Iraqi Journal of Aquaculture

The present investigation concerned with a thorough
survey on the serious impact of the predaceous water birds
from three selected fish farms in the country, namely Al
Manahel fish farm (presently called Al-Beilad) in Babylon
province, Basrah University/ Marine Science Center fish farm
and Al-Mutawaa fish farm. The latter two are situated in
Basrah governorate. Samples were collected on monthly basis
for the period from January to October 2002. Impacts of
water birds on stocks of cultivated fish species and other
faunal components was detected. Stomach of seven species
of water birds, namely, herring gull (Larus argentatus), black
headed gull (L. ridibundus), slender billed gull (L. genei),
little gull (L. minutus), great white heron (Egretta alba ),
little egret (E. garzetta) and cormorant (Phalacrocorax
carbo sinensis) were examined to calculate food
consumption. The study reveals that herring gull occupied
first rank in Al–Manahel fish farm followed by cormorant
which occupied first rank in Basrah University farm. Fishes
formed 100% in food of cormorant, herring gull, black headed
gull and slender billed gull. Shrimp was detected in food of
little gull and little egret while frogs were consumed by great
white heron and little egret. Cormorant occupied first rank in
food menu for each birds followed by herring gull and slender
billed gull.

32 thousands of juveniles of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella
were reared in Fadak fish farm of about 15 g. They were transferred
from fish culture station in Marine Science Center and spread equally
in four ponds each of 8.5 donum. The culture density was 940 fish
/donum in the period 15/ May to 15/ December 2007. Total fish weight
for the nearest milligram was taken monthly. Fishes were fed daily
with the green alfalfa as a main food item in a rate of 8-15% of the
body weight and aquatic plants as Pharagmites australis and
Ceratophyllum demersum. Results at the end of experiment show that
the average of total weight for each fish in the four ponds reached
1153.79 ± 4.78 gm while the daily weight increase rate varied along
the months of experiment from May until December, where it noticed
starting from half of June until half August where it reached 1.5±
0.221 gm/day, 4.6 ± 0.712 gm/day and 7.6 ± 0.312 gm / day
respectively then it starts to decrease during September until
December Relative growth rates show a progressive during the first
seven months. On the other hand he specific growth rate showed its
highest rates during July (4.6 ± 0.081 %/day).

The present study aims to utilize the poultry wastes (heads &
legs of chicken) in the production of protein concentrate. The
chemical contents and functional properties of the final processed
product were evaluated. The chemical method had been used in
protein concentrate processing which included digestion of raw
materials with 5 % HCl at pH 4. The chemical composition of
dried poultry refusals were 46.38% protein ( N×6.25), 22.34 % fat
and 8.46 % ash, while that for the processed. Protein concentrates
were 77.81 % protein (N×6.25), 6.75% fat and 10.20 % ash. The
obtained yield was 39.4 %. The processed product is characterized
with brown color and acceptable light chicken smell, and also
showed good strong stability after 90 days of storage at 28 ºC,
10 ºC and -4 ºC without objectionable changes in both color and
smell. The processed product also had low total bacterial counts
which were 424, 405 and 387 CFU/ gm after 90 days for the
above degrees respectively, as well as c. form bacteria was not
detected. The total volatile nitrogen bases (TVNB) were 8.8, 8.7
and 8.3 mg N/100 gm, while TBA values were 0.288, 0.288 and
0.283 mg melon aldehyde / kg at the same above mentioned
storage temperature respectively

Observations on the sperm biology of Bunnei
(Barbus sharpeyi), after hormone injection perm activity for
the injected fish ranged between 85 % - 100 %. The most
amazing finding was the sperm activity of the collected
semen from deceased fish after one hour was 90 %, and it
has the highest activity time(120 sec.), this time was higher
than that for the Bunnei from Al-Therthar reservoir during
spawning season. The sperm volume was very low
(1- 0.4 ml). which is a characteristic of this species. The
sperm concentration ranged between (25.85 - 40.69) × 109 ,
and it is also higher than that for Bunnei in Al-Therthar
reservoir.

The study is based on Samples of Rotifera collected
from three ponds located inside the University campus,
Garmat Ali region Basrah, Iraq. The samples
were investigated for the density changes and for the
diversity. There were found 26 species of Rotifera belong
to 20 genera. The maximum recorded density was (51 ind.
/ l) which observed in May/2006 at pond 1, whereas the
minimum density was (0.6 ind / l) recorded at pond 1 in
November/2006. The total density was (225 ind. / l) at
pond 1. It was found that the diversity of Rotifera (no. of
spp.) is greater at pond 2 and pond 3 compared with pond
1. There were 22 species at pond 2 and pond 3 but only 9
species at pond 1.