Effect of dietary protein, lipid and carbohydrate content on the growth, feed efficiency and carcass composition of striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), fingerlings

Two 6-week experiments were conducted with age-0 striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum). In the first experiment, fish were fed isocaloric diets that contained 20–65% protein. In the second experiment, fish were fed isonitrogenous diets (42–46% protein) that contained 6–29% dextrin or 8–25% cod liver oil. Maximum weight gain, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were achieved with a 52% protein diet. Net protein utilization was inversely related to dietary protein concentration. In the second experiment, maximum growth was achieved with a 33% carbohydrate diet (based on nitrogen free extract); and with a 17% lipid diet (based on ether extract). Increasing dietary lipid beyond 17% resulted in growth depression. No negative impacts on carcass composition as a result of increasing dietary dextrin or lipid were judged to have occurred.