Journals / Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences / 2009 / Cilt: 33 - Sayı: 4

Effects of feeding frequency on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed a high lipid diet

Pages
317–322
DOI
—

Abstract

The effect of feeding frequency on nutrient digestibility and growth performance was investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed a high lipid diet. The experimental diet contained 25.2% crude lipid and 40.7% crude protein. Two feeding frequencies were tested: 2 meals per day (Group I) and 6 meals per day (Group II). Fish were fed a restricted daily ration (1.5% of body weight) divided into equal meals. t the end of the experiment, the weight gain in Group I and II was 84.6% and 90.1%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between groups. The crude lipid and protein digestibility values were above 95% in both groups. The feed conversion ratios of Group I and II were 1.28 and 1.21, respectively. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups. Because nutrient digestibility, growth, and feed efficiency were not significantly enhanced when feeding was increased from twice to 6 times daily, feeding twice per day was considered to be sufficient for rainbow trout fed the high lipid diet in this experiment.

Özet

The effect of feeding frequency on nutrient digestibility and growth performance was investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed a high lipid diet. The experimental diet contained 25.2% crude lipid and 40.7% crude protein. Two feeding frequencies were tested: 2 meals per day (Group I) and 6 meals per day (Group II). Fish were fed a restricted daily ration (1.5% of body weight) divided into equal meals. t the end of the experiment, the weight gain in Group I and II was 84.6% and 90.1%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between groups. The crude lipid and protein digestibility values were above 95% in both groups. The feed conversion ratios of Group I and II were 1.28 and 1.21, respectively. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups. Because nutrient digestibility, growth, and feed efficiency were not significantly enhanced when feeding was increased from twice to 6 times daily, feeding twice per day was considered to be sufficient for rainbow trout fed the high lipid diet in this experiment.

Keywords: Key words: Feeding frequency, high lipid diet, digestibility, growth, Oncorhynchus mykiss