[EN] The energy and protein requirements for gilthead sea bream were studied until commercial weight. Gilthead sea bream with different body weights (from 24 to 422 g) were fed from starvation to apparent satiation, studying ...[+]
[EN] The energy and protein requirements for gilthead sea bream were studied until commercial weight. Gilthead sea bream with different body weights (from 24 to 422 g) were fed from starvation to apparent satiation, studying protein and energy in the interval of 21¿25 °C. Energy recovery (ER) was expressed in relation to the digestible energy intake (DEI), ER = 173.1 ∗ (1 − e(− 0.00407 ∗ (DEI-59.84))), and protein deposition (PD) was expressed with regard to digestible protein intake (DPI), PD = 2.97 ∗ (1 − e(− 0.152 ∗ (DPI-1.393))).
Maintenance needs in summer conditions were found to be 1.393 g kg− 0.7 day− 1 of the digestible protein intake and 59.84 kJ kg− 0.82 day− 1 of the digestible energy intake. The response curves to the graded levels of intake of energy and protein should allow the diet formulation under several growth conditions and all sizes until commercial weight.
Statement of relevance
The feed conversion rate in Sparus aurata is not yet optimized, showing high values in farms. The knowledge of the efficiencies at different feeding rate, for the whole range of commercial weights, until 450 g, should help to improve the efficiency of feeding.[-]
Ignacio Jauralde Garcia was supported by Fundacion Alfonso Martin Escudero, Madrid, Spain. We are also grateful to Ralph Wilk for the English review. The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. Rodolofo Ballestrazzi of the Universitat ...[+]
Ignacio Jauralde Garcia was supported by Fundacion Alfonso Martin Escudero, Madrid, Spain. We are also grateful to Ralph Wilk for the English review. The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. Rodolofo Ballestrazzi of the Universitat degli studi di Udine for his support to Ignacio Jauralde during his stay in Italy.[-]