Should lower protein grow-out feeds be developed for European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, L., 1758) culture at low salinity in Earthen Ponds?

WOS: 000455002200006The study analysed the impact of grower feeds including 45, 42 and 40% crude protein for cultured European sea bass in earthen ponds with 2.83 salinity during 365 days between January and December 2015 and 20% crude fat in all three groups, on grow-out performance of fish and feed evaluation rates. In the study, 120 000 fish of which starting weight is 95.16 +/- 12.02 g were used and 20 000 fish were stocked in each pond with two replicates. As a result of the trial, the fish reached live weight at 430.3 +/- 28.28 g, 506.5 +/- 12.02 g and 397.5 +/- 13.53 g, respectively. Feed conversion rates (FCR) of the fish were 1.50 +/- 0.03, 1.13 +/- 0.02 and 1.42 +/- 0.09, respectively. At the end of the study, the best growing performance and FCR were provided with growing feeds including 42% crude protein.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - Research, Development and Innovation Grant Programme [7110493]This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey - Research, Development and Innovation Grant Programme (Project number: 7110493)