M
Marumerizer — a sizing and shaping device that breaks extruded strands into small individual agglomerations and shapes them into spherical particles.
Microencapsulation — Liquids and particulate dietary components are enclosed within a coating, which helps prevent dissolving and leaching, but will release under specific environmental conditions.
Microextrusion Marumerization (MEM) — see Agglomeration
Microalgae — see Phytoplankton
Micro-ingredients — Vitamins, minerals, antibiotics, drugs, and other materials normally required in small amounts and measured in milligrams, micrograms or parts per million (ppm)
Mycotoxins — Toxins naturally produced by molds and fungi
Mysis — Pelagic larval stage of a crustacean intermediate between the protozoea (zoea) and postlarva stages.
N
Nauplius (pl. nauplii) — Earliest larval stage of a crustacean.
P
Particle-Assisted Rotational Agglomeration (PARA) — see Agglomeration
Pellet — Agglomerated feed formed by compacting and forcing it through die openings by a mechanical extrusion process.
Phytoplankton — Minute plants suspended in water with little or no capability of controlling their position in the water mass. The plant component of plankton. Frequently referred to as microalgae.
Plankton — Passively drifting or weakly swimming organisms, including many microscopic plants and animals.
Postlarva (pl. postlarvae) — Stage occurring after the larval stage, resembling the juvenile but still lacking certain characteristics. For crustaceans: the stage following metamorphosis from larva (zoea) to juvenile. In penaeid shrimp, this is commonly counted in days after appearance of postlarval features, e.g. PL12 indicates a postlarva that has lived 12 days since its metamorphosis from the zoea stage of development.
Prebiotics — Non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of bacteria in the digestive system that have favorable effects on the intestinal flora.
Probiotics — Live micro-organisms added to feed, which confer health benefits.
Protein efficiency ratio (PER) — Ratio of live weight gain (in grams) over protein consumed (in grams). Production per unit of protein fed.
Protein utilization, (apparent) net (NPU) — The amount of nitrogen retained by the animals over the total nitrogen consumed.
Protein, biological value of (BV) — Percent digested protein retained by the animal, expressed as the percentage of food nitrogen utilized for growth and body maintenance; this involves digestion, absorption, utilization and excretion of nitrogen-bearing compounds, especially proteins.
Protein, crude — The nitrogen content in a feed or animal or plant tissue, multiplied by a factor, which is generally 6.25.
Proteins, single-cell- (SCP) — type of natural food used in hatcheries made of individual cells (unicellular organisms), such as yeasts and microalgae fed to brine shrimp nauplii.
Protozoan (pl. protozoans) — A member of the phylum Protozoa, composed of mostly microscopic animals made up of a single cell or a group of more or less identical cells, reproducing by fission and living chiefly in water; includes many parasitic forms.
Protozoea (pl. protozoeae) — Larval stages between the nauplius and mysis in crustaceans; usually have seven pairs of appendages.
Proximate analysis — (Analysis of) moisture, lipid, protein, fibre, ash and (by difference) carbohydrate content of any animal or plant product or mixed substance such as a feed.