Aquaculture Research Volume 42, Number 11 (October 2011) 
The protein and energy requirements of farmed South African abalone Haliotis midaeL. cultured at optimal and elevated water temperatures
Authors: Alistair J Green 1, Clifford L W Jones 1, Peter J Britz 1 Author Affiliations:
| 1: | Department of Ichthyology & Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa |
Source: Aquaculture Research, Volume 42, Number 11 (October 2011) Page Numbers: 1653 – 1663 Available Full Text:
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Abstract: Formulated abalone feeds used by the culture industry are believed to be unsuitable for use at elevated water temperatures (>20 °C). The aim of this study was to develop a feed that could safely be fed to abalone cultured at elevated water temperatures by optimizing dietary protein/energy levels. Abalone (54.90 ± 0.08 mm; 28.99 ± 0.16 g) were cultured at either 18, 22 or 24 °C, and fed diets containing graded levels of protein (18–26%) and energy (11.6–16.2 MJ kg-1). Abalone growth was temperature dependent, declining from 4.33 g month-1at 18 °C to 0.77 g month-1at 24 °C. Shell length and weight gain were independent of dietary protein, provided that the digestible energy content of the diet was not lower than 13.5 MJ kg-1. Dietary energy levels below 13.5MJ kg-1resulted in significant reductions in shell growth, weight gain and increased mortality from 5% to 27%. Feed consumption of the 22% and 26% protein diets with 11.6 MJ kg-1was significantly higher (0.53 ± 0.04 and 0.55 ± 0.04% bd. wt. day-1respectively) compared with abalone fed the 16.2 MJ kg-1diets at the same protein levels (combined mean of 0.45 ± 0.04% bd. wt. day-1) indicating that consumption was linked to energy requirement. The growth and mortality results suggest that abalone cultured at these temperatures have a dietary digestible energy requirement of at least 13.5 MJ kg-1.
Citation: Alistair J Green, Clifford L W Jones, Peter J Britz . The protein and energy requirements of farmed South African abalone Haliotis midaeL. cultured at optimal and elevated water temperatures. Aquaculture Research, Volume 42, Number 11 (October 2011), pp. 1653-1663,
URL: http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4250943513070B381FCF
