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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #184943
Title: COMPARISON OF DIETS CONTAINING VARIOUS FISH MEAL LEVELS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, BODY COMPOSITION, AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I OF JUVENILE CHANNEL CATFISH ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS OF DIFFERENT STRAINS

Author
item LI, M - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item Peterson, Brian
item JANES, C - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item ROBINSON, E - MISS. STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2005
Publication Date: 3/1/2006
Citation: Li, M., Peterson, B.C., Janes, C.L., Robinson, E.H. 2006. Comparison of diets containing various fish meal levels on growth performance, body composition, and insulin-like growth factor-i of juvenile channel catfish ictalurus punctatus of different strains. Aquaculture 253:228-235.

Interpretive Summary: An experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of diets containing 0, 4, or 8% fish meal on growth performance, body composition, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) of juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus of Mississippi "normal" (MN), NWAC103, or USDA303 strains. All strains of fish fed diets containing 4% or 8% fish meal had higher diet consumption, weight gain, and feed efficiency (FE) than fish fed 0% fish meal. Regardless of fish meal levels, NWAC103 and USDA303 channel catfish consumed more diet, gained more weight, and converted diet more efficiently than MN fish. No differences were observed in diet consumption, weight gain, and FE between NWAC103 and USDA303 strains. Fillet protein was lower and fillet fat was higher for NWAC103 and USDA303 strains than for the MN strain. IGF-I levels were greater in NWAC103 and USDA303 channel catfish than in MN fish. Levels of IGF-I were similar between NWAC103 and USDA303 fish. Results indicated that the diet containing 4% fish meal provided optimum growth and FE of juvenile channel catfish. Including 4% fish meal improved the performance more for the MN strain than for NWAC103 and USDA303 strains. IGF-I concentration was positively correlated to weight gain suggesting that IGF-I levels may be a good indicator for channel catfish growth.

Technical Abstract: A 3 x 3 factorial experiment was conducted in flow-through aquaria to evaluate effects of diets containing 0, 4, or 8% menhaden fish meal on growth performance, body composition, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) of juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus of Mississippi "normal" (MN), NWAC103, or USDA303 strains. Twenty fish with an average weight of 4.7 +/- 0.1 g fish-1 (+/- S.D.) were stocked into each of 36, 110-l aquaria (four aquaria per treatment). Fish were fed 28%-protein diets containing various levels of fish meal to approximate satiation twice daily for 9 weeks. Regardless of fish strains, fish fed diets containing 4% or 8% fish meal had higher diet consumption, weight gain, and feed efficiency (FE) than fish fed an all-vegetable diet. Regardless of fish meal levels, NWAC103 and USDA303 channel catfish consumed more diet, gained more weight, and converted diet more efficiently than MN fish. No differences were observed in diet consumption, weight gain, and FE between NWAC103 and USDA303 strains. There was an interaction in specific growth rate between fish strain and fish meal level. Specific growth rate was higher for MN fish fed diets containing 4% or 8% fish meal than fish fed the all-vegetable diet, whereas there were no differences in SGR for NWAC103 and USDA303 fish fed various diets. Fillet protein was lower and fillet fat was higher for NWAC103 and USDA303 strains than for the MN strain. Plasma IGF-I levels were greater in NWAC103 and USDA303 channel catfish than in MN fish. Levels of IGF-I were similar between NWAC103 and USDA303 fish. The addition of fish meal to the all-vegetable diet for the three strains did not affect levels of IGF-I. Mean plasma IGF-I concentration was positively correlated to weight gain. Results from the present study indicated that the diet containing 4% menhaden fish meal provided optimum growth and FE of juvenile channel catfish raised in flow-through aquaria (fish meal levels higher than 8% were not evaluated in the present study). Including 4% fish meal in the all-vegetable diet improved the performance more for the MN strain than for NWAC103 and USDA303 strains, suggesting that a genotype-diet interaction exists in juvenile channel catfish. Performance of the NWAC103 and USDA303 channel catfish fed the all-vegetable diet was better than MN fish fed the same diet. Plasma IGF-I concentration appeared to be a good indicator for channel catfish growth.