ARS | Publication request: Effects of dietary estrogen treatment on growth and feed intake in yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 2, 2012
Publication Date: July 15, 2012
Citation: Shepherd, B.S., Rees, C.B., Groff, C.M., Goetz, F.W., Binkowski, F.P. 2012. Effects of dietary estrogen treatment on growth and feed intake in yellow perch (Perca flavescens). 10th International Congress on the Biology of Fish. p. 115.

Technical Abstract: Dietary estrogen has been shown to promote growth in yellow perch, and previous work suggests that this may occur via increases in feed intake. To examine this, the effects of dietary estrogen on growth and feed intake were examined in two genetically-improved strains of yellow perch. Juvenile perch of the Choptank (3.0 g) and Perquimans (6.4 g) River strains were stocked into replicate tanks and fed either control (ethanol-treated) or estrogen-treated (15 mg/kg) diets, twice daily, to satiation. Feed intake for each tank was monitored daily and growth was assessed every three weeks for 15 weeks. Unlike previous studies, final weights in the dietary estrogen treated groups of both strains (Choptank and Perquimans) were significantly lower than values seen in the control-treated groups. Differences in feed intake were also seen among the groups. The depressive effects of dietary estrogen on growth in these yellow perch strains will be discussed.