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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #213120
Title: Evaluation of digestible energy and protein for growth and nitrogen retention in juvenile Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus

Author
item Riche, Martin

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2007
Publication Date: 1/21/2009
Citation: Riche, M.A. 2009. Evaluation of digestible energy and protein for growth and nitrogen retention in juvenile Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 40:45-57.

Interpretive Summary: Florida pompano were fed diets containing a wide range of protein and energy concentrations during a 10-week growth study. There was no difference in the percentage of dietary protein that was available, but there were differences in the percentage of energy that was available. The total amount of feed eaten increased when the diets had more available energy and was also was related to fish size. Maximum growth and muscle gain were both related to the amount of available protein and energy. Pompano require high energy diets and a minimum of 36 % available protein to maximize growth and muscle gain.

Technical Abstract: Juvenile Florida pompano (6.3±0.50 g) were fed one of twelve diets formulated with an array of crude protein (340, 380, 420, 480, or 500 g/kg diet) and crude lipid (60, 100, 120, 160 or 180 g/kg diet) levels and estimated digestible protein/digestible energy (DP/DE) of 18.9 to 26.8 mg/kJ. In a second trial, apparent protein and energy digestibilities were empirically determined and coefficients used to calculate actual digestibilities. Digestible energy intake was 4.2 to 13.0 kJ/fish/d and digestible protein intake 0.13 to 0.32 g/fish/d. Average daily gain increased as a function of both digestible protein and energy. Growth increased with increasing digestible protein in all diets containing 24.0 mg/kJ DP/DE or greater, until a plateau at 366 g digestible protein/kg. Nitrogen gain was also a function of both digestible protein and digestible energy. Increasing energy at constant protein improved protein utilization. Digestible protein to maximize growth and nitrogen gain was between 356 and 366 g/kg. Digestible energy to attain maximum growth in juvenile Florida pompano is at least 15.4 MJ/kg with a DP/DE between 23.8 and 25.1 mg/kJ.