Effects of feed processing and forms of dietary methionine on growth and IGF‐1 expression in Jian carp

In this study, a practical basal diet (control, C) was supplemented with crystal methionine (Met) (CM) or encapsulated Met (EM), and then was pelleted (P) or extruded (E) to form six diets, PC, PCM, PEM, EC, ECM and EEM. The six diets were fed to Jian carp with initial body of 8.6 ± 0.4 g for 8 weeks to evaluate the effects of Met supplementation and feed processing on growth of the fish. In pelleted diets, weight gain (WG) increased and feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased (P < 0.05) in response to the supplementation of EM, but both WG and FCR were not affected by the supplementation of CM in the pelleted diet, when compared with PC group. In extruded diets, WG of fish fed ECM or EEM diets was higher and FCR was lower (P < 0.05) than those of fish fed EC diet. In the pelleted diets, the highest level of serum free Met was observed at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd h after feeding for PCM, PEM and PC group, respectively, but the three extruded diet groups showed the same peaking time at the 3rd h after feeding. In both pelleted and extruded diets, the supplementation of EM increased the expression of IGF-1 gene in muscle (P < 0.05) when compared to PC and EC respectively. Results above indicated that the growth of Jian carp can be improved by the supplementation of EM in pelleted diet, or by the supplementation of EM, CM in extruded diet deficient in Met, but not by the supplementation of CM in pelleted diet.