Open AccessUse of Corn Germ Meal in Diets for Pond‐Raised Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus
Author(s) -
Li Menghe H.,
Robinson Edwin H.,
Oberle Daniel F.,
Lucas Penelope M.,
Bosworth Brian G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the world aquaculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0893-8849
DOI - 10.1111/jwas.12019
Subject(s) - ictalurus , catfish , biology , zoology , fish meal , soybean meal , corn gluten meal , meal , fishery , food science , fish <actinopterygii> , raw material , ecology
Corn germ meal ( CGM ) is a by‐product of corn milling. On the basis of its nutrient composition and digestibility values, it appears to be a suitable ingredient for use in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , diets. A study was conducted to examine the use of various levels of CGM in diets for pond‐raised channel catfish. Four 28% protein diets containing 0, 15, 25, and 35% CGM were evaluated. Fingerling channel catfish (mean initial weight: 71 g/fish) were stocked into 24, 0.04‐ha ponds at a rate of 14,826 fish/ha. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation for a 167‐d growing season. No significant differences were observed in total amount of diet fed, diet consumption per fish, net yield, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, survival, fillet yield, and fillet protein, fat, and moisture concentrations among fish fed diets containing various levels of CGM . Carcass yield decreased linearly as dietary CGM levels increased. Depending on prices, CGM can be used interchangeably with corn gluten feed in channel catfish diets as replacements for corn, wheat middlings, and soybean meal to reduce feed cost.