Effects of feeding frequency on growth, feed efficiency and body composition of juveniles Brazilian sardine, Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindacher 1879)

The Brazilian sardine is the most important fishery resource in Brazil. Their production has declined along the last 30years due the overfishing, climatic and oceanographic phenomena. This study was carried out to determine the optimal feeding frequency for juvenile Brazilian sardine based on growth, feed efficiency, feed intake and body composition. Six feeding frequencies of one, two, three, four, five and six times a day were evaluated in triplicate tanks for 50days. Fish with initial mean weight of 3.29 +/- 0.56g were fed daily to apparent satiation. The results showed that fish fed once daily had lower body weight gain, specific growth rate and condition factor (P<0.05) compared with other treatments. The feed efficiency ratio in fish fed once daily was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those fed two or more times a day. No significant differences were observed in the coefficient of variation in body weight (P>0.05) among the treatments. Feed intake was directly proportional to the feeding frequency. Fish fed once daily showed lower hepatosomatic and mesenteric fat indices (P<0.05) than the other treatments. Neither protein nor ash content of fish were significantly (P>0.05) affected by feeding frequency. However, the lipid content increased with feeding frequency. The results suggest that the optimal feeding frequency for juvenile Brazilian sardine is at least twice daily.