EFFECT OF VARIOUS FISH MEALS AS DIETARY PROTEIN SOURCES ON GROWTH AND BODY COMPOSITION OF JUVENILE FLOUNDER (Paralichthys olivaceus)


S.-M. Lee, H.-S. Jang

Dietary proteins are the most important factors affecting growth performance of fish and feed cost. Generally, most of the formulated diets for marine fish include a large amount of fish meal as a protein source because of its high nutritive value and palatability. Quality of fish meal in diet may affect on growth and feed efficiency of fish. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various fish meals as dietary protein source on growth and feed utilization of the juvenile flounder.

Ten experimental diets containing different fish meals were prepared: 4 kinds of white fish meals (WFM-A, B, C and D), 3 kinds of herring fish meals (HFM- E, F and G), mackerel fish meal (MFM), WFM mixture and brown fish meals (BFM) mixture. Dietary energy and protein levels were designed to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous by adjusting the levels of fish meal, wheat flour and squid liver oil. Three replicate groups of fish (initial mean weight: 11.1 g) were hand-fed to visual satiety two times daily for 7 weeks.

Survival was not significantly affected by dietary fish meal kinds. The best weight gain was observed in fish fed diets containing HFM-E and HFM-G, and this was not different to that of fish fed diets containing WFM-B and BFM mixture. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed diets containing WFM-B, HFM-E, HFM-G, MFM and BFM mixture were higher than those of fish fed other diets. Moisture, crude protein, lipid and ash contents of whole body in fish were significantly affected by various fish meal as dietary protein sources. The results of this study indicated that WFM-B, HFM-E, HFM-G and BFM mixture could be an appropriate for the optimal growth of juvenile flounder.

(Faculty of Marine Bioscience and Technology, Kangnung National University, Gangneung 210-702, South Korea)


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