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Effect of feeding frequency on growth, feed utilization, body composition and waste output of juvenile golden pompano ( Trachinotus ovatus ) reared in net pens
Author(s) -
Wu Yubo,
Han Hua,
Qin Jianguang,
Wang Yan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.12297
Subject(s) - biology , feed conversion ratio , zoology , phosphorus , meal , fish meal , juvenile , composition (language) , weight gain , body weight , fish <actinopterygii> , food science , fishery , ecology , chemistry , endocrinology , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry
A 6‐week feeding trial was conducted to examine the effect of feeding frequency on growth, feed utilization efficiency, body composition and waste output of juvenile golden pompano T rachinotus ovatus reared in net pens. Fish (10.3 ± 0.5 g) were either fed a formulated diet containing 48.4% crude protein and 5.7% crude lipid at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals per day or fed a raw fish feed at two meals per day as a control. The weight gain ( WG ) increased with increasing feeding frequency from 0.5 to 3 meals per day ( P < 0.05), but did not significantly change with the further increase in feeding frequency from 3 to 4 meals per day ( P > 0.05). The feed intake ( FI ) was lower in fish fed at 0.5 or 1 meal per day than in fish fed at 2, 3 or 4 meals per day ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the feed conversion ratio ( FCR ), nitrogen retention efficiency ( NRE ), condition factor ( CF ), nitrogen waste output ( NWO ) and phosphorus waste output ( PWO ) between fish fed at 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals per day ( P > 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found in the phosphorus retention efficiency ( PRE ) among the feeding treatments ( P > 0.05). The body lipid content increased, whereas the contents of moisture and ash decreased, with the increase in feeding frequency ( P < 0.05). At the same feeding frequency, fish fed the formulated diet exhibited lower FI , FCR , HSI , body moisture content, NWO and PWO , but higher NRE , PRE , body lipid content and body phosphorus content than those of fish fed the raw fish feed ( P < 0.05). These results suggest that the formulated diet can satisfy nutrient requirements of juvenile golden pompano reared in net pens, and the suitable feeding frequency is 3 meals per day.