Combined Effects of Dietary Lipids and Environmental Temperature on Growth, Metabolism and Body Composition of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

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Abstract
A study of the interaction of five environmental temperatures (20, 24, 26, 30 and 33°), and three types of dietary lipids (beef tallow, safflower oil, and menhaden oil) on the growth and body composition of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, indicated that maximum growth was obtained at 30° for fish fed each lipid supplement for a 70-day experimental period. At all temperatures, higher gains were obtained from beef tallow and menhaden oil than safflower oil supplements; likewise, lower food conversion rates were obtained from beef tallow and menhaden oil. The lipid level in fish carcasses increased with increasing temperatures up to 30° for all dietary supplements. At the optimum temperature for growth (30°), fish fed beef tallow contained less lipid than those fed the other supplements. The fatty acid composition of the diets was reflected in both liver and carcass lipids.