Open AccessFeed intake, growth, feed utilization, body composition and waste output of juvenile hybrid bream at different feeding frequencies
Author(s) -
Wu Yubo,
Ren Xing,
Zhou Jinhua,
Lin Haihan,
Wang Xiujuan,
Ma Hengjia
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
aquaculture nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2095
pISSN - 1353-5773
DOI - 10.1111/anu.12852
Subject(s) - biology , feed conversion ratio , phosphorus , zoology , juvenile , composition (language) , body weight , weight gain , food science , ecology , chemistry , endocrinology , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
An eight‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the feed intake, growth, feed utilization, body composition and waste output of juvenile hybrid bream at different feeding frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals/day). Fish (initial body weight of 10.6 ± 0.8 g) were fed to satiation at each feeding. The test diet contained 336 g/kg crude protein and 79 g/kg crude lipid. The weight gain significantly increased with increase in feeding frequency from 0.5 to 3 meals/day ( p < 0.05) and afterwards did not change with feeding frequency from 3 to 4 meals/day ( p > 0.05). The feed intake increased with increase in feeding frequency ( p < 0.05). Fish fed at 3 meals/day exhibited the lowest feed conversion ratio and waste output of nitrogen and phosphorus, however, the highest nitrogen retention efficiency ( p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the phosphorus retention efficiency, the body composition of crude protein, ash and phosphorus among all the feeding frequencies ( p > 0.05). The body lipid content increased, whereas the content of moisture decreased, with the increase in feeding frequency ( p < 0.05). The present study reveals that the optimum feeding frequency is 3 meals/day for hybrid bream.