La frecuencia de alimentación modifica el metabolismo y el crecimiento de juveniles de dorada (Sparus aurata L.)

Abstract

Aquaculture is a recent economic activity compared to agriculture and livestock farming, which are increasingly important as it must continue to move forward through improvements in techniques and methodologies. In this sense, the feeding frequency is a key factor to optimize the production in aquaculture. The aim of this work was to analyse how the feeding frequency can modify both growth performance and metabolism in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Juveniles of gilthead sea bream were submitted to three different feeding frequencies (2 % of the wet weight during 79 days): i) one dose (2 % of wet weight); ii) two doses (1% of wet weight each); and iii) three doses (0.67% of wet weight each). The results showed modifications in several plasmatic and hepatic parameters. The feeding frequency of three daily doses enabled a constant energy supply, inducing higher blood glucose levels respect to one daily dose treatment. In contrast, a feeding frequency of a daily dose produced a greater mobilization of lipid reserves. In conclusion, this study showed how the feeding frequency of three daily doses results in better metabolic conditions for the specimens of S. aurata, thereby optimizing its growth.