Feeding Frequency and Rate Effects on Growth and Physiology of Juvenile Genetically Improved Farmed Nile Tilapia

Abstract

To establish an effective feeding regime for the aquaculture of genetically improved farmed Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (GIFT), this experiment investigated the effects of feeding frequency and daily ration on the growth of GIFT fry (initial weight, ca. 0.85 g). A factorial experiment design of two feeding frequencies (2 and 3 meals/d) and five feeding rates (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% body weight per day [BW/d]) was carried out over 70 d with three replicates for each treatment. At the end of the experiment, fish from each treatment were sampled for the growth metrics of final body weight (Wt), weight gain rate (WGR), survival rate (SR), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR), as well as body composition and plasma metabolite measurements and histopathological analysis. The feeding frequency had a significant (P < 0.05) effect only on the Wt of fish. Feeding rates had highly significant effects on all the growth metrics (P < 0.01) except SR. The largest WGR and SGR were both observed in the fish receiving 6% BW/d at both feeding frequencies. The largest Wt was observed in the fish fed two meals daily at a 6% feeding rate. The relatively lower hepatosomatic index, liver contents, and body lipid also indicated better performance in fish that received 6% BW/d. In conclusion, these results suggest that a feeding rate of 6% BW/d and a feeding frequency of 2 meals/d is the most favorable protocol for the growth and physiological balance of GIFT during the fry phase.

Feeding ration and frequency influences growth, feed utilization and body composition of goldfish (Carassius auratus)

“…In the present study also weight gain, SGR, FCR and PER was reduced when feeding ration was increased beyond 3% BW/day (Table 1). This is in agreement with the observations of Huang et al (2015) in genetically improved tilapia wherein growth response reached maximum with increase in feeding ration, but decreased further on increase of feeding ration and it was due to nutrient level reaching intolerable level. Similar observations were also reported for juvenile grass carp by Du et al (2006).…”

“…Weight gain and SGR of C. auratus increased significantly (P<0.05) with the feeding ration from 2% BW/ Wet weight gain (g) day to 3% BW/day and feeding frequency from 1 meal/day to 4 meals/day (Table 1). Results of the present study showed agreement with those of Huang et al (2015) and Luo et al (2015) wherein weight gain and SGR increased with increase in feeding ration and feeding frequency. The highest weight gain and SGR was obtained in fishes fed 3% BW/day at a feeding frequency of 4 meals/day during the present study.…”

“…This is in agreement with the results of the present study. However, no significant difference in survival among the fishes fed at different rations and frequencies or due to interaction between feeding rations and frequencies was observed in cuneate drum (Wang et al, 2007), Angel fish (Kasiri et al, 2011), Zebra fish (Nekoubin et al, 2013), Nile Tilapia (Huang et al, 2015) and hybrid sturgeon (Luo et al, 2015).…”

“…feeding frequency varies largely among fish species. Channel catfish (Andrews and Page, 1975), common carp (Charles et al, 1984), mahseer (Basade and Mohan, 2009), angel fish (Kasiri et al, 2011), zebra fish (Nekoubin et al, 2013), nile tilapia (Huang et al, 2015) were fed 2 to 6 meals/day, while 1 meal/day was fed to Channa striatus (Sampath, 1984) and cuneate drum (Wang et al, 2007) for better growth. However, there is a limit to the frequency, beyond which increase in fish growth is negligible or reduced (Charles et al, 1984;Sampath, 1984).…”

Determination of optimal feeding rates for juvenile lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens) fed a formulated dry diet

“…It has been well documented that suboptimal feeding leads to a poor nutritional status of fish including sturgeon (Deng et al, ; Huang et al, ; Lee, Huller, Fangue, Fandel, & Hung, ; De Riu et al, ; Zheng, Deng, Riu, Oniello, & Hung, ). This was also observed in lake sturgeon fed the suboptimal feeding rates (<1.0% BW/day) from this study, wherein these fish displayed low liver to body index (HSI), decreased fasting blood glucose levels and whole‐body lipid contents.…”