SREL Reprint #1897

The influence of environmental temperature and dietary factors on utilization of dietary energy and protein in purified diets by alligators, Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin)

Mark A. Staton1, Hardy M. Edwards Jr.2, I. Lehr Brisbin Jr.3, Ted Joanen4, and Larry McNease4

1Mainland Holdings Pty. Ltd., Lae, Papua New Guinea
2Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
3Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA
4Lousiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, Grand Chenier, LA, USA

Abstract: Alligators reared for 8 weeks on purified diets at 32ºC averaged greater feed intake and body weight gain, but poorer feed efficiency ratios, than those grown at 28ºC. Environmental temperature had no effect on apparent digestibility of protein (95.4%), fat (96.1%), or energy (93.5%). Both isolated soybean protein (40% of dietary protein) and corn dextrin (16% of gross energy) were efficiently digested. High-solubility corn dextrin was slightly, but significantly, more digestible than low-solubility corn dextrin. Protein digestibility was greater when high-solubility corn dextrin was fed. Added taurine (0.1% of diet) improved body weight gain and resulted in greater fat digestibility. In a second experiment, digestibility of dietary protein and fat from purified diets were high (97.3 and 92.8%, respectively) and found to be influenced by dietary fat. Digestibility coefficients for protein, but not fat, were influenced (greater) when feces were allowed to remain in water for up to 6 h prior to collection for digestibility determinations. Digestibility of individual fatty acids varied with fat source. Stearic acid was the least digestible (77%), whereas the apparent digestibility of lauric, eicosenoic and docosapentaenoic acids was the greatest (100%). Fecal collection condition (wet vs dry) influenced the digestibility coefficients of some, but not all, fatty acids.

SREL Reprint #1897

Staton, M.A., H.M. Edwards Jr., I.L. Brisbin, T. Joanen, and L. McNease. 1992. The influence of environmental temperature and dietary factors on utilization of dietary energy and protein in purified diets by alligators, Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin). Aquaculture 107:369-381. 

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).