Optimum Dietary Protein to Energy Ratio for

Channel Catfish Fingerlings, Ictalurus punctatus 1-4

DONALD L. GARLING, JR. ANDROBERT P. WILSON

Department of Biochemistry, Mississippi State University,
Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762

ABSTRACT Twenty-one semipurified diets were formulated to deter

mine the optimum protein :energy ratio (P/E) for channel catfish finger-
lings. Seven crude protein levels and three energy levels at each protein
level were utilized. The protein, lipid, and digestible carbohydrate sources
were hexane-extracted whole egg powder, salmon-corn oil mixture, and
white dextrin, respectively. After an initial 2 week conditioning period, the
experimental diets were fed in triplicate to groups of 30 ±3 channel catfish
Fingerlings weighing 205 ±10 g and kept in 110 liter flow-through aquaria
at 26.7 ±1.1°.The diets were fed at a rate equalling 3% of the total wet
body weight/day divided into three equal feedings and adjusted weekly
for 9 weeks. An approximate fivefold increase in body weight was observed.
These data indicate that the concept of P/E ratios must be restricted to diets
containing adequate levels of protein and total energy. Based on average
daily gain, diets containing energy levels between 275 and 341 kcal/100 g
had an optimum P/E ratio of approximately 88 (24-36% crude protein).
Diets containing 24% crude protein and 275 kcal/100 g diet appeared to
be utilized more efficiently in terms of percent protein deposited than diets
containing higher crude protein levels. J. Nutr. 106: 1368-1375, 1976.
INDEXING KEY WORDS channel catfish •protein requirement •
protein to energy ratio

The protein requirement of fishes vary diets with two protein to energy ratios to
with water temperature, water quality, fish channel catfish fingerlings in polyethylene
size and species ( 1 ). Other factors which lined ponds. These workers found that
influence the protein requirement are the diets containing 25% of protein and 1,870
biological value of the protein source and kcal/kg metabolizable energy were more
the accompanying non-protein energy. efficiently utilized than the other diets
Estimations of the protein requirement Recelvedfor publicationMarch15, 1976.
Of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus have i Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment
K*>e>n
oeen Kcici>rl
oasea nn
on tntal
total w/picrVif crains nf
weignt gams or fien
nsn Station Publication
2Bagedon Number 3281.
a dlasertntlonsubmittedby the senior
fed practical Or semipurified diets. Channel author to the irradiiate family of Mississippi State
catfish have achieved maximum growth fo"vthre8
degree'oifDoctorof"philosophy3 in*z'óofógy" "
when fed dietarv crude nrOtein levels be- * Supported in part by Research Grant Agreement
oiW jl Af^-l- / a Af\7 vu No. 75-SE from the Mississippi Research and Devel-
tween 22% and 40% (2-4). ' The ap- opinent Center, Jackson, Mississippi.
parent variation in reported protein re- at'fneprliA^^
quirements may have been caused by dif- c^Si,^^ìliÌ2^^^M'^^t0t
ferences in Cultural techniques and diet channel catfish, Ictaluru« punctatus (Uaflnesque).
,-,^rr,r.â„¢.JtiY>nc Proc. S. E. Assoc. Game Fish Commrs. 16, 307-316.
compositi ins. «Dupree,H. K. & Sneed, K. E. (1967) Response
The protein to energy relationships for of channel catfish fingprlinfrs to different levels of
,r r r* i Pi j J • major nutrients in purlHed diets. Bur. Sport Fish.
a number of fishes maintained under van- \\-ndi.,Tech.Paper NO.9. 21 p.
mie r-iilriiral rvm
OUS Cultural
riifinn« nave
conditions
riavf»r»ppn
rpnortprl
Oeen reportea.
*Lovell, R. channel
Cage-cultured
T. (1972) Protein
catfish. Proc.
requirements of
S. E. Assoc,
Tiemeier et al. (2) fed four experimental GameFish commrs.20,357-301.
1368

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/106/9/1368/4768942

by Washington University in St. Louis user
on 13 May 2018
 PROTEIN TO ENERGY RATIO FOR CHANNEL CATFISH 1369

tested. The protein to energy ratio which energy level. Since calculated energy val
produced optimum growth was 133.7 mg ues for the dietary ingredients utilized in
protein/kcal [recalculated values based on this study are not available for channel cat
physiological fuel values of 4, 9, 4 for pro fish, the energy value of each diet was esti
tein, lipid, and carbohydrate, respectively mated based on standard physiological fuel
(5)]. Hastings8 recommended that a values, i.e., 4 kcal/g protein or carbohy
practical catfish feed formulation should drate and 9 kcal/g lipid (5).
contain 32% crude protein and 2,644 Energy values of 209, 275, and 341 kcal/
kcal/kg of metabolizable energy. This 100 g diet were established at crude pro
would produce a diet with a protein to tein levels of 17.2%»,20.6%, 24.1%, and
energy ratio of 121.0 mg protein/kcal. 28%. At the higher protein levels of 32%,
The optimum dietary protein to energy 36%, and 40%, the lowest energy diet
ratio for intensively fed channel catfish could not be prepared without altering the
fingerlings appeared to be between 131.6 lipid levels; therefore, energy levels of 275,
and 146.7 mg protein/kcal in pond studies.9 341, and 407 kcal/100 g diet were used.
These data were based in six experimental These diets resulted in protein to energy
catfish feeds containing 29%, 36% and ratios (P/E) ranging from 50.4 to 145.5
42% of crude protein at metabolizable en mg protein/kcal. Diets 1 to 9 and control
ergy levels of 2,203 and 2,863 kcal/kg. diet11 (Cl) were fed during the first ex
Page and Andrews (6) fed diets con perimental period and diets 10 to 21 and
taining 25% and 35% protein at various control diet11 (C2) were fed during the
energy levels to fingerling channel catfish. second period. Each diet was fed to tripli
Large fish fed to satiation required lower cate groups of fish.
levels of protein but higher levels of energy The semipurified diets were prepared in
than smaller fish. Feed consumption de the laboratory.12 Dry matter was deter
creased with high levels of dietary protein mined ( 15 ) on each diet which was fed on
and energy and with increased fish size. a dry matter basis. Diets were stored in a
At a constant feeding rate of 3% body freezer until weekly feed allotments were
weight/day, adequate non-protein energy weighed. Weekly allotments were stored
was provided by diets with the lowest in a refrigerator until used.
energy level. Tnese diets contained di All experiments were conducted in 110
gestible energy (kcal/kg) to percent pro liter aquaria equipped with a constant
tein ratios of approximately 75:1 (133.1 water level siphon type drain (16). City
mg protein/kcal ). water was passed through activated carbon
The objectives of this study were to de
termine the protein requirement and opti •Hastings,W. H. (1967) Feed formulation. In:
Progress in sport fisheries research 1900. Bur. Sport
mum protein to energy ratio for channel Fish Wlldl. Res. Pubi. 39, 137-139.
catfish fingerlings maintained under con »Prather. E. E. 4 Lovell, R. T. (1973) Response
of intensively fed channel catfish to diets containing
trolled conditions. These basic values will various protein-energy ratios. Proc. S. E. Assoc.
Game Fish Commrs. 27, 455-459.
permit further investigations into the nu 10The dietary ingredients were obtained from the
tritional requirements of the channel cat following sources : casein, gelatin, white dextrin,
cellulose (alphacel), carboxymethyl cellulose and the
fish. various vitamins (Nutritional Biochemicals Co-
Cleveland, Ohio) ; hexane-extracted whole egg powder
(General Biochemicals, Chagrin Falls, Ohio) ; whole
MATERIALS AND METHODS egg powder which was hexane extracted in our lab
oratory (Teklad Test Diets, Madison, Wise.) ; corn
oil (Mazóla) was purchased locally; the salmon oil
Two 63 day experiments were conducted was a stabilized product obtained from Moore-Clark
to determine the protein requirement as Company, Salt Lake City, Utah ; and the minerals
used in the premix were of reagent grade and ob
well as the optimum protein to energy tained from the usual sources.
ratio for fingerling channel catfish. Twenty- 11Purina Trout Chow, No. 3 pellets, Ralston Purina,
St. Louis, Mo.
one experimental diets (table 1) were for "The dry ingredients were blended in an industrial
mulated from semipurified ingredients 10 type food mixer until the mixture became homoge
neous. About 200 ml of warm water was added slowly
with mixing until a dough-like preparation was ob
with 7 protein levels and three energy tained. This mixture was then cooled in a refrigerator.
levels at each protein level. Lipids consti The moist diet was then passed through a meat
grinder to form a spaghetti-like product. The extruded
tuted 5%), 10%, or 15% of the dry diet material was air dried in a forced air oven until it
at each protein level while white dex could be chopped in a blender to form pellets. The
pellets were prepared to pass through a U.S.A. stan
trin was varied to obtain the appropriate dard No. 5 sieve.

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/106/9/1368/4768942

by Washington University in St. Louis user
on 13 May 2018
 1370 DONALD L. GARLING, JR. AND ROBERT P. WILSON

S-
— ±t
8.3
C*r<

cococococococococococococococococococococo

Ä e --.S g-o
L <N <N IN <N N N IN <N <N <N IM O) (N OÃ-(N IM IN <N C* C^ (N
o
OOpiCpOmOOiOOOiCOOiO
:-Ã-
¡
C*5CC CC CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO
1%

- ifUÃŽ!

§O O O 'C O O io O O "C O O "C O O 'C O O io O

>n ¡So <N>c o IN ic o IN 'C ic r- 25 >i t-_ q ù?t-- 2S
2 06 i-i qg •-<
tc>t-< œ ~i «oi-i o -H ci r-' co't^ ci od IN t>-'co
»eO iff--oc- O-aT
•
-T3
J"Õ^.«2¿

«i ä

H a.

<>«
'- os t>- co o oc •*
-H
•3*j w -T1-
5
PL, JSs^gs
a

Ϋ—
*C5tO^-C5'C'— ifflkiît—
tiO«—
ll>»»Oi—
it-.if5^Ht*.
•*
o t^ T}>
o r- -* o t- ^ t^ -^ o t^ -o«
o r~ T}<
o
CMCO(N CMCO(N <N COIN N CO(N CO••*
C
CMCOTf N CO^

- e,>c
-— e
* &!SüS'a
li S.S* X.ï"
è S e-g "3
Ilil*.-?

—(NCOTT>C!Dt>-CCC35 A X

5 Sc5
lililÃ-

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/106/9/1368/4768942

by Washington University in St. Louis user
on 13 May 2018
 PROTEIN TO ENERGY RATIO FOR CHANNEL CATFISH
purifiers 1;1to remove impurities and chlo
rine. The water was preheated to 27°and
injected into the aquaria through constant
flow regulators.14 The flow rate was main
tained at about 900 ml/minute and the
water temperature was maintained at 26.7
±1.1°.Oxygen concentration was deter
mined (17) periodically and found to be
8 to 10 ppm. The diurnal light/dark cycle
of 14:10 hours was maintained throughout
the experiments by supplemental incandes
cent lighting.
At the beginning of each experiment, 40
to 50 channel catfish fingerlings 15 (2 to 3
inch) were placed in each aquaria for a 2
week conditioning period. The water tem
perature was maintained at 24°for 1 week
and the fish were fed a commercial diet.11
At the beginning of the second week, the
water temperature was slowly increased to
26.7°and the fish were fed a semipurified
conditioning diet (table 2) at a rate of 3%
body weight three times daily. The fish
readily adjusted to the semipurified diet
and consumed the diet within 1 to 2
minutes.
At the start of each experiment, the fish
were sorted into groups of 30 ±3 fish/
aquaria to obtain the desired total weight.
The fish used in the first experimental pe
riod weighed 183 to 211 g/aquaria while
those in the second period weighed 191 to
209 g/aquaria. The initial weights of each
group of fish did not differ significantly be
tween aquaria.
On the morning after the initial weigh
ing,16 the fish were fed 3% of their total
wet weight per day divided into three
equal feedings. The arrangement of diets
TABLE 2
Composition of semipurified conditioning diet
Ingredient
Casein
Gelatin
Corn oil
Salmon oil
ADKK vitamin mix1
White dextrin
Cellulose
Carboxy met hy 1-cellulose
Vitamin mix2
Mineral mix3
1See Table 1, footnote 2. 2 See Table 1, foot
note 4. 3See Table 1, footnote 5.
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/106/9/1368/4768942
by Washington University in St. Louis user
on 13 May 2018
1371
15
10
20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Protein/Energy
Fig. 1 The average daily gain (g) of channel
catfish fed varying protein to energy ratios (mg
protein Acal) at energy levels of 209 (D), 275
(O), 341 (X), or 407 (•) kcal/100 g.
fed each aquaria was randomized (18).
The fish were weighed at weekly intervals
and the amount of diet fed adjusted ac
cordingly. After each weighing, a pro-
phylatic treatment of acriflavine17 was
administered to each aquarium to prevent
bacterological infestations caused by han
dling (19).
Individual liver samples were used when
possible; however, when larger samples
were required, pooled samples were taken
within each group. Body composition data
were determined on a composite sample
prepared by passing two frozen fish
through a meat grinder and then mixing
the ground material in a blender until a
homogenous slurry was obtained. All com
position data are reported on a dry matter
basis and represent the mean of 15 deter
minations (five samples/diet replicate).
Dry matter and ash were determined by
%
A.O.À.C,methods (15). Liver protein was
23 13Model ACD-28, The Permutit Co., Paramus, N.J.
11Type 4908-1 TT constant flow regulators with
7 4916-03 orifice plates, Spraying Systems Co., Bell-
7 wood, 111.
2 15Fish supplied by Thompson-Anderson Enterprises,
1 Yazoo City. Miss.
10Fish were weighed by placing each group into a
16 25 X 15 X 25 cm wire test tube basket which was
35 then placed into a plastic washbasin containing ade
2 quate water to cover the fish. The total weight was
3 obtained on a platform balance. The flsh were returned
to the aquaria and the empty basket was replaced in
4 the wash basin and reweighed. The difference in
the 2 weighings represented the wet weight o£each
group of flsh.
17Matheson, Coleman & Bell, Division of The
Matheson Co., Inc., Norwood, Ohio.
 1372 DONALD L. GARLING, JR. AND ROBERT P. WILSON

TABLE 3
The effect of protein and energy levels on growth parameters and protein and energy deposition
Parameter1

wt daily conver
Diet123456789101112131410Hi1718192021ClC2Initial deposited4'6%54.6»54.7°46.2CÖLS"*54.7»49.6643.6
gain2g6.1»7.5sion31.6°1.4"1.6°1.461.3r°1.36'1.4k1.2°"1.3'°1.4*«1.2»"»
retained4'6%50.9'55.6"'45.5«52.5°"58.
wtg58368760568]7927497409359177489259769311,0371,0679861,0741,1279411,1281,140999985Total
gaing385475396476587550520737693548722781727840863786912930745924940775779Avg
Wtg198212209206205199215213223200203196204197204200196197196203200223206Final

'»6.3»7.6'»9.3"8.7«'8.3"11.5°11.

1"'51.7°"51.1"62.2»651.4°"58.81"68.8Â

Od8.7"ILO*12.4^ILS*13.3o6'13.7°"12.5»"'14.5»14.8°11.8'«14.7«14.9°12.

.3°'52.3°"64.3°55.4'»55.2'°«61.4°

1 Means of 3 replications. 2 Values within the same column which bear different letters are significantly
different at P < 0.05. The error mean square for average daily gain, feed conversion, protein deposited, and
calories retained was 0.857, 0.003, 4.027, and 5.023, respectively (df = 46, 46, 46, and 42, respectively).
3 Feed conversion = dry weight diet fed/wet weight gain. 4 Means of 15 determinations (five samples/
replication). 'Final total body protein—initial total body protein divided by total dietary protein fed
times 100. 6 Final total body energy—initial body energy divided by total dietary energy fed times 100.

determined (20) on homogenates pre at a protein to energy (P/E) ratio of ap

pared in 0.1% Trition X-100. Total body
protein was determined by the Kjeldahl
method (15). Liver and body lipid were
quantitated by the extraction method of
Folch et al. (21) as recommended for fish
tissues (22). Liver glycogen was extracted,
followed by acid hydrolysis (23) and the
glucose determined by the Somogyi
method (24-25). The glycogen content
was calculated using the conversion factor
of 0.93 (23).
All data were subjected to analysis of
variance and Duncans multiple range test
(26).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of this study indicate that
channel catfish fingerlings obtained maxi
mum growth when fed diets containing
energy levels of 275 to 341 kcal/100 g diet
proximately 88 mg protein/kcal (fig. 1).
Diet 8, containing 24.1% crude protein
and 275 kcal/100 g diet, produced fish
more efficiently in terms of protein depo
sition when compared to diets with the
same P/E ratios at higher protein levels.
Fish fed the higher protein and energy
diets had significantly higher (P < 0.05)
growth rates (14.9 average daily gain
(ADG) for diet 21 compared to 11.5 ADG
for diet 8); however, the percent protein
deposited decreased considerably at the
higher protein levels (table 3).
Whole egg protein served as the sole
protein source in this study. This protein
source was selected due to its high bio
logical value in other animals. Its high bio
logical value may have contributed to the
efficient production of fish at lower crude
protein levels than in previous studies

Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/106/9/1368/4768942

by Washington University in St. Louis user
on 13 May 2018
 PROTEIN TO ENERGY RATIO FOR CHANNEL
(2-4).r-7 The energy level at each protein
level was carefully maintained in the pres
ent study to determine the optimum P/E
ratio for each energy level. In addition, the
body composition data should be consid
ered to determine the dietary formulation
which result in an acceptable growth rate
with maximum protein deposition.
The total weight gain of experimental
fish ranged from 385 ±14 to 940 ±18 g/
aquaria for diets 1 and 21, respectively.
Diets containing energy levels of 275 and
341 produced optimum ADG at 24.1 and
28% to 32% crude protein, respectively.
Fish fed diets containing 17.2% to 28%
crude protein and 209, 275, or 341 kcal/100
g diet grew at a linear rate when presented
graphically on semilog paper. However,
when fish were fed diets containing 32%
to 40% crude protein and 275, 341, or 407
kcal/100 g diet, their growth rates ap
peared higher initially and then slower
near the end of the experiment. The trend
of nonlinear growth rates was most pro
nounced in fish fed the highest levels of
protein and energy. This indicated that
under our experimental conditions, the
channel catfish fingerlings were not able
to utilize efficiently diets containing more
than 28% of crude protein. Dupree and
Sneed 6 and Prather and Lovell °reported
that channel catfish fed high levels of pro
tein without sufficient energy in the diet
had reduced growth rates. Prather and
Lovell °postulated that high levels of pro
tein without sufficient energy in the diet
may be harmful to the channel catfish.
Nail5 reported that semipurified diets
containing 25.3% crude protein produced
optimum total weight gain and percent
protein deposited of channel catfish. The
diet contained 299 kcal/100 g diet with a
P/E ratio of 84.6 mg protein/kcal. This is
in close agreement with the P/E level pro
ducing optimum ADG reported in the
present experiment. The energy level of
the diet utilized by Nail5 falls within the
energy levels producing optimum daily
gain. In the present study, the percent pro
tein deposited decreased as both protein
and energy levels increased. Diet 8, con
taining 24.1% crude protein and an energy
level of 275, produced optimum percent
protein deposited (49.8) among those
with a P/E ratio of about 88 (diets 8 and
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/106/9/1368/4768942
by Washington University in St. Louis user
on 13 May 2018
CATFISH 1373
TABLE 4
The effect of protein and energy levels on
body composition
Body composition'
Diet
Dry
matter1-2
Pro
tein I.ipid Ash
1234S6789101112131415161718192021ClC230.1»"33.4'«'35.4°29.1"*32.9«'«34.
4cde/ff11,8»"10.4e«./»12.9«10.6'd'f9.8'«1«/»12.2°»9
\i'l34.3«"28.8»31.8«/»33.8""30.8/»»33.5»rf34.4«»'30.8/»»32.9«1«34.4«»'28.2
O/»»150.6""43.5/»41.4/B»,48.1««'43.0/«»41.6/»»46.6««42.9/»»40.3»»'47
8«"«/»10.
1«V»52.8«'48.
"<«/«11.3»'10.4"'«/»9.2/»ll.O»'«19.7«1'/»0.0Â
1
l'«V51.5«"52.8»»46'.1</»»54.6«47.0«'/»51.0«»tJ54
1 Means of 15 samples (five samples/replication). 2 Values
within the same column which bear different letters are sig
nificantly different at /*<0.05. The error mean square for
carcass dry matter, protein, lipid, and ash was 3.62, 14.21,
25.85, and 2.86, respectively (¿/=46). a Expressed on a
dry weight basis.
18). Diets containing 28 to 32% crude
protein and an energy level of 341 (diets
12 and 14) were utilized less efficiently in
terms of percent protein deposited (44.5
and 40.3, respectively) than diet 8.
This study indicates that the concept of
protein to energy ratios must be restricted
to diets containing adequate levels of pro
tein and energy. Fish fed diets with ap
proximately the same P/E ratios which
differed greatly in crude protein and total
energy, were significantly different in terms
of growth (fig. 1), and body composition
(table 4). Diets 1 and 12 had P/E ratios
of 82 mg protein/kcal. However, diet 1
produced fish with average total weight
gains of 583 g/aquaria while diet 12 pro
duced fish with average total weight gains
of 976 g aquaria (table 3). Tiemeier et al.
(2) observed similar differences. Other
studies of optimum P/E ratios for fishes
(2, 6, 11, 27 )9'18 were conducted with
diets containing a limited number of pro
tein levels and an expanded number of
18 Fowler. L. G., McCormlck, J. H., Jr. & Thomas.
A. E. (1904) Further studies of protein and calorie
levels of meat-meal, vitamin supplemented salmon
diets. U.S. Fish Wildl. Ser., Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish, 480,
13 p.
 1374 DONALD L. GARLING, JR. AND ROBERT P. WILSON
energy levels. The levels of protein in
cluded in these experimental diets corre
sponded to the levels considered optimum
for the fishes under study.
Diets with energy levels between 275
and 341 appeared to have an optimum
P/E ratio of approximately 88 mg pro-
tein/kcal for channel catfish finger lings.
Diets containing approximately 88 mg
protein/kcal produced fish with optimum
ADG, feed conversion, and percent energy
retained at their respective energy levels
(table 3). Optimum growth in channel
catfish has been observed with diets con
taining much higher P/E ratios of about
133 (2, 6), 131.6 to 146.7,9 and less than
1218 mg protein/kcal. The observed dif
ferences in optimum P/E ratios may have
resulted from differences in diet composi
tion, experimental design and cultural
methods (2, 6)."-9
Optimum total weight gains have been
reported at higher dietary P/E levels
(105.0 to 133.5 mg protein/kcal) in sal-
monids (27)18 and yellow tail (28). These
fishes appear to require higher levels of
protein than the channel catfish. An ap
parently higher P/E optimum results from
the high levels of protein and the low
levels of carbohydrate included in the
experimental diet.
Earlier workers have reported pathologi
cal changes in fish livers resulting from di
etary formulation (IO).19 Other nonpatho-
logical changes in liver have been corre
lated with dietary ingredients (2-12).19
Liver abnormalities were not observed in
this study conducted with diets containing
up to 26.5% dextrin and 40% crude pro
tein. The observed differences in liver dry
matters, percent protein, percent lipid, and
percent glycogen could not be correlated
to differences in dietary components.
In general, as total carcass lipid con
centration increased, the percent moisture,
protein and ash decreased. Lipid levels ap-
Eeared to increase as the dietary levels of
pid, protein, and total energy increased
(table 4). Similar changes in carcass com
position have been observed in earlier in
vestigations (6-9, 11-14).20 Buhler and
Halver (12) reported elevated chinook
salmon carcass lipid levels in response to
increasing dietary dextrin levels. Increas
ing dietary dextrin levels did not increase
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/106/9/1368/4768942
by Washington University in St. Louis user
on 13 May 2018
channel catfish carcass lipid content in
the present study or in research conducted
by Dupree.20 Previous workers did not ob
serve significant differences in carcass ash
content in response to variations in diet
formulation (6-9). Niimi (29) reported
that carcass lipid levels of wild fishes in
creased linearly with body weight when
expressed logarithimically. Since the ash
levels observed in the present study de
creased with increasing fish weights, the
differences were caused by diet formula
tion and not fish size.
A commercial diet " was fed as a control
diet during parts 1 and 2 of this study
(diets Cl and C2, respectively). A com
parison of the data for Cl and C2 demon
strates that no significant differences oc
curred in either growth parameters or car
cass composition during the two parts of
the study. Although the control diet con
tained 46% of crude protein, it did not
produce fish as efficiently as diet 8 (24.1%
crude protein). Average daily gains were
not significantly different between diets
Cl, C2 and 8; however, diet 8 produced
fish with significantly greater percent pro
tein deposited (table 3).
This study indicated that diets contain
ing about 88 mg protein/kcal and ade
quate energy levels will produce fish with
optimum weight gains. Diets containing
24.1% crude protein produced fish more
efficiently in terms of percent protein de
posited than diets containing higher levels
of protein and energy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to thank Mrs. Cynthia
Herring for her technical assistance during
this investigation.
LITERATURE CITED
1. National Research Council (1973) Nutrient
requirements of domestic animals. No. 11.
Nutrient requirements of trout, salmon and
catfish. National Acad. Sci., Washington, D.C.
57 p.
2. Tiemeier, O. W., Deyoe, C. W. & Weaidon,
S. (1965) Effects on growth of fingerling
channel catfish of diets containing two energy
and two protein levels. Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci. 68, 180-186.
18Phillips, A. M.. Jr., Tunison, A. V. & Broekway,
D. R. (1948) Utilization of carbohydrates by trout.
N.Y. Consv. Dept., Fish Res. Bull. No. 11, 44 p.
20Dupree, H. K. (1969) Influence of corn oil and
beef tallow on growth of channel catfish. Bur. Sport
Fish Wildl., Tech. Paper No. 27, 13 p.
 PROTEIN TO ENERGY RATIO FOR CHANNEL CATFISH
3. Tiemeier, O. W., Deyoe, C. W., Dayton, A.
D. & Shrable, J. B. (1969) Rations con
taining four protein sources compared at two
protein levels and two feeding rates with
fingerling channel catfish. Prog. Fish-Cult. 31,
79-89.
4. Simco, B. A. & Cross, F. B. (1966) Factors
affecting the growth and production of chan
nel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. U. Kansas
Museum Nat. Hist. 17, 191-256.
5. Pike, R. L. & Brown, M. L. (1967) Nutri
tion: an integrated approach. John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., New York 542 p.
6. Page, J. W. & Andrews, J. W. ( 1973) Inter
actions of dietary levels of protein and energy
on channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). J.
Nutr. 103, 1339-1346.
7. Phillips, A. M., Jr. & Brockway, D. R. (1959)
Dietary calories and the production of trout
in hatcheries. Prog. Fish-Cult. 21, 3-16.
8. Phillips, A. M., Jr., Livingston, D. L. & Poston,
H. A. (1963) The effect of diet mixture
and calorie source on growth, mortality, con
version, and chemical composition of brook
trout. Prog. Fish-Cult. 25, 8-14.
9. Phillips, A. M., Jr., Livingston, D. L. & Poston,
H. A. ( 1966 ) Use of calorie sources by
trout. Prog. Fish-Cult. 28, 67-72.
10. Lee, D. J. & Wales, J. H. (1973) Observed
changes in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)
fed varying levels of casein-gelatin mixture
and herring oil in experimental diets. J. Fish
Res. Bd. Canada 30, 1017-1020.
11. Lee, D. J. & Putnam, G. D. (1973) The
response of rainbow trout to varying protein/
energy ratios in a test diet. J. Nutr. 103, 916-
922.
12. Buhler, D. R. & Halver, J. E. (1961) Nu
trition of salmonid fishes. IX. Carbohydrate
requirements of chinook salmon. J. Nutr. 74,
307-318.
13. Stickney, R. R. & Andrews, J. W. (1971)
Combined effects of dietary lipids and envi
ronmental temperature on growth, metab
olism, and body composition of channel cat
fish (Ictalurus punctatus). }. Nutr. 101, 1703-
1710.
14. Stickney, R. R. & Andrews, J. W. (1972)
Effects of dietary lipids on growth, food con
version, lipid and fatty acid composition of
the channel catfish. J. Nutr. 202, 249-258.
15. Association of Official Analytical Chemists
(1970) Official methods of analysis. Wash
ington, D.C. 957 p.
Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/106/9/1368/4768942
by Washington University in St. Louis user
on 13 May 2018
1375
16. Carling, D. L., Jr. & Wilson, R. P. (1976)
An inexpensive constant water level device
for flow through aquariums. Prog. Fish-Cult.
(In press).
17. American Public Health Association, Inc.
( 1965 ) Standard methods for the examina
tion of water and wastewater. 12 Ed., New
York, 769 p.
18. Selby, S. M. (1967) Standard mathemati
cal tables. The Chemical Rubber Co., Cleve
land, 664 p.
19. Lee, J. S. ( 1973 ) Commercial catfish farm
ing. Interstate Printers & Publishers, Inc.,
Danville, 111.263 p.
20. Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Fair, A. L.
& Randell, R. J. (1951) Protein measure
ment with the Folin phenol reagent. J. Biol.
Chem. J93, 265-275.
21. Folch, J., Ascoli, J., Lees, M., Meath, J. A.
& leBaron, F. N. (1951) Preparation of
lipid extracts from brain tissue. J. Biol. Chem.
191, 833-841.
22. Shabalina, A. A. (1971) Comparative anal
ysis of the results of determination of lipids
in fishes by the methods of Soxhlet and Folch.
J. Icthyol. 11, 85-S8.
23. Hassid, W. Z. & Abraham, S. (1957)
Chemical procedure for analysis of polysac-
charides. 7n: Methods of Enzymology (Colo-
wick, S. P. & Kaplan, N. O., eds.), Vol. 3,
p. 37, Academic Press, New York.
24. Somogyi, M. (1945) A new reagent for the
determination of sugars. J. Biol. Chem. 160,
61-69.
25. Nelson, N. ( 1944 ) A photometric adapta
tion of the Somogyi method for determination
of glucose. J. Biol. Chem. 153, 375-380.
26. Duncan, D. B. (1955) Multiples range and
multiple F tests. Biometrics 11, 1-42.
27. Ringrose, R. C. (1971) Calorie-to-protein
ratio for brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis).
J. Fish Res. Bd. Canada 28, 1113-1117.
28. Takeda, M., Shimeno, S., Hosakawa, H.,
Kajijama, H. & Kaisyo, T. (1975) The ef
fect of dietary calorie-to-protein ratio on the
growth, feed conversion, and body composi
tion of young yellow tail. Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci.
Fish, 41, 443-447.
29. Numi, A. J. ( 1974 ) Relationship between
ash content and body weight in lamprey
(Petromyzon marinus) trout (Salmo gaird
neri), and bass (Micropterus salmoides),
Copeia (1974), 794-795.