Performance, composition and sensory quality of adult channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fed a dried waste egg product

Abstract

The growth and carcass quality of adult channel catfish (176 mm, 76 g average length and weight) fed diets (6000 fish/diet) containing 14% and 28% dried, inedible whole egg were compared to similar fish fed a commercial or a formulated diet containing fish meal as the primary protein source. After 4 months, the fish fed 28% dried egg diet were 5–8% longer and 17–31% heavier, and had consumed 0.06–1.11 1b feed per 1b weight gain less than fish fed the other diets. Fish fed the egg diets had 0.9–1.2% less dress‐out and 0.3–2% more visceral cavity fat than fish fed the non‐egg diets. Diets containing eggs did not affect the sensory quality or shear press values of the cooked fish fillets.