Effects of feeding strategies on growth，body composition, intestine digestive enzymes activities and intestine histology of Megalobrama pellegrini (Tchang, 1930) early juveniles raised in flow-through system

Abstract

To determine the effects of feeding rate and feeding frequency on growth performance, digestive enzymes activities, and intestine development of Megalobrama pellegrini in a replicated flow-through system, we conducted a 42-day experiment. We designed three feeding rates (5%, 6.5%, and 8% body weight/day, BW/d) and two feeding frequencies (2 and 3 meals/day; m/d) in this experiment. Fish (0.57 ± 0.01 g) were distributed into 18 tanks with 70 individuals and fed with a commercial diet (33% crude protein, 4% total lipid). Results showed that the highest weight gain was found in the fish fed diet with 6.5% BW/day and 3 m/d, which was significantly higher in comparison with that of other feeding rate groups (5% BW/d and 6.5% BW/d) at both feeding frequency (2 and 3 m/d). Fish growth performance was significantly affected by the feeding rate but not by the feeding frequency. The significantly higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) was recorded at 8% BW/d with 3 m/d than other treatments. Furthermore, fish fed diet at 8% BW/d with 2 m/d had significantly high mortality during the middle of this trial. In contrast, we found that other fish groups’ survival rates were higher (over 90%), and there were no significant differences among them. We saw a significantly lower whole-body crude protein, lipid, and intestinal digestive enzymes in fish fed at a ratio of 8% BW/d with 3 m/d compared with other treatments. Moreover, our findings revealed intestinal villi fusion and exfoliation in this group compared with other treatments. In conclusion, the Megalobrama pellegrini received a feeding rate of 6.5% BW/d, and a feeding frequency of 2 m/d may be the optimum feeding regime for raising Megalobrama pellegrini in a flow-through system.