Compensatory growth, proximate composition and amino acid contents after experiencing cycles of feed deprivation and re-feeding in young yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco R.)

The compensatory growth, proximate composition and amino acid contents changes of young yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco R.) (1.63-1.69 g) had been investigated using a 45-day cyclic feed deprivation and re-feeding experiment. The control group (S0) was fed daily with live tubificid worms (Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri), while the S1/4, S1/2, and S1/1 groups cyclically experienced one-day of feed deprivation followed by four, two or one day(s) of feeding, respectively. Over- or full-compensatory growth was achieved in the cyclic deprivation/re-feeding groups through increased feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE). However, the fish behaved different courses of growth compensation, the compensatory growth responses of fish subjected to a weaker intensity of feed deprivation (i.e., S1/4) compared with more intense deprivation (i.e., S1/1) was achieved in these groups mainly by a gradual increases in FR or by maintaining a high FCE, respectively. The cyclic deprivation/re-feeding schedules did not affect the proximate composition of the fish body, however, the amino acid parameters were inversely related to the specific growth rate, the fish showing growth over-compensation contained significantly lower contents of total amino acids, essential and non-essential amino acids.