Effects of dietary protein, and fat level and rapeseed oil on growth and tissue fatty acid composition and metabolism in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) reared at low water temperatures

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to elucidate the interactive effects of dietary fat, protein contents and oil source on growth, whole body proximate composition, protein productive value (PPV) and fatty acid (FA) composition of muscle and liver in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)` at low water temperatures (4.2 °C). Triplicate groups of Atlantic salmon (initial weight 1168 g) were fed six isoenergetic diets, formulated to provide either 390 g kg⁻¹ protein and 320 g kg⁻¹ fat (high‐protein diets) or 340 g kg⁻¹ protein and 360 g kg⁻¹ fat (low‐protein diets). Within each dietary protein/fat level, crude rapeseed oil (RO) comprised 0, 30 or 60% (R0, R30, R60, respectively) of the added oil. After 12 weeks, the overall growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were very good for all treatments thermal growth coefficient (TGC): 4.76 (±0.23); FCR: 0.85 (±0.02)]. Significant effects were shown owing to the oil source on specific growth rate and TGC only. The liver and muscle FA compositions were highly affected by the graded inclusion of RO. The PPV was significantly affected by the dietary protein level. The results of this study suggest that more sustainable, lower protein diets with moderate RO inclusion can be used in Atlantic salmon culture at low water temperatures with no negative effects on growth and feed conversion, no major detrimental effects on lipid and FA metabolism and a positive effect on protein sparing.