Dietary Protein Level and Water Temperature Interactions for Greenlip AbaloneHaliotis laevigata

Growth and feed utilisation of juvenile greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) in response to water temperatures and increasing dietary protein levels

“…The experimental animals fed actively on diets throughout the study and growth rates were comparable to those observed in commercial facilities and other laboratory-based studies (Coote et al, 2000;Stone et al, 2013;Vandepeer, 2005). For example, Coote et al (2000) reported a SGR for greenlip abalone (~1 g) of 1.03% day −1 at 20°C for 85 days (Coote et al, 2000), Vandepeer (2005) reported a SGR for greenlip abalone (2.3 g) of 1.05% day − 1 at 18°C for 50 days, while Stone et al Fleming et al (1998) and Vandepeer (2005); NFE = Nitrogen free extract = 100% − (protein % + lipid % + ash %); EPA.…”

“…Gilroy and Edwards (1998) reported a calculated optimal of 18.3°C for Tasmania stock, while more recently Stone et al (2013) reported an optimal of 22°C for South Australian stock. Although 22°C was not used in the current study, the SGR of abalone was significantly superior at 20°C compared to 17 or 14°C, providing further support for Stone et al (2013).…”

“…(2013) reported a calculated peak SGR of 1.48% day −1 for greenlip abalone (1.8 g) over 84 days at their optimal water temperature of 22°C. Water temperature is a key environmental variable that affects the survival, growth, feed consumption, nutritional requirements and digestive physiology of abalone Edwards and Condon, 2001;Schaefer et al, 2013;Stone et al, 2013Stone et al, , 2014Vandepeer, 2006). In the current study, the SGR, biomass gain, apparent protein deposition, PER, shell growth and feed consumption rate of greenlip abalone all significantly increased with water temperature from 14 to 20°C.…”

“…The experiment was conducted in a photoperiod and temperature controlled laboratory described in Stone et al (2013). The photoperiod was 12 h low intensity fluorescent lighting at 3.4 lx: 12 h dark.…”

“…Dietary protein plays a major role in the nutritional value of formulated diets, as optimal growth is dependent on maximising protein deposition, which is limited by dietary protein availability Shipton and Britz, 2001). The optimal dietary protein level is dependent on a number of factors including the abalone species, abalone size, water temperature, ingredient digestibility and dietary energy level Bautista-Teruel and Millamena, 1999;Stone et al, 2013). The abalone industry is relatively new compared to other aquaculture sectors such as fin fish, which have successfully developed pre-starter, starter, grower and finisher diets for different grow-out stages (Ng and Romano, 2013;Sarker et al, 2013).…”