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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189874
Title: EFFICACY OF HIGH-PROTEIN "FINISHING" DIETS ON GROWTH, FATTINESS, AND PROCESSING YIELD OF CHANNEL CATFISH, ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS

Author
item ROBINSON, E - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY
item LI, M - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY
item OBERLE, D - MISS. STATE UNIVERSITY
item Bosworth, Brian

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2006
Publication Date: 9/1/2006
Citation: Robinson, E.H., Li, M.H., Oberle, D.F., Bosworth, B.G. 2006. Efficacy of high-protein "finishing" diets on growth, fattiness, and processing yield of channel catfish, ictalurus punctatus. Journal of Applied Aquaculture 18:37-52.

Interpretive Summary: Feed costs are a major expense in catfish production and feed costs generally increases as the level of dietary protein increases. Therefore effects of dietary protein levels on production and processing traits influence economics of catfish production. We examined the effects of various dietary protein levels, in combination with feeding higher dietary protein levels “finishing” diets for a period of time prior to harvest, on catfish growth and processing yield. In general, a 24% protein diet is sufficient for maximum growth and feed efficiency of catfish but processing yield is reduced compared to diets with higher protein levels. Presently, we do not recommend the use of “finishing” diets, because available data are not consistent, and their benefit is questionable.

Technical Abstract: Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of “finishing” diets in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, production. Fingerling channel catfish were stocked in four replicate ponds for each treatment. In Experiment 1, fish were fed either a 28%- or 32%-protein diet for the entire growing season (controls), or switched to a 36%-protein “finishing” diet for a period before harvest. In Experiment 2, fish were fed either a 24%- or 32%-protein diet for the entire season (controls), or switched to a 32%- or a 35%-protein “finishing” diet for a period before harvest. In Experiment 3, fish were fed either a 28%-protein diet or switched to a 35%-protein “finishing” diet before harvest. The data show that a 24%-protein diet is sufficient for maximum growth and feed efficiency of catfish but processing yield is reduced. It appears that feeding a 24%-protein diet for most of the growing season and then changing to a 32%- or 35%-protein “finishing” diet before harvest, improves carcass yield. Fillet yield also appeared to be improved, but the improvement was slight. The data did not show that “finishing” fish fed a 28%-protein diet on higher protein diets improved processing yield. However, evaluating pooled data from across all of our previous studies, there does appear to be about a 0.4% to 0.5% decrease in processing yield of fish fed a 28%-protein diet. Presently, we do not recommend the use of “finishing” diets, because available data are not consistent, and their benefit is questionable.