Effects of protein level of the diet on digestibility and growth of gilthead sea bream, Sparus auratus L.

A feeding trial with a duration of 12 weeks was conducted to determine the effects of various protein levels, in relation to diet digestibility and growth of the gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata L. Four experimental fish meal/wheat meal based diets (A,B,C,D) containing 400, 450, 500 and 550 g kg^?1 protein, respectively, were tested. The increase of the fishmeal content of the diet led to an increment of dry matter digestibility. Apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and lipids were always very high (being near or even over 90%). Energy digestibility coefficients increased from diet A to diet D, which corresponds to a decrease in the wheat meal content of the diet. Voluntary feed intake increased with the decrease of protein content of the diet (from diet D to diet A). In the other sense, feed/gain ratio decreased regularly as protein percentage increased (from diet A to diet D). The most favourable feed/gain ratio, 1.07, was noted for the group receiving 55% protein (diet D). Fish on the lowest protein diet (Diet A) showed the highest protein efficiency ratio (PER) and the highest percentage retention of the digestible protein intake. Other than slight positive differences between fish fed diets with 500 and 550 g kg^?1 protein, no significant differences were observed for growth when dietary protein exceeded 450 g kg^?1. Beyond this level, no significant difference in final average individual weight was observed. Although it is generally considered that the dietary protein requirement for gilthead sea bream is 400 g kg^?1, our experiment demonstrates that to obtain high growth rates (>2.3% per day), a minimum of 450 g kg^?1 protein in the diet is necessary. However, the most favourable values for growth rates and feed/gain ratio are obtained with 550 g kg^?1 protein in diet, considering that no significant differences were observed for PER among diets B, C and D.