Effects of feeding rate on growth performance and nutrient partitioning of young-of-the-year white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

Abstract

A 10-week growth trial was performed to evaluate the effects of feeding rate on growth performance, nutrient partitioning, and to determine the optimum feeding rate for young-of-the-year white sturgeon. Three tanks with 30 fish per tank each were assigned to five feeding rates, 0.4–2.0% body weight per day (BW day−1). Weight gain significantly (P < 0.05) increased with increasing feeding rate up to 1.2% BW day−1. Feed efficiency exhibited an inverse relationship to weight gain. Hepatosomatic and gonadal-fat-body (GFB)-somatic indices were significantly affected by feeding rate, and the lowest values were observed at 0.4% BW day−1. The increased feeding rate significantly affected whole-body and carcass lipid and moisture contents. Protein gain in the carcass, but not in the GFB, was significantly influenced by feeding rate. Lipid gain in the carcass and GFB was also significantly affected by feeding rate. Four regression models were tested for the estimation of optimum feeding rate, including one-slope straight broken-line, two-slope straight broken-line, quadratic broken-line and quadratic models. Adjusted coefficient of correlation and corrected Akaike information criterion were used to compare model performance. The quadratic broken-line model was chosen as the best based on the criteria. The estimated optimum feeding rate for young-of-the-year white sturgeon (360 g) is 1.5% BW day−1.