Growth Performance and Proximate and Fatty Acid Compositions of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Fed for Different Duration with a Commercial Diet Supplemented with Various Levels of Menhaden Fish Oil |
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| Authors: | Mediha Yildirim-Aksoy Richard Shelby Chhorn Lim Phillip H Klesius |
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| Institution: | Aquatic Animal Health Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, MSA, PO Box 952, Auburn, Alabama 36831-0952 USA |
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| Abstract: | A 15‐wk study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental menhaden fish oil levels and feeding duration on growth performance and tissue proximate and fatty acid (FA) compositions of juvenile channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Dietary fish oil levels had no effect on final weight gain, feed efficiency, and survival of channel catfish. Tissue lipid contents were directly correlated to dietary lipid levels, while moisture contents were inversely related to dietary lipid levels. Fillet moisture contents progressively decreased, whereas fillet lipid increased with increasing feeding duration. Significant increase in saturated and total n‐3 FAs and decrease in monoenoic and total n‐6 FA in whole body and fillet were observed at each incremental level of dietary fish oil. Percentages of n‐3 and n‐3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in fillet of fish fed the control and 3% fish oil diets decreased with increasing feeding periods, whereas those of fish fed 6 or 9% added fish oil diets remained stable or increased. Ratios of n‐3/n‐6 were statistically comparable throughout the 15‐wk feeding. When expressed in terms of mg/g of fillet, the highest concentration of n‐3 was obtained in fillets of fish fed the 9% added fish oil diet for 15 wk. |
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