The Response of Rainbow Trout to Varying Protein/Energy Ratios in a Test Diet

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Abstract
Nine semipurified diets containing protein/energy ratios that ranged from 73 to 162 mg protein/kilocalorie were fed to young rainbow trout for 18 weeks. A casein-gelatin (70–30) mixture and herring oil were each fed at three levels in a factorial type of experiment. Each of the casein-gelatin levels (36, 44 and 53%) was fed at each of the fat levels (8, 16 and 24%). Cornstarch was added at the expense of the casein-gelatin mix to adjust dietary protein levels. Caloric intake regulated feed consumption; and except for diets low in both fat and protein, no significant differences in weight gains were noted, although feed and energy conversions were markedly influenced. Higher protein/calorie ratios were positively correlated with liver size, level of liver sugars, percentage body fat, percentage body protein, and negatively correlated with percentage liver lipids, size of gastrointestinal tract and gain/gram ingested protein. These correlations were observed for similar protein/calorie ratios regardless of the dietary levels of protein and lipid.