Effect of dietary zinc supplementation and phytase pre-treatment of soybean meal or corn gluten meal on growth, zinc status and zinc-related metabolism in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were fed diets containing untreated or phytase-treated soybean meal and corn gluten meal with or without 50 mg supplemental zinc kg–1 to determine if dietary phytate caused a zinc (Zn) deficiency. Fish fed diets containing untreated soybean meal and corn gluten meal without supplemental Zn (basal diet) showed no signs of a Zn deficiency after 170 d of weight gain. Weight gain, carcass protein content, total bone Zn, and alkaline phosphatase and carboxypeptidase B activities were not significantly altered in fish fed the basal diet. Dietary phytate removal and supplemental dietary Zn were not required to prevent Zn deficiency in rainbow trout fed a plant-based diet. Although bone Zn concentrations were reduced in fish fed the basal diet, total bone Zn increased in all fish regardless of dietary treatment. Future assessments of Zn status of fish should be based on changes in Zn-dependent metabolism or total bone Zn rather than on bone Zn concentration.