Dietary protein concentration and daily feed allowance influence response of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), to ractopamine

Year-1 channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) (average initial weight, 48 g) were fed diets containing 240 g kg^?1, 300 g kg^?1, or 360 g kg^?1 dietary protein with 0 or 20 mg kg^?1 ractopamine to satiation and diets containing 240 g kg^?1 and 360 g kg^?1 protein with 0 or 20 mg kg^?1 ractopamine at a restricted rate (60% of satiation) in aquaria at 29 ± 2°C for 8 weeks. Fish fed ractopamine at the 360 g kg^?1 protein level gained significantly more weight than controls when fed to satiation but not when the ration was restricted. Fish fed ractopamine at the 240 g kg^?1 protein level did not gain more weight than the controls at satiation or restricted feeding. Fish fed ractopamine in the diet containing 300 g kg^?1 protein gained significantly more weight than controls when fed to satiation. Ractopamine caused no significant differences in feed conversion at the 240 g kg^?1 or 360 g kg^?1 protein levels with restricted or satiation feeding. Muscle fat decreased when ractopamine was fed at all dietary protein levels and at both feeding rates. Muscle protein increased with ractopamine feeding in all treatments except the high-protein, satiation treatment. Weight gain response of year-1 channel catfish to ractopamine is dependent upon nutrient concentration of the diet and ration size; however, the effect of ractopamine on muscle composition of channel catfish is less dependent on nutrient concentration or amount of diet fed.