Effect of a sprint training protocol on growth rate, conversion efficiency, food consumption and body composition of rainbow trout, <i>Salmo gairdneri</i> Richardson

Abstract

Rainbow trout were sprint‐trained (30 s duration) once or twice on alternate days for a period of 6 weeks. Swim speed for the first 10 s of a training bout averaged 11.4 bls for group 2 (trained once) and 10.2 bl s −1 for group 3 (trained twice). Food consumption, growth rate and conversion efficiency were measured over 2‐week periods. Food consumption was 31‐38% less for the trained groups than for the control group (group 1). The growth rates of control and trained fish increased gradually over the training period. The growth rate of trained fish was always significantly less (48‐81%) than that of control fish. Although conversion efficiency was significantly less for group 3 at the beginning of training, no other significant differences in conversion efficiency were recorded. Maintenance rations were high in the initial period for all groups, but were lower than the initial values in the second and third periods. While condition factor was significantly lower for the trained groups, there were no differences in percent tissue protein, lipid, or moisture.