The effect of different numbers of feeding days on feed consumption and growth of rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)] |
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| Authors: | I Okumus & N Bascinar |
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| Institution: | KTU Faculty of Marine Sciences, Department of Fisheries, 61530 Trabzon, Turkey |
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| Abstract: | A trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the number of feeding days on feed consumption and growth of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) (initial mean weight 53.6 ± 11.3 g). Fish were held under natural winter–spring (40°57′N) photoperiod (L:8 D:16 – L:14 D: 10) and ambient water temperatures (4–12 °C) for 128 days, and fed on day 7 (F7), day 5 (F5.1: no feeding on weekends and F5.2: no feeding on Sundays and Wednesdays) or every other day (FEOD). Feeding treatments were replicated with 50 fish held in 200‐L tanks. Number of feeding days affected final live weight, with fish in group F7 achieving a mean weight of 285.6 g, followed by F5.1 (256.6 g), F5.2 (247.6 g) and FEOD (223.2 g). Final condition factors (CF) differed between the FEOD group and the others. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) exhibited significant differences among some of the groups. The results suggest that depriving rainbow trout of feed for more than 1 day a week has a negative effect on growth, but little influence on feed conversion. |
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| Keywords: | rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) number of feeding days feed consumption food conversion |
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