Long-term effects of dietary fat level and feeding rate on growth, feed utilization and carcass quality of Atlantic salmon

Two extruded diets designed to have fat levels of 220 g kg⁻¹ (F22) and 300 g kg⁻¹ (F30) were fed to Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. in two different experiments during the sea rearing period (from 0.2–0.3 kg to 3–4 kg). Each diet was fed restricted and isoenergetically at two feeding rates to fish in triplicate groups. In one of the experiments, a supplementary group of fish was fed to satiation with the F30 diet. All fish were slaughtered and evaluated for quality according to a commercial standard.
No difference in growth was observed between fish fed the two diets at similar feeding rates and the growth was proportional to the amount of dietary energy offered. Feed conversion ratios decreased according to higher energy content in the F30 diet, and the nitrogen and phosphorus retention increased significantly. Fish fed the F30 diet revealed a higher incidence of sexual maturity. Fat content in cutlets and dressed carcasses were significantly affected by feeding rate but not by dietary fat level. Fish fed the F30 diet had more visceral fat and, consequently, lower dress-out percentage. Mortality, liver size and liver colour were not significantly affected by dietary fat level.
These experiments showed that even large differences in dietary fat level employed for the entire sea rearing period of Atlantic salmon, did not, or only marginally affected the cutlet and dressed carcass fat content. The high fat diet improved the feed utilization, thus decreasing the discharge to the environments. Furthermore, it resulted in greater growth at ad libitum feeding.     

Urea and trimethylamine oxide in diets for seawater farmed rainbow trout: effect on fat belching,skin vesicle,winter ulcer and quality grading

Three experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the effects of urea and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) supplementation in diets for seawater‐farmed rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. In all experiments, commercial extruded feed was used as basal control diet, whereas experimental diets were the basal diet supplemented with either 10 g kg^–1 TMAO, 10 g kg^–1 urea or 10 g kg^–1 TMAO and 10 g kg^–1 urea. The experiments were conducted both in research units and in a commercial fish farm. Quality was evaluated in three different commercial slaughterhouses, sorting the rainbow trout into superior, ordinary or processing grade. Significantly more TMAO was observed in muscle of rainbow trout given dietary supplementation of TMAO. However, the levels were low compared with levels in marine fish in general. Trimethylamine (TMA) was not found. No increase in muscle urea content was observed in trout fed urea in the diet. Significantly reduced fat belching, seen as reduced number of fat droplets surfacing in the net pen, was observed in groups given TMAO‐supplemented feeds. At least twice as many rainbow trout with skin vesicles were observed in the control group as in the group fed urea‐supplemented diet. In addition, skin vesicles developed into open sores in the winter only in rainbow trout fed control diet. In a large‐scale trial, quality grading of almost 200 000 market‐sized rainbow trout showed significantly more (88 vs. 83%) trout of superior grade in the group fed dietary urea compared with fish fed control diet. The main reason for downgrading from superior to ordinary and processing grade was skin lesions, supporting the observations made in the experimental units.     

Fish meal quality assessment for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) reared in sea water

Studies were conducted to investigate the quality of 16 fish meals for Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) reared in sea water, and to assess in vitro and in vivo methods for the measurement of the quality of the protein in fish meals. The commercial fish meals tested were Canadian-produced (herring, groundfish, and mixed meals) and were of West Coast and East Coast origin; they included silver hake (Russian origin), two mackerel meals (Chilean) and Norwegian fish meal (Norse-LT94®). In addition, five herring meals were produced in the laboratory to assess the influence of processing conditions and freshness of the raw material on fish meal quality. The dilute-pepsin digestibility was the preferred in vitro assay to evaluate the protein quality of herring meals for Atlantic salmon, but this assay correlated poorly with the results from in vivo assays when other types of fish meals (menhaden, mackerel, silver hake, groundfish) were included.     

Flesh quality of Atlantic salmon smolts reared at different temperatures and photoperiods

Possible interactive effects of temperature and photoperiod on flesh quality in Atlantic salmon post‐smolts were studied. Juvenile (initial mean weight 96.0 g ± 3.1 SEM) Atlantic salmon were reared at six different combinations of temperatures (4.3, 6.5 or 9.3°C) and photoperiods (continuous light or simulated natural photoperiod). At termination of the trial, the fish were slaughtered and flesh samples taken to investigate quality and textural properties in the different experimental groups. Final weight in the six experimental groups varied between 174 and 345 g. Softer texture was seen in the fast growing groups. Photoperiod has only minor effect on flesh quality and textural properties, whereas temperature had significant impact on most of the measured variables. Although positive for growth, higher temperatures might be less favourable in relation to softer muscle tissue.     

Reducing sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestation of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) through functional feeds

Health diets for Atlantic salmon have become an important component of the integrated pest management strategies targeting sea lice. A challenge trial was performed to examine the effect of supplementing salmon diets with either immunostimulants or essential oils. One control and four experimental diets containing immunostimulants or natural identical extracts were fed to Atlantic salmon in triplicate tanks for 4 weeks before challenging the fish with the sea lice copepodids. Prevalence of infection was 100%, and the mean abundance of infection was 21.2. The lowest mean lice count of 17 per fish (P < 0.05) was found in the group fed a mix of natural identical plant extracts (PX I). This represents a 20% reduction in infection, showing the potential for health diets to be employed as a tool to help control sea lice. To gain an understanding of the mechanisms of action underlying this protection, fish fed the control diet and fish fed the PX I diet were compared using quantitative histology of the epidermis and proteomic analysis of epidermal mucus. No significant differences were seen in the thickness of the epidermis or mucous cell percentage area, but differences in expression were seen for a number of proteins, including heat shock proteins, in epidermal mucus.     

Effect of low sea water temperature on water balance in the Atlantic salmon, (Salmo salar L.)

The water balance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) overwintering in sea water (34 ) was investigated. With a decrease of temperature from 5.6 to 1.0°C the drinking rate decreased from 13.9 to 5.7 ml/kg/day, and the absolute amount of water absorbed decreased from 8.9 to 5.0 ml/kg/day. A decrease in temperature led, however, to an increase in the proportion of water absorbed in the intestines from 60 to 96%. Blood serum osmolarity increased from 320 to 440 mosm/1 with decreasing temperature and there was a reduction in tissue water content from 75 to 69% The disturbance of water balance at low temperature may be one of the factors responsible for mortality of salmon overwintering in sea water.     

Nutritive value of partially dehulled and extruded sunflower meal for post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in sea water

This study determined the digestibility of protein in partially dehulled sunflower meal (SFM) and then, as the main goal, the nutritive value of high‐temperature extruded (≤149°C) partially dehulled SFM (SFM_EX) for post‐smolt Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in sea water. The digestibility study was conducted using the settling column approach (‘Guelph system’) for faeces collection as described by Hajen, Higgs, Beames and Dosanjh. In the nutritive value study, triplicate groups of 50 salmon (mean weight ～116 g) in 4000‐L outdoor fibreglass tanks supplied with 25–40 L min^?1, filtered, oxygenated (dissolved oxygen, 7.0–8.5 mg L^?1), 11–12°C sea water (salinity, 29–31 g L^?1), were fed twice daily to satiation one of five steam‐pelleted dry diets that contained 422 g of digestible protein (DP) kg^?1 and ～16.4 MJ of digestible energy (DE) kg^?1 on a dry weight basis for 84 days. Low‐temperature‐dried anchovy meal (LT‐AM) comprised 68.2% of the basal diet protein whereas in four test diets, SFM_EX progressively replaced up to 33.0% of the DP provided by LT‐AM in the basal diet (SFM_EX≤271 g kg^?1 of dry matter). Sunflower meal had 87.9% DP. Diet treatment did not significantly affect specific growth rate (1.39–1.45% day^?1), feed efficiency (1.19–1.26), percentage of dietary protein retained (45.8–47.5), gross energy utilization (46.5–49.4%), per cent survival (96.0–99.3) or terminal whole body and muscle proximate compositions. We conclude that SFM_EX can comprise ≥271 g kg^?1 of the dry diet or ≥22.7% of the digestible dietary protein of post‐smolt Atlantic salmon in seawater without any adverse effects on their performance.     

The effect of water temperature on vertebral deformities and vaccine-induced abdominal lesions in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L

This study investigates the effects of water temperature (T) on vaccine-induced abdominal lesions (i.p. injection with oil-adjuvant vaccine) and vertebral deformities in Atlantic salmon. Quadruple groups of vaccinated (V) or unvaccinated (U) underyearling smolts were reared in tanks under four different temperature regimes for 6 weeks in fresh water (FW) followed by 6 weeks in sea water (SW). The four different T regimes were 10 °C FW-10 °C SW (10-10), 10 °C FW-16 °C SW (10-16), 16 °C FW-10 °C SW (16-10) and 16 °C FW-16 °C SW (16-16). After the temperature regimes were finished, the fish were group-tagged and transferred to a common sea cage for on-growth until harvest size. At termination, weight was significantly affected by both T and V, while lesion score and deformities were affected by T only. The weight difference between the largest and smallest U group was 20.3% (16-10 U: 2.4 kg, 10-16 U: 1.89 kg), while the largest difference between U and V fish within a T regime was 28.7% (16-16 U: 2.1 kg, 16-16 V: 1.5 kg). Fish from the 16-16, 16-10 and 10-16 regimes had a significant higher lesion score than those from the 10-10 regime. Fish from the 10-16 and 16-16 regimes displayed a significantly higher prevalence of vertebral deformities (palpation : 13-27%, radiology: 88-94%) than fish from the 10-10 and 16-10 regimes (palpation: 2-3%, radiology: 27-65%). Vertebra number 26 (located beneath the dorsal fin) was the most frequently affected vertebra in smolts, while vertebra number 43 (located above the anal fin) was most frequently affected in adults.     

A note on sea lice abundance on farmed Atlantic salmon in Scotland 2011–2013: significant regional and seasonal variation

Sea lice are the most economically damaging parasite affecting marine Atlantic salmon production the dominant sector of UK aquaculture. The Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation has published mean adult female lice abundance for four regions for 2011–2013 and for 30 areas in 2013. An analysis of these data shows that sea lice abundance is highly seasonal with values lowest in the first half of the year. Abundance also varies by region, the regional patterns vary from year‐to‐year but overall the highest abundance was found in the northern part of mainland Scotland. While most areas had low lice abundance, in a few areas the abundance was persistently above average; these areas were clustered together. There was no significant year‐on‐year trend in lice abundance, and trends appear to vary between regions. Although previous Scottish analyses have been carried out using data from a large company, this analysis cover 95% of production in all salmon farming regions of Scotland and it can be extended as more data become available.     

Assessment of infectious salmon anaemia virus prevalence for different groups of farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in New Brunswick

Abstract Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus (ISAV) has been causing disease in New Brunswick since 1996. As a control measure, all fish in an outbreak cage are killed. The objective of this study was to compare ISAV prevalence in cages experiencing an outbreak with healthy cages from the same farm, neighbouring farms and distant farms. Atlantic salmon from five different groups were tested using an RT-PCR test. Groups included moribund fish from a cage experiencing an outbreak (A), healthy fish from an outbreak cage (B), healthy fish from a negative cage from a farm experiencing an outbreak in a different cage (C), healthy fish from a negative farm near an outbreak farm (D), and healthy fish sampled at a negative farm located in an area with only negative farms (E). Apparent prevalences (standard error) for the different groups (A-E) were 0.94 (+/-0.026), 0.41 (+/-0.062), 0.29 (+/-0.040), 0.08 (+/-0.037) and 0.08 (+/-0.037), respectively. All groups were significantly different (P < 0.002) from each other except for groups B and C and groups D and E. Because the prevalence of the virus was significantly higher in the outbreak cage (B) compared with other sites, early harvest of outbreak cages will remove one source of virus. However, ISA negative cages (C) that remain on the positive farm may potentially act as a viral reservoir.     

Influence of dietary blends of menhaden oil and canola oil on growth, muscle lipid composition, and thyroidal status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in sea water

The effects of various dietary blends of menhaden oil (MO) with canola oil (CO) on the growth performance, whole body proximate composition, flesh quality (muscle proximate and lipid composition) and thyroidal status of immature Atlantic salmon in sea water were studied.Atlantic salmon (initial weight, 145.2–181.3 g), held on a natural photoperiod and in 1100 L fibreglass tanks that were supplied with running, aerated (D.O., 9–10.5 p.p.m.), ambient temperature (8–10.5 °C) sea water (salinity, 28–30), were fed twice daily to satiation one of four isonitrogenous (36% digestible protein) and isoenergetic (18.8 MJ of digestible energy kg^-1) extruded high-energy diets for 112 days. All diets contained omega –3 (n-3) fatty acids in excess of requirements and differed only with respect to the source of the supplemental lipid which was either, 25% MO; 20.75% MO and 4.25% CO; 16.5% MO and 8.5% CO; or 12.25% MO and 12.75% CO. Thus, CO comprised, respectively, 0, 15.5, 31.2, or 47.0% of the total dietary lipid content (28% on an air-dry basis).Dissimilar percentages of saturated fatty acids in the dietary lipids were not found to be consistently related to the apparent gross energy digestibility coefficients of the diets. Atlantic salmon growth, dry feed intake, feed and protein utilization, percent survival, thyroidal status, and whole body and muscle proximate compositions were generally not influenced by the different sources of supplemental lipid. Therefore, our results suggest that canola oil may comprise as much as 47% of the lipid in high-energy grower diets for Atlantic salmon without compromising performance.The muscle lipid compositions generally mirrored those of the dietary lipids which, in turn, were influenced strongly by the concentrations and compositions of the CO and MO in the diet. Hence, as the dietary CO level was increased there were attendant increases in percentages of oleic acid (18:1(n-9)), linoleic acid (18:2(n-6)), total omega-6 (n-6) fatty acid content, and ratios of (n-6) to (n-3) and decreases of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5(n-3)), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6(n-3)) and n-3 HUFAs (EPA & DHA) in the flesh lipids. The ranges for percentages of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the flesh lipids were, however, much less than those noted respectively in the dietary lipids probably because of selective metabolism of many of the former acids and some of the 18 carbon unsaturates for energy purposes.     

Dietary protein/energy ratios for Atlantic salmon in relation to fish size: growth, feed utilization and slaughter quality

Four extruded diets differing in protein/fat concentrations, 378/389 g kg^?1, 425/346 g kg^?1, 480/308 g kg^?1 and 524/256 g kg^?1 were tested in a digestibility trial and a growth study. Apparent digestibility of protein and fat were not significantly different among the diets when tested in 1-kg Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in sea water. The diets represented a range of digestible protein to digestible energy ratios (DP/DE ratios) of 14.1, 16.4, 18.8 and 21.9 g MJ^?1. The 138-day growth study was performed with triplicate groups of Atlantic salmon of 1.0 and 2.5 kg initial weight. Irrespective of size; growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), nitrogen and energy retention were poorer in fish fed the diet with DP/DE ratio of 14.1 g MJ^?1 compared with the fish fed the other diets. A DP/DE ratio of 16.4 g MJ^?1 was sufficient to produce maximum growth for the large fish, while the DP/DE ratio of 18.8 g MJ^?1 produced the highest growth in the small fish. In the large fish, the lowest FCR was obtained on a DP/DE ratio of 16.4 g MJ^?1, while there was no clear difference in FCR within the small fish when diets of DP/DE ratios of 16.4–21.9 g MJ^?1 were fed. The carcass-to-body ratio in the small fish decreased with decreasing DP/DE ratios. The fish fed the diet of 21.9 g MJ^?1 had significantly lower fat and dry matter and higher protein content than fish of similar size fed the other diets. Increased dietary lipid content seemed to improve astaxanthin deposition in the small fish, while the large fish showed no significant differences in astaxanthin deposition due to dietary treatment. This study indicates that a DP/DE ratio of 14.1 g MJ^?1 in high-energy diets for Atlantic salmon in sea water is below the optimal DP/DE ratio for growth and feed utilization, and that the optimal DP/DE ratio decreases with increasing fish weight. DP/DE ratios around 19 g MJ^?1 for fish weighing 1 to 2.5 kg, and 16–17 g MJ^?1 for fish weighing 2.5 to 5 kg, are suggested to be optimal.     

Effects of inositol supplementation on growth, chemical composition and blood chemistry in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., fry

The present experiment reports on the effects of inositol supplementation from 0 to 1600 mg kg⁻¹ to a fishmeal-based diet on growth, inositol retention, proximate composition (dry matter, protein and lipid) and blood chemistry in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., fry during a 28-week feeding experiment. Growth was affected to a minor extent, and only during the first 4 weeks of the experiment. Mortality was low and not related to dietary inositol. The inositol concentration in whole fish and liver was affected by dietary inositol supplementation. Proximate composition of whole fish was similar among dietary groups, except for positive correlations between dry matter, lipid and protein and dietary inositol supplementation after 8 weeks. Analyses of hepatic lipid classes after 8 weeks showed non-significant differences among the groups, mostly explained by somewhat reduced total hepatic lipid accumulation with increasing dietary inositol. Triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine accounted for 80% and 8–10% of the hepatic lipids (approximately 80 mg lipid g⁻¹ wet weight) in all groups. Blood haemoglobin was positively correlated and plasma triacylglycerol was negatively correlated to dietary inositol supplementation at week 28, while plasma protein and cholesterol were unaffected. The present results indicate that the requirement of Atlantic salmon fry for inositol is covered through the natural content of inositol in practical feed ingredients at around 300 mg inositol kg⁻¹. It may, however, be advisable to supplement starter diets with moderate amounts of inositol, around 200 mg kg⁻¹, to compensate for fluctuations in inositol concentrations in natural ingredients, leaching loss of inositol from the diet and for any potential increased inositol requirement in salmon fry.     

Laboratory evaluation of sample collection methods (organs vs swabs) for Tasmanian salmon reovirus detection in farmed Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L.

The use of swabs relative to organs as a sample collection method for the detection of Tasmanian salmon reovirus (TSRV) in farmed Tasmanian Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., was evaluated by RT‐qPCR. Evaluation of individual and pooled sample collection (organs vs swabs) was carried out to determine the sensitivity of the collection methods and the effect of pooling of samples for the detection of TSRV. Detection of TSRV in individual samples was as sensitive when organs were sampled compared to swabs, and in pooled samples, organs demonstrated a sensitivity of one 10‐fold dilution higher than sampling of pooled swabs. Storage of swabs at 4 °C for t = 24 h demonstrated results similar to those at t = 0. Advantages of using swabs as a preferred sample collection method for the detection of TSRV compared to organ samples are evident from these experimental trials.     

The effect of feed pigment type on flesh pigment deposition and colour in farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

The characteristic pink colour of salmonid flesh is a result of deposition of naturally occurring carotenoid pigments. Achieving successful pigmentation in farmed salmonids is a vital aspect of fish farming and commercial feed production. Currently commercial diets for farmed salmonids contain either or both of the synthetic pigments commercially available, astaxanthin and canthaxanthin. Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. ( = 220 g initial weight) were given feeds where the pigment source was astaxanthin only, canthaxanthin only or a astaxanthin/canthaxanthin mix. The rearing environment was 12 × 3 m tanks supplied with sea water at the EWOS research farm Lønningdal, near Bergen, Norway. As the proportion of dietary canthaxanthin increased, flesh pigment levels also showed an increase; the pigment content in the muscle of canthaxanthin‐only fed fish was 0.4 mg kg^?1 (or 14%) higher than that of the astaxanthin‐only fed fish, with the mixed pigment fed fish being intermediate between the two extremes. Results of cross‐section assessment for Minolta colorimeter redness (a*) values and Roche Salmofan^TM scores also showed an increase in colour with increasing proportions of canthaxanthin in the feed. The data reported clearly indicates that S. salar ( = 810 g final weight) of this size deposit canthaxanthin more efficiently than they do astaxanthin. These results contrast with those obtained by other authors with rainbow trout, Oncorynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and imply that the absorption or utilization of the pigments differs between species.     

Seawater adaptation and growth of post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) of wild and farmed strains

Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar L.) of wild (Namsen) and farmed (AquaGen) strains were transferred to full-strength seawater (33‰) for 0 (initial control group), 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 14, 30, 42 and 60 days at three different temperatures (4.3, 9.4 and 14.3 °C). Freshwater temperature in each tank was adjusted to test conditions 10 days prior to transfer. Physiological adaptation was monitored as changes in plasma growth hormone levels, gill Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity, plasma chloride levels and survival in seawater. Overall, smolts from the wild strain were better able to tolerate transfer to seawater than smolts from the hatchery strain. A delay in the osmotic disturbance and a prolonged period of osmotic stress were observed at the low temperature. Circulating GH levels increased transiently in all groups during the first 12–48 h in seawater and long-term GH levels were positively correlated with seawater temperature. Growth rates were influenced by temperature and strain, with the farmed smolts showing a higher growth than the wild smolts. Food Conversion Efficiency (FCE) was higher in smolts from the farmed strain, whereas no differences in daily food consumption were observed. Optimum temperature for FCE was calculated to be 10.5 °C, whereas the optimal temperature for growth in seawater was calculated to be 13.0 °C. We suggest that the observed differences in seawater tolerance, growth and food conversion probably are genetic and may reflect the fact that the hatchery fish have been bred for rapid growth for several generations.     

Evaluation of sea lice abundance levels on farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) located in the Broughton Archipelago of British Columbia from 2003 to 2005

Salmon farming began in British Columbia (BC) in the 1970s and in 2006, aquaculture represented BC's largest agricultural export. Along with this growth in production has been a growth in controversy, including the concern that sea lice originating from Atlantic salmon farms negatively impact wild juvenile pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago. To understand the dynamic interaction between wild and farmed fish, data for on‐farm abundance of sea lice are required. In this study, 33 000 Atlantic salmon from 20 active farms were examined over 3 years. Two species of lice were found: Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus clemensi. Inter‐annual and seasonal variations in abundance levels occurred with lower levels of L. salmonis in 2003 compared with 2004 and 2005, while C. clemensi levels were highest in 2003. The abundance of L. salmonis was greater on older farmed fish. The findings are compared with European and eastern Canadian sea lice reports, and possible sources of sea lice on farmed salmon are discussed.