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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158597
Title: EFFECTS OF DIETARY PROTEIN CONCENTRATION ON PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS OF POND-RAISED CHANNEL CATFISH FED ONCE DAILY OR ONCE EVERY OTHER DAY TO SATIATION

Author
item ROBINSON, E - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item LI, M - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item MANNING, B - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item Bosworth, Brian

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2004
Publication Date: 7/22/2004
Citation: Robinson, E.H., Li, M.H., Manning, B.B., Bosworth, B.G. 2004. Effects of dietary protein concentration on production characteristics of pond-raised channel catfish fed once daily or once every other day to satiation. North American Journal of Aquaculture 66:184-190.

Interpretive Summary: The protein level of feed and the feeding rate can both affect production traits of farm-raised channel catfish. In this study the effects of two feeding rates (fed every day or every other day) and three dietary protein levels (28, 32 and 35%) on catfish production and processing traits were compared. Over the course of the study, fish fed every other day (EOD) ate less total feed, grew slower, had a lower proportion of market-size fish, and had lower meat yield than fish fed every day. Fish fed EOD had better feed conversion and required less aeration than fish fed every day. There was no effect of dietary protein on production or processing traits for the range of dietary protein levels tested. Feeding the fish EOD may improve feed efficiency and reduce feed and aeration costs, but will also reduce production and processing yield and increase time to harvest compared to feeding daily. The results of this study indicate there was no benefit from feeding a higher protein (> than 28%), higher cost diet to channel catfish.

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated effects of dietary protein and feeding regime on production characteristics, processing yield, and body composition of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Fish (average weight of 93 g) were stocked into 0.4 ha ponds at a rate of 11,115 fish/ha. Fish were fed once daily or every other d (EOD) to apparent satiation with diets containing 28, 32, or 35% protein in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement for 110 d. Fish fed EOD had lower net production, feed consumption, weight gain per fish, and feed conversion ratio, and fewer marketable fish than fish fed daily. Ponds with fish fed EOD required less aeration than ponds with fish fed daily. Compared to fish fed daily, fish fed EOD had lower visceral fat and fillet fat, headed gutted yield. Dietary protein level had no effect on net production, feed consumption and weight gain per fish, aeration time, processing yield, or fillet composition. However, feed conversion ratio was higher for fish fed the 28% protein diet than for fish fed the other two diets, which was unexpected since we have not observed this in other studies. Dietary protein levels in the range of 28% to 35% had no effect on channel catfish growth or production whether the fish were fed once daily or once EOD to satiation. Feeding the fish EOD may improve feed efficiency and reduce feed and aeration costs, but will also reduce production and processing yield and increase time to harvest compared to feeding daily.