South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, McNenny State Fish Hatchery 19619 Trout Loop Spearfish, South Dakota 57783, USA
Research Article
Impacts of Different Exercise Routines on Rainbow Trout Rearing Performance
Author(s): Nathan Huysman, Eric Krebs and Michael E Barnes
Exercising fish during hatchery rearing may provide considerable benefits. This study evaluated a combination of different exercise regimens and feeding levels during juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) rearing for 109 days. Four treatments were used: 1. continual exercise at a water velocity of 12.2 cm s-1 and feeding to near-satiation (low exercise, low feed), 2. continual exercise at a water velocity of 30.5 cm s-1 and feeding an increased ration (high exercise, high feed), 3. exercise routine using a water velocity that alternated weekly between 12.2 cm s-1 and 30.5 cm s-1 and feeding to satiation (exercise routine, low feed), and 4. exercise routine and feeding an increased ration (exercise routine, high feed). Final tank weight, gain, percent gain,and feed conversion ratio were all significantly lower in the high exercise, high feed treatment compared to the other three.. View More»