Growth, feed efficiency and feed intake of offspring from selected and wild Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)


H.Y. Ogata, H. Oku, T. Murai-2002

Aquaculture, 211(1-4): 183-193
Abstract:

Feeding and starvation trials were conducted to investigate the nutritional trait differences between the offspring from broodstock under selective improvement for growth for two generations and wild-caught broodstock of the Japanese flounder. In the feeding trial, juveniles (initial mean body weight: 13.7 g for the selected line and 14.5 g for the wild line, 25 fish/tank, triplicate groups) from both broodstock were fed with either 61.4% crude protein-14.1% lipid diet (dry basis, diet 1) or 60.3% crude protein-16.4% lipid diet (dry basis, diet 2) for 6 weeks. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the selected line had significantly higher final body weight, weight gain and feed intake than the wild line irrespective of the dietary treatment. When the size effect was removed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the selected line had superior feed efficiency and higher feed intake than the wild line regardless of the dietary treatment. Body lipid and energy contents were significantly higher in the selected line than in the wild line though energy retention was not significantly different between the lines. Feeding diet 2 (with a slightly higher dietary lipid level) positively affected protein and energy retention in the selected line without growth retardation. There was no effect of diet on these traits in the wild line. In the 2-week starvation trial, there were no noticeable differences in protein, lipid and energy expenditures between the lines. The results of the present study demonstrate that the selected line of the Japanese flounder had superior growth rate and greater feed intake and that the improved growth rate was associated with better feed efficiency. Moreover, the results suggest that many nutritional parameters were influenced by genetic factors in Japanese flounder.

(Fish Nutrition Division, National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Nansei, Mie 516-0193, Japan, Tel.: +81-599-66-1830; fax: +81-599-66-1962, e-mail: ogata1@fra.affrc.go.jp)

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