Feeding management automation of cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

Author(s)

Daniel Argentim

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Botucatu. 2016-01-15.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Botucatu
• Defense date: 2016-01-08
• Advisor: Claudio Angelo Agostinho

Abstract

The appropriate feeding frequency can provide the fastest fish growing performance; however the choice of the best feeding strategy may vary according to environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding frequency and water temperatures in cobia performance. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2x3 factorial design with six treatments and three replicates. The treatments consisted of the feed offering four or 24 meals a day to cobia juvenile (40 ± 4.5 g) and three water temperatures, 24, 27 or 30°C. The results showed that there was interaction between the water temperature and feeding frequency on fish performance. The fish fed four times a day, in water at 24 to 27°C, had higher average weight gain (AWG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion rate (FCR) (p <0.05) than those fed 24 times a day, however, this difference was not significant for fish raised in water at 30°C. However, there was no difference in feed conversion rate (p> 0.05) for fish raised at 24, 27 and 30°C when the feed was distributed more times per day (24 times/day). Therefore, when raised in temperature 24 and 27 ° C, the cobia must be fed four times a day, but when the fish are raised in temperature to 30 ° C the evaluated feeding frequency (04 and 24 meals / day) do not affect cobia performance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/02488-0 - Development of automation system of feeding management for marine fish farming
• Grantee: Daniel Argentim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate