Evaluation of growth performance of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) fed with different commercial diets formulated for percid fish during grow-out phase.
Availability of tailor-made commercial diets during growth-out phase of pikeperch is still low. As a result, producers relied on commercial diets formulated for other carnivorous fish species, such as salmonids and turbot, among others. Four commercial floating diets were tested by Inagro.
Inagro tested three diets formulated by Le Gouessant aquaculture: T-Perch and Percid range, formulated for percid fish; Turbot LR which is frequently used as feed for pikeperch. A diet formulated by Skretting: Europa-15, was used as control. Inagro has used this Skretting diet during the grow-out phase for many years, therefore, enough information of it was available to corroborate the results of the trial. All diets were floating pellets with a measured pellet diameter of 4-mm.
The 70-days trial was the first feeding trail in the new Inagro RAS.
After 70 days of feeding differences in pikeperch growth were observed. The best results, in the new diets tested, were found in Percid Range. The fish fed with this diet reported similar growth performance and feed utilization than those fed with Europa-15.. The growth performance of fish fed with both diets was similar to that reported in previous seasons at Inagro.
The growth performance of fish fed with T-Perch and Turbot LR was suboptimal. During the trial, fish fed with these diets showed low pellet attractability and palatability (daily visual control on feeding behaviour), reporting the lowest feed intake per day. As a result, both treatments reported the lowest weight gained and a significant reduction in their condition factor, indicating a decrease in health status throughout the trial.
Based on the results obtained in this trial, the new commercial diet Percid Range seems to be a suitable feed during the grow-out phase of pikeperch in RAS and equal to the Skretting Europa-15. On the other hand, the T-Perch and Turbot LR diets may comprise the growth of pikeperch during growth-out phase in RAS.
Full report is available for EPFC Core Group members behind there login or after contacting Edson.pananavillalobos@inagro.be.
