Stumbled across this while searching for Collins article. I've been interested in the subject of blue catfish and the type of feed I should be feeding....
Abstract
Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, juveniles (54 g) were stocked into 0.04-ha ponds at a density of 9,880/ha and fed one of four diets containing 32% or 38% protein and 4% or 8% fish meal. After 168 days, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in body weights, survival, weight gains, or other production variables. There was a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in feed conversion ratios (FCR), with the FCR for fish fed the 38% protein diet with 8% fish meal being higher than for fish fed other diets. During July and August, total ammonia-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen concentrations were also significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in ponds in which fish were fed the 38% protein diet with 8% fish meal. These data indicate that increased protein and/or fish meal does not increase weight gain in blue caash and that blue catlish can be fed a diet with 32% protein and 4% fish meal when stocked at density < 10,000/ha.
