A dynamic simulation model for growth of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) : III. The effect of body composition on growth and feed intake

Abstract

A feeding experiment was conducted in aquaria to study the effect of body composition on growth and feed intake of Clarias gariepinus. Fishes weighing about 20 g were fed diets with different protein to fat ratios. Diet A contained 60% protein, 7% fat and 19% carbohydrate. The composition of diet B was 20% protein, 7% fat and 54% carbohydrate. After 4 weeks the mean fish weight per tank amounted 33.2±1.5 and 27.5±1.4 g for fish fed diets A and B, respectively, while the fat content of the fish was 3.6±0.3 and 6.1±0.4%. During two consecutive periods of 21 days both the lean and the fat fish were fed diet A or B at five feeding levels. The feeding levels ranged from maintenance to above satiation. Fresh weight gain, protein gain and fat gain were higher with increasing feed ration, until a maximum was reached where extra feed did not result in more gain. This maximum gain was higher for diet A. Feeding with this high-protein diet resulted in better feed conversions compared with diet B. Within one diet, lean fish had a higher maximum growth rate compared to fat fish due to a higher feed consumption. Below the maximum gain, fat fish showed a slightly better conversion efficiency when fed with diet A. A explanatory model, for simulating growth of C. gariepinus, was extended in accordance with these experimental findings. It is assumed that the maximum consumption is regulated by both lipostatic and glucostatic mechanisms. The relevant parameter values were fitted with results obtained in the second experimental period. The adjusted model was tested by comparing simulation with experimental results found in the third period. The model gives good results for feeding levels providing sub-maximum gain. At the highest feeding levels of diet A, fed to initially fat fish, the model overestimated gain. The model was used to predict fresh weight gain of C. gariepinus fed diets with different compositions.