Abstract
Three cages (0.9 m³) were stocked with 200 channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque, fingerlings (73.7 g avg.) in a 1.5 hectare pond. Two cheese rations were formulated and fed to the catfish; the first consisting of cheese, oil, and vitamin C (C + VC)and the second consisting of cheese, cottonseed meal, oil, trace minerals, and vitamins (CC + VM). A commercial trout ration (TC) was fed as a control. High mortalities occurred in the C + VC diet, thus resulting in premature removal of that cage from the study (after 86 days). A sample of 50 fish from the two remaining cages, along with harvest data from the C + VC diet, revealed a 45.6% difference in average fish weight between the C + VC and CC + VM diets, a 63.5% difference between the C + VC diet and TC ration, and 32.9% difference between the CC + VM diet and TC ration. Final harvest of CC + VM and TC cages was completed after 134 days. Comparisons revealed that a 38.3% difference in average fish weight existed between these two diets. Statistical analysis of data indicated that fish fed the CC + VM diet had a significantly lower percentage dress-out weight and a significantly higher amount of mesenteric fat. This experiment does suggest that cheese scraps, when properly balanced with other essential ingredients, may be utilized as a major component of catfish rations.
Recommended Citation
Haskins, Calvin J. and Newton, Scott H.
(1980)
"Potential of Utilizing Scrap Processed Cheese as a Major Ration Component for Channel Catfish,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 34, Article 19.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol34/iss1/19
