The influence of different dietary energy content and feeding regimes on growth and feed utilization of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.)

Abstract

The growing importance of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in aquaculture underlines the need to optimize the feeding strategy for this fish species. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of dietary energy content and feeding regime on growth performance, feed utilization and feeding costs for European sea bass. Seven hundreds and four fish ( average initial forthy body weight 68g) were randomly allocated into twelve tanks 800 l in a closed recirculation system (water temperature: 22°C; dissolved oxygen ≥90% of saturation). Three isoproteic (47% crude protein) extruded diets were formulated with different lipid levels i.e. 16% (diet D16), 24% (diet D24) and 32% (diet D32) and each diet was fed at two different feeding regimes (satiation and 80% satiation) according to a bifactorial experimental design. Feed intake (FI) was recorded daily. After 77 days, fish were bulk weighed and growth, SGR and FCR were calculated. Feeding regimes affected all the analysed parameters (P<0.05), whereas diet influenced only FCR, FI, protein and lipid intake and the economic efficiency ratio (EER). Fish fed the lowest energy content diet (D16) to satiation resulted in the highest feed intake, a FCR similar to that of fish fed diets D24 and D32 and in the lowest EER.

Key words:

• European sea bass
• Energy
• Feeding regime
• Growth