EFFECTS OF FEEDING TIME AND FREQUENCY ON GROWTH OF CHANNEL CATFISH ICTALURUS-PUNCTATUS IN CLOSED RECIRCULATING RACEWAY SYSTEMS

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding time and frequency on the growth, survival, feed conversion, and body composit ion of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus cultured in closed recircul ating raceway systems. In separate experiments, two stocking sizes (18 and 232 g/fish) of channel catfish were examined. Treatments consiste d of: 1) feeding catfish once daily, 3% of body weight at 0800 h; 2) f eeding catfish once daily, 3% of body weight at 1200 h; 3) feeding cat fish once daily, 3% of body weight at 1700 h; and 4) feeding catfish t hree times daily, 1% of body weight at 0800 h, 1200 h, and 1700 h. Wei ght gain, specific growth, feed conversion, percentage survival, and f illet proximate composition of channel catfish among treatments did no t differ (P > 0.05). The percentage visceral fat of channel catfish fe d the single meal at 0800 h was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than ch annel catfish receiving multiple feedings, but was not different than the visceral fat content of channel catfish fed at 1200 h and 1700 h. Under the conditions of this study, results indicate neither feeding t ime or feeding frequency significantly influences the growth, survival , and body composition of channel catfish raised in closed recirculati ng raceway systems.