TITLE:
Effect of Stocking Density on Growth Performance, Production Trait, Food Utilization and Body Composition, of Meagre (Argyrosomus regius)
AUTHORS:
A. Ghozlan, M. A. Zaki, M. A. Essa, M. M. Gaber, E. H. Ebiary, A. Nour
KEYWORDS:
Stocking Density, Meagre, Growth, Production, Body Composition
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Engineering and Technology,
Vol.6 No.3B,
August
29,
2018
ABSTRACT: A 10-week rearing trial was conducted in cages with average initial weight of 9.15 ± 0.2 g/fish and average initial length of 9.2 ± 0.02 cm/fish of meagre, Argyrosomus regius, to examine the effect of three stocking density on growth performances, production traits, feed utilization and body composition. Nine cages 24 m3 each (4 × 6 × 1.5 m, long, width and height) were stocked with either 1200, 3600 and 6000 fish for each cage to give a stocking rate of 50, 150, and 250 fish/m3 respectively and fish fed daily, slightly in excess of satiation to eliminate the possibility of food supply being a limiting factor to growth. The results revealed that, mean final weight (g/fish), gain in weight, SGR (%per day), feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and total feed intake (g/fish) were significantly (P ≤ 0.01) influenced. The best at the lowest stocking density, while, the total production and net production exhibited significantly the opposite trend. Harvest and production estimates increased with increasing stocking density. Fish body composition% of moisture, protein, fat and ash were significantly (P ≤ 0.01) influenced by stocking density. From the above results and the economic information of the study, it can be concluded that stocking density of 50 fish/m3 of meagre exhibited the highest net profit and would seem to be the most desirable density in the system studied.