Title: Comparison of Feed Conversion, Dressing Yield, and Muscle Composition for Second- and Third-Year Channel Catfish
Abstract: Abstract A feeding experiment was conducted with two year-groups of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). These groups were fed a 32% protein practical-type diet in 0.04-hectare production ponds for a 145-d growing period. The younger fish were grown from an average size of 20 g to 462 g by their second year at a stocking density of 13,590 fish/hectare, and the older fish were grown from an average size of 594 g to 1,579 g by their third year at a stocking density of 4,942 fish!hectare. Each year-group was fed once daily to satiation in four replicate ponds. Feed conversion ratio (weight of feed fed: weight gain of fish) was significantly lower for second-year fish (1.38) than for third-year fish (1.78). Dressing yield was significantly higher for third-year fish (66.3%) than for second-year fish (60.8%). Second-year fish had lower muscle fat (6.7%) than third-year fish (9.2%). Moisture in the muscle was higher for second-year fish, and muscle protein was not different between the year-groups. Results from this study indicate that second-year channel catfish have advantages over third-year fish in better feed efficiency and lower muscle fat, but third-year fish have higher dressing yield.
Publication Year: 1992
Publication Date: 1992-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 15
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