Abstract: A feeding trail was conducted to investigate compensatory growth in NEW GIFT tilapia （Oreochromis nilotic us ） fed by vari- ous patterns. The NEW GIFT with initial body weight of about 31.65 g were reared in 12 stainless steel tanks with a diameter of 1.0 m at a rate of 20 individuals per tank and fed daily （ group A, control group ）, once every other day （group B ）, fed for three days every 1 day starvation （ group C ） and fed for five days every 1 day starvation （ group D ） for 47days with triplication at water temperature of 23.7 ℃ -31.2 ℃. The growth rate were shown to be significantly higher in group D than other group （including the control group ） （P〈0.05）, reached164.76%;The food intake and specific growth rate were shown to be significantly higher in group B, group C and group D than those in the control group （P〈0.05）;There was significantly higher feed efficiency in group B and group D than that in control group （P〈0.05）,all reached above 70%. It indicated that over-compensatory growth ability was observed in group D, whereas only partial compensation growth was found in group B and group C. The compensatory growth in the NEW GIFT after starvation was primarily attributed in enhancing appetite and food intake, but the improvement of feed efficiency has certain contribution to the com- pensatory growth. The results have certain guiding significance for scientific breeding and the production oftilapia.

Key words: NEW GIFT, feeding regimes, starvation, compensatory growth