Impacts of Cycled Dietary Protein Ratios on the Growth Performance and Somatic Indices of Meagre (Argyrosomus regius)

Abstract

Protein is both an essential and a costly nutrient in aquafeeds. In this study, the effects of differentcyclic protein ratios on growth performance, biological indices, and profitability of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) were investigated. Diets which included 48, 44, and 40% protein ratios were prepared, and the experimental groups were designed by cyclical periods of 48% for 12 weeks (P48,control), 40% for 6 weeks + 48% for 6 weeks (P40/48), and 44% for 6 weeks + 48% for 6 weeks(P44/48). The study was carried out with three replicates for 12 weeks in nine 450 L fiberglass tanksconnected to a recirculating marine water system. Meagre with an average weight of 49.93±0.35g were kept with 10 fish per tank. At the end of the study, the best weight gain was observed inthe P48 group compared to the other treatments (P0.05). In addition, both condition factor and viscerosomatic index were higher in P44/48and P40/48, respectively (P