2016 Joint International Conference on Social Science and Environmental Science (SSES 2016) and International Conference on Food Science and Engineering (ICFSE 2016) ISBN: 978-1-60595-390-8

The Effects of Feeding Frequency and Feed Composition on Ingestion and Growth of Forest Frog

Chang-Ping WANG1,a, Zong-Fu HU2,b, Qing TONG3* 1College of Life Science, University, Jiamusi, 154007, 2College of Animal Science and Technology, University for the Nationalities, Tongliao 028042, China 3Hejiang Forestry Research Institute of Province, Jiamusi 154002, China [email protected], [email protected] *Corresponding author

Keywords: Feeding Time; Feeding Amouny, The Proportion of Tenebrio molitor and Fly Larvae, Feeding Frequency, Growth and Development, Forest Frog.

Abstract. The effects of feeding time and feeding amount on the health growth were studied. Three levels of feeding time: from June 15th to July 15th; from July 15 to August 15th; from August 15 to September 15th. Three levels of feeding amount: 100%, 90%, and 80%. The effects of the proportion of tenebrio molitor and fly larvae on the growth and development of forest frog were studied. The proportion of tenebrio molitor in feed are 0%, 25%, 50% and 100%. There are three treatments in each group. The effects of feeding frequency on the growth and development of forest frog were studied. Three groups were set in this study. They are one time/day, two times/day and one time/two days. There are three treatments in each group, there are 200 forest frogs in each treatment. It was concluded from the study that the weight gain of feeding amount 80% is significantly lower than feeding amount 90% and 100% from July 15th to August 15th (P<0.05). Weight gain and survival rate increase with the increase in the proportion of Tenebrio molitor (P<0.05). The weight gain of one time/two days treatment is lower than one time/day and two times/day treatments (p<0.05).

Introduction Northeast forest frog is one of the 54 kinds of wild animals that are allowed to be released by the state. It was the drugs, supplements and food. Due to the excessive capture and the serious damage to the natural environment, the northeast forest frog is decreasing day by day,it has been included in the "red book" Chinese endangered animal, as a vulnerable species . Living insects maggot and Tenebrio molitor are fed to northeast forest frog in artificial breeding processes. Different feeding frequency and feeding quantity and feed compositionin were set in the artificial breeding system to simulate environment with food abundance fluctuations. The feeding rate, food conversion rate, growth rate and body composition of the northeast forest frog were tested.The purpose of this study was to explore the physiological and ecological characteristics of northeast forest frog, also to provide basic data for the research of the nutrition of the northeast forest frog and the development of artificial breeding technology.

Materials and Methods

Material Sources and Domestication Experiments were carried out in Tonghe Shi Shifu forest frog breeding farm from May 2012 to September 2012. Tonghe county is located in the central Heilongjiang Province, south of Xiao Hinggan Mountains, north shore of the . The geographical coordinates is between

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longitude 128°7′30″ to longitude 129°24′30″, between latitude 45°52′30″ to latitude 46°37′30″. The annual accumulated temperature is 2460℃. One year old northeast forest frog was used in this experiment. It was bred by wild northeast forest frog. Plastic shed was constructed by steel skeleton and polyvinyl chloride anti-fogging film. Shed span is about 6 m. The ridge is above 2 m. Sparse vegetation were planted on the ground of plastic shed. Spray equipment and shade net were installed in the shed. Water spray quantity is consistent, the ground is not water. Water was sprayed to sheds 2 to 4 times a day from June to August when the weather is hot. Forest frogs were disinfected with frog every week Experimental Design We studied the effects of feeding time and feeding amount on the health growth. Two factors and three levels were set in this study according to the growth rate of and the temperature of the weather. Three levels of feeding time: from June 15th to July 15th; from July 15 to August 15th; from August 15 to September 15th. Three levels of feeding amount: 100%, 90%, and 80%. Feeding bait is tenebrio molitor. Forest frogs were fed every night. Each pen as a group, each group with the gauze into three parallel. Test forest frogs are two years age. We studied the effects of the proportion of tenebrio molitor and fly larvae on the growth and development of forest frog. Four groups were set in this study. The proportion of tenebrio molitor in feed are 0%, 25%, 50% and 100%. There are three treatments in each group. There are 200 forest frogs in each treatment. The heathy and strong forest frogs were selected in this study. Test time is from July 15th to August 15th. We studied the effects of feeding frequency on the growth and development of forest frog. Three groups were set in this study. They are one time/day, two times/day and one time/two days. There are three treatments in each group, there are 200 forest frogs in each treatment. The heathy and strong forest frogs were selected in this study. Test time is from July 15th to August 15th. Bait is tenebrio molitor. Feeding and Growth Test Operation Method 30 forest frogs were selected to measure body length, head width, forearm and hand length, hind limb length by ruler. The length accuracy is 0.1cm. The weight of forest frogs were measured by electronic balance (Yuyao Jinnuo Balance Instrument Co., Ltd.). The weight accuracy is 0.01g. Calculation Formula Weight gain = final weigh-initial weight Survival rate = (the number of frogs at the end of the experiment / the number of frogs at the begin of the experiment) ×100% Data Statistics We use Microsoft 2003 software and SPSS 17 statistical analysis software to analysis datas. Results are expressed as mean + standard error. One-way ANOVA was used to single factor analysis. P<0.05 was significant difference.

333 Results and Analysis

The Effects of Feeding Time and Feeding Amount on the Growth of Forest Frog

Table 1. The Effects of Feeding Time and Feeding Amount on the Weight Gain of Forest Frog. feeding June 15th to July 15th July 15th to August 15th August 15th to September 15th amount

100% 12.23±1.13 10.34±1.23a 4.63±0.69 90% 12.37±1.30 10.69±0.93a 4.41±0.58 80% 10.75±1.17 7.24±1.12b 4.27±0.96

Weight gain of forest frogs are different in different feeding time. Table 1 shows that the weight gain of feeding amount 80% is significantly lower than feeding amount 90% and 100% from July 15th to August 15th (P<0.05). While the weight gain of 100% group is lower than 90% groups, but the difference is not significant between the two groups (P>0.05) from July 15th to August 15th. The weight gain of 90% groups and 100% group are higher than 80% groups, and the difference is not significant from June 15th to July 15th(P>0.05). The weight gain of 90% groups and 100% group are higher than 80% groups, and the difference is not significant from August 15th to September 15th(P>0.05).

Table 2. The Effects of Feeding Time and Feeding Amount on the Survival Rate of Forest Frog. feeding June 15th to July 15th July 15th to August 15th August 15th to September 15th amount

100% 92.67%±6.73% 89.98%±4.32%a 90.72%±3.31% 90% 95.32%±5.45% 95.17%±3.65%b 92.66%±4.32% 80% 96.23%±4.78% 94.95%±3.67%b 93.20%±4.35%

Survival rate of forest frogs are different in different feeding time. Table 2 shows that the survival rate of feeding amount 100% is significantly lower than feeding amount 80% and 90% from July 15th to August 15th (P<0.05). While the survival rate of 80% group is lower than 90% groups, but the difference is not significant between the two groups (P>0.05) from July 15th to August 15th. The survival rate of 90% groups and 80% group are higher than 100% groups, and the difference is not significant from June 15th to July 15th (P>0.05). The survival rate of 90% groups and 80% group are higher than 100% groups, and the difference is not significant from August 15th to September 15th (P>0.05). The Effects of Different Bait Ratio on Growth and Survival Rate of Frogs

Table 3. The Effects of Different Bait ratio on Weight Gain and Survival Rate of Frogs. 0% 25% 50% 100% weight 6.07±1.52a 8.10±1.34 ab 11.41±3.69ab 12.47±2.34b gain(g) survival 59.28%±5.33%a 74.61%±6.71%ab 88.97%±3.23%ab 93.64%±1.53%b rate (%)

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Table 3 shows that the weight gain and survival rate is the lowest when the proportion of tenebrio molitor in feed is 0%; the weight gain and survival rate is the highest when the proportion of tenebrio molitor in feed is 100%. The result show that weight gain and survival rate increase with the increase in the proportion of Tenebrio molitor (P<0.05). The Effects of Feeding Frequency on Growth and Development of the Frog Table 4 shows that the feeding frequency affects the growth of the forest frog, the feeding frequency is low, and the eating times of the forest frog is less, and the weight gain of the forest frog is less, and the difference was significant (p<0.05). The weight gain of one time/two days treatment is lower than one time/day and two times/day treatments (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the survival rate between the three treatments (p>0.05).

Table 4. The Effects of Feeding Frequency Onweight Gain and Survival Rate of the Frog.

one time/day two times/day one time/two days weight gain (g) 11.45±2.13a 11.98±2.21a 9.35±2.15b survival rate (%) 93.45%±5.73% 91.56%±1.56% 93.17%±1.89%

Discussion The internal cause of determine the food intake of forest frogs is the processing and transformation ability of frog body to energy. The external cause is food availability. In nature, forest frogs often face the problem of food supply, so food abundance has a key role in the growth. Feeding frequency is usually 1-2 times per day in the raising process. Feeding time are morning and evening. In the feeding ratio treatments, the more of tenebrio molitor, the weight gain is better. It is better that the ratio of fly maggot is under 50%.The feeding amount during Mid-July to mid-August should be around 80%, in order to avoid eating too much food to produce indigestion. The feeding amount during Mid-June to mid-July and Mid- August to Mid-September should be around 90%.

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by Natural science foundation of Heilongjiang province (C201046) and Science and Provincial Research Institute special funds project of Heilongjiang Province (hj201101).

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