Effects of Long‐Term Feeding of Cottonseed Meal on Growth, Testis Development, and Sperm Motility of Male Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Broodfish1

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of long‐term feeding of cottonseed meal on growth, testis development, and sperm motility of male channel catfish Ictulurus punctatus were studied. Brood‐sized male channel catfish were stocked into 0.04‐ha earthen ponds in April 1992 at the rate of 120 fish per pond. The fish were fed a diet (32% protein floating catfish feed) containing either 0, 25, 375, or 52% cottonseed meal to satiation daily, except for winter months when fish were fed on days when the water temperature was 15 C or above. Fish were harvested in July 1994. Feed consumption was similar for fish regardless of dietary treatment. Feed conversion was higher for fish fed the two highest levels of cottonseed meal and weight gain was depressed in these groups. Testis weight, gonosomatic index, and sperm motility were not negatively affected by high levels of dietary cottonseed meal indicating that reproductive capacity was not diminished. Thus it wonld appepr that up to 52% cottonseed meal could be used in the diets of brood‐sized channel catfish unless maximum gain is important. In a practical situation, growth rates of brood‐sized channel catfish are not as important as reproductive performance.