EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND DIETARY ENERGY/PROTEIN RATIO ON GROWTH OF CHANNEL CATFISH (ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS) (AQUACULTURE, NUTRITION, MODELING)

• Main Author: MASSER, MICHAEL PAUL
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1986
• Subjects: Animal sciences; Aquaculture; Aquatic sciences; Fish production; Livestock
• ISBN: 9798206507003

The interaction of water temperature and dietary energy/protein (DE/P) ratio on the growth, voluntary feed consumption, and body composition of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was examined experimentally, and a simulation model that includes functional relationships representing the effects of water temperature, DE/P ratio and their interaction on catfish growth was developed. Fingerling channel catfish, acclimated and maintained at a temperature of 23, 28, or 33(DEGREES)C, were fed for 12 weeks on one of six diets that contained 25 or 35 percent crude protein and had DE/P ratios of 6.0, 8.4 or 10.6 (kcal/g). Fish fed the 35 percent crude protein diet with a DE/P ratio of either 8.4 or 10.6 exhibited the fastest growth. At 28(DEGREES)C fish growth and protein deposition were faster than at the other temperatures. At 23(DEGREES)C fish growth was supressed on the high protein-low DE/P ratio (6.0) diet. Voluntary feed consumption was inversely related to the dietary energy level at each temperature. Feed consumption was lowest at 23(DEGREES)C, but was not different at 28 and 33(DEGREES)C for fish fed to satiation twice daily. Whole body protein, ash, and moisture were inversely related to DE/P ratio, while whole body fat was directly related to DE/P ratio at each temperature. The simulation model was developed by modifying a general bioenergetic model of fish growth proposed by Cuenco et al. (1985a) to include new functional relationships representing the effects of crude protein and DE/P ratio requirements on consumption and assimilation by channel catfish. The simulation model predicted growth and feed consumption near but slightly above the observed experimental results.