Hh. Jarboe et Wj. Grant, EFFECTS OF FEEDING TIME AND FREQUENCY ON GROWTH OF CHANNEL CATFISH ICTALURUS-PUNCTATUS IN CLOSED RECIRCULATING RACEWAY SYSTEMS, Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 27(2), 1996, pp. 235-239
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.