Arginine Requirement and Apparent Absence of a Lysine-Arginine Antagonist in Fingerling Channel Catfish

Abstract

A series of growth studies, utilizing casein-gelatin based diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids, were conducted to determine the arginine requirement for fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and to evaluate the effects of excessive levels of dietary lysine and arginine. Weight gain and feed efficiency data indicate the arginine requirement to be 1.03 ± 0.07% and 1.00 ± 0.06% of the dry diet, respectively. Based on growth this corresponds to 4.29% of the dietary protein. There was no evidence of an arginine-lysine antagonism when excess lysine was fed in diets adequate or marginal in arginine. Similarly, growth and feed efficiency data suggest the lack of an antagonism when excess arginine is added to diets marginal in lysine. Apparently channel catfish are not as sensitive to disproportionate lysine and arginine levels as are other animals.