Abstract

FREITAS, Jakeline Marcela Azambuja de et al. Protein and energy in diet for catsfish raised in net cages. R. Bras. Zootec. [online]. 2011, vol.40, n.12, pp. 2628-2633. ISSN 1806-9290.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982011001200002.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of two levels of digestible energy (3250 and 3500 kcal kg^-1) in conjunction with three levels of crude protein (25, 30 and 35%) on the productive performance of catfish (Rhamdia voulezi) juveniles. Two-hundred and forty catfish juveniles with 95.55±6.70 g average weight and 20.43±1.13 cm total length were randomly assigned into twenty-four 370 L-cages, in a factorial arrangement with six treatments and four reptitions. Feeding was performed four times a day, ad libitum. At end of experimental period, the factorial analysis of variance showed significant influence with respect to the different parameters evaluated. The fish fed with diets of 30% crude protein and 3,250 kcal digestible energy kg^-1 of diet presented the best results. Therefore, diets with at least 30% crude protein and 3,250 kcal digestible energy kg^-1 are recommend for catfish juveniles.

Keywords : aquiculture; native species; nutrition requirement.