Effects of Stargrass Hay Supplementation on Growth and Survival of Juvenile Redclaw Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus

Abstract

Hay is used as supplementary forage for crayfish aquaculture in many farms around the world. However, our understanding of the relative contribution of hay to crayfish dietary requirements is limited. In the present work, 36 juvenile redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus were stocked into each of 28 tanks that received water continuously from a pond. Four replicate tanks were assigned to each of seven dietary treatments: commercial formulated feed (FF) only, at a ration calculated to produce optimal growth; 100% of the calculated FF ration plus the hay of stargrass Cynodon nlemfuensis added at 150 kg·ha−1·week−1; 75% of the FF ration plus hay; 50% of the FF ration plus hay; 25% of the FF ration plus hay; hay only; and no feed (control). At the end of 8 weeks, the crayfish were harvested, counted, and weighed. There were no significant differences in survival among treatments (α = 0.05), and crayfish growth did not differ among tanks that were offered FF. Redclaw crayfish in the hay‐only treatment grew less than those that were offered FF, but growth did not differ between crayfish that were offered only hay and crayfish in the no‐feed control. Although hay did not contribute to the growth of redclaw crayfish that were offered the high‐protein shrimp feed, it did allow for survival and minimal growth of crayfish that were not offered FF. Accordingly, hay might contribute to growth if a low‐protein, low‐energy diet is developed specifically for crayfish.

A review of juvenile redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1898) aquaculture: global production practices and innovation

“…A low protein diet requirement during the grow-out stage, allowing for cheaper and more sustainable food sources (Guillaume 1997;Cortés-Jacinto et al 2003;Cortés-Jacinto et al 2004;Cortés-Jacinto et al 2004;Thompson et al 2004;Cortes-Jacinto et al 2005;Thompson et al 2006;Metts et al 2007;Pavasovic et al 2007b;Saoud et al 2008;Zenteno-Savín et al 2008;Cortés-Jacinto et al 2009;Garza de Yta et al 2011;FAO 2017).…”

“…Potential for partial or complete fishmeal replacement in formulated diets by plant-based or industry waste protein, which can reduce the price of the feed (Kondos 1990;Loya-Javellana et al 1993;Lawrence and Jones 2002;García-Ulloa et al 2003;Muzinic et al 2004;Thompson et al 2004;Campaña-Torres et al 2005;Thompson et al 2006;Gutiérrez and Rodríguez 2010;Garza de Yta et al 2011;Arredondo-Figueroa et al 2013;FAO 2017).…”

“…A considerable body of research has been published on redclaw nutrition for the grow out phase, from juvenile (Jones 1995a(Jones , 1995b(Jones , 1995c(Jones , 1995d; Meade and Watts 1995; Anson and Rouse 1996; Fletcher and Warburton 1997; Loya-Javellana and Fielder 1997; Ruscoe et al 2000;Cortés-Jacinto et al 2003;Thompson et al 2003aThompson et al , 2003bCortés-Jacinto et al 2004a, 2004bHernandez et al 2004;Muzinic et al 2004;Thompson et al 2004;Cortés-Jacinto et al 2005;López-López et al 2005;Thompson et al 2005;Campaña-Torres et al 2006;Metts et al 2007;Saoud et al 2008;Zenteno-Savín et al 2008;Gutiérrez and Rodríguez 2010;Thompson et al 2010;Garza de Yta et al 2011;Saoud et al 2012;Viau et al 2012;Zhu et al 2013;Dammannagoda et al 2015;Pirozzi et al 2015;Volpe et al 2015) through to marketable size (ca.100 g) (Loya-Javellana et al 1993;Asgari 2004;Pavasovic et al 2006Pavasovic et al , 2007aPavasovic et al , 2007bCampaña-Torres et al 2008;Rodriguez-Gonzalez et al 2009a, 2009bLi et al 2011;Saoud et al 2012;…”

“…The protein requirement for good growth and efficient food conversion (food conversion ration: FCR = Feed Given / Animal Weight Gain) in redclaw has received considerable attention, with a number of studies identifying optimal protein inclusion rates in the diet (Cortés-Jacinto et al 2003, 2004a, 2004bMuzinic et al 2004;Thompson et al 2004;Campaña-Torres et al 2005;Cortes-Jacinto et al 2005;Thompson et al 2005;Rodríguez-González et al 2006;Thompson et al 2006;Metts et al 2007;Pavasovic et al 2007b;Saoud et al 2008;Zenteno-Savín et al 2008;Cortés-Jacinto et al 2009;Rodríguez-González et al 2009a;Gutiérrez and Rodríguez 2010;Garza de Yta et al 2011;Rodríguez-González et al 2011;Arredondo-Figueroa et al 2013;Stumpf et al 2014;Ranjan and Bavitha 2015) that are specific to the life history stage of the crayfish (Cortés-Jacinto et al 2009). These studies indicate that the protein requirement falls as redclaws age.…”

Evaluation of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) meal as an alternative protein source for narrow‐clawed crayfish (Pontastacus leptodactylus) juveniles

“…Freshwater crayfish are decapods that have polytrophic roles within an ecosystem and are classified as herbivores, detritivores, omnivores and sometimes mandatory carnivores (Correia, 2003; Garza de Yta et al, 2011; Momot, 1995; Nystrom, 2002). Crayfish can be very abundant and dominate the biomass of invertebrate community and they play an essential role in freshwater food chain by feeding on macrophytes, algae, invertebrate, small fish, remains of animals and detritus (Lodge et al, 2012; Matsuzaki et al, 2009; Twardochleb et al, 2013).…”