ISSN:
1573-143X
Keywords:
Condition factor
;
Fasting
;
Lipid and protein reserves
;
Thyroid hormones
;
White suckers (Catostomus commersoni)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract Cultured juvenile white suckers, Catostomus commersoni, are commonly held over winter without the provision of exogenous feed. This study examined the ability of suckers to recover from prolonged fasting, and the energy partitioning strategies employed during the re-feeding phase. In one trial, white suckers held, without exogenous feed, in commercial lake cages for a prolonged period were fed a semi-moist salmonid diet. Although the fish consumed the feed, they exhibited negligible growth over the 12 weeks of the trial, and there was no evidence of increases in tissue lipid, glycogen or protein. In the second trial, previously well-fed juvenile white suckers were starved for 20 weeks and then re-fed. Condition factor (K), but not body weight was increased during the 8 week trial. However, hepatosomatic index (HSI), hepatic and somatic glycogen, and somatic lipid and protein reserves (expressed as a percentage of tissue) were significantly increased during the re-feeding period. Further, changes in plasma thyroid hormone levels indicated an important role of these hormones in the energy partitioning events. The poor growth of juvenile white suckers in intensive culture may be caused by deleterious changes in feed conversion ability resulting from extended fasting of the fish prior to ‘grow-out’.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018312123344
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