Morphometric growth characteristics and body composition of bullfrog tadpoles in captivity

• Main Authors: Cleber Menegasso Mansano, Marta Verardino De Stéfani, Marcelo Maia Pereira, Thálita Ribeiro Nascimento, Beatrice Ingrid Macente
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Estadual de Londrina 2014-10-01
• Series: Semina: Ciências Agrárias
• Subjects: Frog farming; Gompertz model; Growth curve; Nutrient deposition
• Online Access: http://www.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/semagrarias/editor/submission/16638
• ISSN: 1676-546X; 1679-0359

Feed management needs to be improved in frog farming to reduce the indirect effects of inadequate feeding and, consequently, to increase growth rates and nutrient deposition, obtaining better quality animals. The objective of this study was to establish morphometric growth curves for bullfrog tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus) and to determine nutrient deposition in the carcass. A total of 6,480 bullfrogs (Gosner stage 25) received an experimental diet (26.23% digestible protein and 32.68% crude protein) and a commercial diet (37.92% crude protein) ad libitum. A Gompertz model was used to describe the growth curve. Tadpoles fed the experimental diet presented higher final protein deposition. In addition, the sigmoidal curve was much more homogenous, indicating a more constant daily protein deposition rate. The Gompertz model provided an excellent fit of the data to describe the morphometric growth curve and carcass nutrient deposition of bullfrog tadpoles, showing that animals fed the experimental diet presented a better growth rate and nutrient deposition.