Effects of different feeding frequencies on growth, feed utilization, plasma biochemistry and digestive conditions of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fed different fish meal and fish oil dietary levels

Abstract

The optimization of feeding management is essential to improve the key performance indicators such as growth rates, feed efficienc , mortality and quality traits of the Mediterranean aquaculture. Optimal feeding frequencies under farming condition may contribute to maximise feed utilization reducing wastes and production costs. Several effects of the feeding frequency on performances have been observed in different fish species mainly depending on the fish size and on the interactions between feeding frequencies and type of administered diets (Yúfera et al., 2014; Enes et al., 2015; Guo et al., 2015; Zeytin et al., 2016). This study was undertaken in order to assess the effects of different feeding frequencies on growth, feed digestibility, somatometric indexes, fish plasma biochemistry, and digestive condition of gilthead sea bream fed different fishmeal and fish oil dietary levels with the final aim to provide guidelines designed for the daily management of feeding practices under farming condition.