The assessment of some performance and welfare indicators in rainbow trout. (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792), reared under two different feeding practices

Three groups of rainbow trout constituted by 100 individuals per group, with initial live weight of 50. 67±1. 954 g were kept in 5 m3 containers for 77 days. Two of them were fed on demand using mechanical equipments (Demand and Belt feeders). The feeding of the third group was done according to the traditional method, by hand. The effect of the way of feeding on condition factor values (K), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and fin condition were studied. The k and SGR values have resulted higher in mechanical feeding than in hand feeding. Mechanical feeding improve also the feed conversion ratio. Lower values of pectoral and dorsal fin damage in both experimental groups compared with the control group, sampled a better situation of welfare when the feeding was provided on demand.