível (ED) e proteína digestível (PD) das rações comerciais para a espécie. Uum segundo grupo de ensaios foi dedicado ao estudo da eficiência metabólica da utilização da energia e da proteína. Utilizando-se a técnica de respirometria de fluxo intermitente, foi quantificada a taxa metabólica padrão em peixes de diferente tamanho (17 g - 1050 g) em cinco temperaturas (19, 23, 26, 29 e 33°C). O coeficiente oxi-calórico para oxidação de gordura (13,72 J mg-1 O2) foi utilizado para converter os dados de consumo de oxigênio em taxas de produção de calor. O coeficiente alométrico da produção de calor em jejum foi próximo a 0,8, valor usual para outras espécies de peixes. A partir da aplicação do método fatorial de análise foram estimadas as exigências de energia digestível e proteína digestível para mantença e para o crescimento do pacu e o efeito do nível de lipídeos dietéticos (alto - AL, ou baixo - BL) sobre as exigências nutricionais. O nível de lipídeos da ração não influenciou a estimativa de exigência de energia para mantença (26,57 kJ de ED kg-0,8 dia-1 e 0,076 g de PD kg-0,7 dia-1). A exigência de energia digestível para crescimento (kJ de ED por kJ de energia retida) foi maior para a ração BL (1,387) do que para a ração AL (1,285). A exigência em proteína digestível (g de PD por g de proteína depositada) foi maior para peixes alimentados com a ração BL do que com a ração AL (1,7015 vs. 1,583). / Intensive fish farming systems entail the use of complete feeds and accurate feeding and nutrition management. The main objective of fish feeding and nutrition practices is the efficient use of feed energy and nutrients. High efficiency actually means increased retention of nutrients and energy, i.e., improved growth ratio and reduced discharge of nutrients in the water. This work aimed at studying the efficiency of use of feed energy and protein of pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus. A first trial characterized physicochemical properties and apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and energy of 28 commercial, omnivorous fish feeds sampled in the region of Piracicaba, state of São Paulo. The data were used to set multiple linear regression models predicting the digestible energy (DE) and digestible protein (DP) contents of commercial, sampled feeds. A second group of trials studied the metabolic efficiency of use of energy and protein. The intermittent flow respirometry technique was used to quantify the standard metabolic rate of different fish size classes (17 g - 1050 g) at five temperatures (19, 23, 26, 29 and 33 ° C). The coefficient for oxy-caloric fat oxidation (13.72 J mg-1 O2) was used to convert the oxygen consumption data to heat production ratios. The allometric coefficient of heat production in fasting condition was 0.8, a typical value for other fish species. Digestible energy and digestible protein requirements for maintenance and growth and effects of dietary lipids (high - AL, or low - BL) contents on nutritional requirements of pacu were then studied with the aid of factorial analysis method. Dietary lipid contents did not affect energy requirements for maintenance (26.57 kJ DE kg-0.8 day-1 and 0.076 g DP kg-0.7 day-1). The digestible energy requirement for growth (kJ of ED per kJ of energy retained) was higher for BL feeds (1.387) than for AL feeds (1.285). The requirements of digestible protein (g DP per g of deposited protein) was higher for the BL than for the AL feed (1.7015 vs. 1.583).

Text in English / Cow size influences biological efficiency of individual animals, which influences herd composition and stock flow. This in turn influences the economic efficiency of the herd. This research followed the thread from animal size, to biological efficiency, to economic efficiency for beef cattle production under a typical production system in semi-arid South Africa. Cattle were grouped into three groups namely small, medium and large cattle, with mature weights of 300kg, 450kg and 600kg respectively. The net energy requirements of individual cattle were calculated for maintenance, growth, lactation and foetal production, for each of the three sizes. Growth rates, milk yield, reproduction rates, and management practices were assumed from existing research. Next the stock flow for a herd of small, medium and large cattle were calculated from the above. Income and expenses as commonly used in the research area were calculated from the stock flow. Gross profit above allocated costs were subsequently calculated for the three herds under the above-mentioned conditions. When assuming similar reproduction and growth rates for small, medium and large mature cattle, the following results were obtained: more heads of small cattle could be held on a set resource base, but the total live weight of a herd of large cattle that could be held on the same resource base was greater. This was mostly due to proportionately lower maintenance energy requirements in the herd of large cattle. In the simulation in this study, maintenance energy requirements for the herd of large cattle was 71.2%, compared to 72.0% for the herd of medium cattle and 73.1% for the herd of small cattle. Income from the herd of small cattle was the lowest, as less kilograms of beef were available to sell. Allocated costs for the herd of small cattle were the highest, due to a large number of expenses being charged per head of cattle. As a result, the herd of large cattle were more economically efficient than their smaller counterparts. Income above allocated costs for the herds of large, medium and small cattle were R1,182,865, R1,085,116 and R946,012 respectively. Larger cattle generally have a lower reproduction rate under similar conditions. No equation exists that directly links size to reproduction rates, especially considering the vast number of variables that influences reproduction rates. However, in the form of scenarios, it could be calculated that, given a reproduction rate of 80% for mature small cattle, when reproduction rates of large cattle were 24.7% lower than that of small cattle and the reproduction rates of medium cattle were 15.4% lower than that of small cattle, the large and medium herds became less profitable than the small herd. Smaller cattle mature faster than larger cattle which provides the opportunity for early breeding. When small cattle were bred early, at 15 months, at a calving rate of only 44.5% it was more profitable than when the same cows were bred at 24 months. When medium cattle were bred at 15 months, a calving rate of 37.0% was needed to be more profitable than when they were bred at 24 months. Even when the herd of small cattle were bred at 15 months with a reproduction rate of 100%, it could still not match the profitability of the herd of large cattle bred at 24 months given the reproduction rates of all other classes of animals were similar. When the herd of medium cattle were bred at 15 months, at a calving rate of 53.7%, it matched the profit of the herd of large cattle that were bred at 24 months, when the reproduction rates of other classes were equal. Scenarios were considered were feed intake was limited. When feed was limited to a specific amount, smaller cattle were more biologically efficient and cattle with potential for small mature sizes would grow to a larger size than cattle with potential for medium and large mature sizes. When feed was limited by a factor of the calculated energy requirements of small, medium and large cattle, large cattle were more effective. This is because large cattle use proportionately less energy for maintenance, which allows more energy to be allocated to growth, lactation and foetal production. When energy was limited to an amount per unit of metabolic weight, small cattle were more efficient than medium and larger cattle in the growth and production phases. Small, medium and large cattle were equally efficient (or inefficient) in the maintenance and lactation phases. Energy requirements of cattle in South Africa are commonly calculated using the Large Stock Unit (LSU). The LSU typically overestimates energy requirements for cattle, except in the lactation phase. When using the LSU to match small, medium or large cattle to a resource base, the LSU overestimates energy requirements of large cattle proportionately more than that of small and medium cattle. This is excluding the lactation phase, where energy requirements for all three sizes are underestimated and that of large cattle underestimated proportionately more. There are more considerations when matching cow size to managerial practices. A smaller body size is a natural adaptation to a semi-arid environment and this adaptation can be expressed in different ways. The number of animals on a resource base has implications on management practices. Having more heads of cattle on a resource base increases genetic variation of the herd, allowing for genetic progress to be made faster than in herd of fewer cattle. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M.Sc. (Agriculture)