Antioxidant vitamins, minerals and lipid levels in diets for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.): effects on growth performance and fillet quality

An experiment with 2^{(7 ? 3)} reduced factorial design was conducted to study the biological effects of pro‐ and antioxidant micronutrients and lipid in Atlantic salmon. Vitamins C and E, astaxanthin, lipid, iron, copper and manganese were supplemented at high and low levels. For vitamins and minerals, high levels were chosen to be below the anticipated toxic level and the low levels were just above the requirement (vitamin C, 30 and 1000 mg kg^?1; vitamin E, 70 and 430 mg kg^?1; Fe, 70 and 1200 mg kg^?1; Cu, 8 and 110 mg kg^?1; Mn, 12 and 200 mg kg^?1). For astaxanthin, the dietary levels were 10 and 50 mg kg^?1 and for lipid, 150 and 330 g kg^?1. The experiment was started with postsmolts (148 ± 17 g) and lasted for 5 months. The variation in micronutrients had only minor effects on growth, feed conversion and fillet quality, measured as lipid and astaxanthin deposition. High dietary lipid had a profound positive effect on growth and feed conversion but gave fillets nearly two times the fat content that was found in fish fed the low lipid diet. Astaxanthin deposition in the fillet was primarily affected by dietary astaxanthin with a positive effect of high dietary lipid in week 14 but not in week 23. Vitamin E protected the fillet against iron ascorbate stimulated oxidation, with no effect of the other nutrient variables.     

A factorial experimental design for investigation of effects of dietary lipid content and pro- and antioxidants on lipid composition in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) tissues and lipoproteins

Sixteen groups of post smolt, Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) (initial weight 148 ± 17 g) were fed diets with different lipid content and composition of pro- and antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, astaxanthin, Fe, Cu and Mn). The composition of the experimental diets was based on a multivariate reduced factorial design (RFD) (2^7–3) with either high (+1) or low (–1) level (within limits of toxicity and requirement) of each of the seven dietary variables. Lipid class and fatty acid (FA) composition was analysed in retina, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). Further FA composition was analysed in fillet, liver and plasma. High dietary lipid increased growth, feed efficiency, fillet lipid level and the amount of LDL and HDL in plasma, whereas high dietary copper and high dietary vitamin E decreased the amount of plasma LDL. High dietary vitamin E decreased the amount of lipid and protein in LDL, whereas high dietary lipid increased cholesterol and cholesterol ester levels in plasma and HDL and the amount of lipid in LDL. Dietary astaxanthin and manganese affected retina PE levels. The FA composition did not differ significantly between the 16 diets. Dietary FA composition was reflected in fillet FA composition and gradually less in VLDL, LDL, HDL, plasma, liver and retina FA composition. Dietary lipid content influenced FA composition to some extent in the analysed tissues, i.e. generally high dietary lipid content led to a decreased relative amount of saturated and monoene fatty acids and an increase of the relative amount of polyene fatty acids.     

Dietary vitamin C,immunity and disease resistance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Presmolt Atlantic salmon were fed a fish meal based experimental diet supplemented with graded levels of ascorbate-2-monophosphate (AP), equivalent to 40, 400, 2000 and 4000 mg ascorbic acid (AA)/kg for 6 months prior to a bacterial challenge experiment. The liver AA concentration reflected the dietary intake of AP, but not linearly. Growth, hematology and acid phosphatase activity in zymosan stimulated macrophages were not affected by dietary AP. Serum hemolytic complement activity was higher in fish fed the highest AP level, but the variation was not significant. Production of specific antibodies was significantly higher in fish fed the highest AP level 11 and 17 weeks after vaccination. Bacterial challenge with Aeromonas salmonicida showed increased survival in the 4000 AP group. Lysozyme activity in headkidney and serum complement activity and serum iron in fish surviving the challenge were higher in the 4000 AP group, indicating important roles of vitamin C on lysozyme, complement and iron in non-specific disease resistance. The results indicate that high dietary levels of AP favourably affect health in Atlantic salmon. Disease resistance was, however, not correlated with the AA status in the liver.     

Growth and survival of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., fed different dietary levels of astaxanthin. First-feeding fry

Atlantic salmon fry hatched from pigment-free eggs and from eggs containing the pigment astaxanthin were fed eleven casein/gelatine-based purified diets with varying levels of astaxanthin, ranging from 0 to 317 mg kg^?1, to determine the optimum dietary astaxanthin level for satisfactory growth and survival during the start-feeding period. The fish were fed the experimental diets for a period of 11 weeks. No difference in performance was found between the two types of fry originating from the pigment-free eggs and those containing pigment. However, the dietary astaxanthin concentration was found to have a significant effect on both the growth and the survival of fry. Fish fed diets with astaxanthin concentrations below 5.3 mg kg^?1 were found to have marginal growth. In addition, mortality was high in the groups fed diets with astaxanthin concentrations below 1.0 mg kg^?1. The specific growth rate (SGR) was also affected by the dietary treatment. The lipid content was higher and the moisture content was lower in the fish fed the diets containing astaxanthin concentrations above 5.3 mg kg^?1. The vitamin A and astaxanthin concentrations in whole-body samples of the fry were significantly affected by the dietary level of astaxanthin. A plateau level in whole-body vitamin A concentration was observed at dietary levels of approximately 80 mg astaxanthin kg^?1 and higher, while no maximum astaxanthin concentration in whole-body samples was observed within the dietary levels used. The results suggest the need for a minimum dietary astaxanthin concentration of 5.1 mg kg^?1 to achieve maximum growth and survival during the start-feeding period. The results indicate a low bioavailability of vitamin A palmitate and acetate and the results also suggest a provitamin A function for astaxanthin during the same period.     

Nutritional status assessed in groups off smolting Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., developing cataracts

There has been an increasing number of reports on cataracts in Norwegian and international salmon farming. The present study was undertaken to examine physiological and nutritional conditions during an outbreak of cataracts observed in rapidly growing Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolt with emphasis on zinc status. During this study, the cataracts were classified as irreversible. The outbreak of cataracts was positively related to fish growth and negatively related to the condition factor of the fish. Zinc concentrations in liver, eye and plasma were recorded in fish with cataract and in healthy fish from December to May. Lower zinc status (around 20%) was found in fish with cataracts compared to healthy fish, both over time and with regard to severity of the cataract. The decline in organ zinc concentrations seems to be explained by increased relative liver size, lower dry matters in liver and eye, and lower plasma protein. From the present data, the incidence of cataracts could not be directly related to zinc or any of the other nutrients (vitamin A, iron) examined, although relative deficiencies caused by other unknown rearing factors cannot be excluded. The lower condition factor and differences in organ water composition in fish with cataracts indicate that the cataracts may be related to the smoltification processes. Smoltification in the fish population was most probably accelerated by elevated water temperatures.     

Astaxanthin deposition in the flesh of Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar L., in relation to dietary astaxanthin concentration and feeding period

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were fed nine experimental diets containing from 0 to 200 mg astaxanthin per kg^?1 for six time periods, ranging from 3 to 21 months, in sea cages at Matre Aquaculture Research Station, Matredal, Norway. The sampled fish had an initial mean weight of 115 g and reached a weight of 3.2 kg at the termination of the experiment. Every third month, 10 fish from each dose and time group were sampled and the astaxanthin concentration in the flesh determined. The amount of astaxanthin in the flesh ranged from 0.7 to 8.9 mg kg^?1 at the termination of the experiment. This paper discusses deposition of astaxanthin in the flesh of Atlantic salmon in relation to dietary carotenoid levels in the 0–200 mg kg^?1 range and feeding times of 3–21 months. Under the conditions of this experiment, no significant effect on astaxanthin deposition rate could be achieved by increasing the astaxanthin level above 60 mg kg dry feed^?1. Atlantic salmon should be fed astaxanthin-supplemented diets during the whole seawater stage in order to obtain maximal astaxanthin level in the flesh.     

Adult triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) have higher dietary histidine requirements to prevent cataract development in seawater

The study investigated cataract preventive effects of dietary histidine (His) supplementation in triploid Atlantic salmon during seawater grow‐out. Groups of individually PIT tagged diploid (2N) and triploid (3N) postsmolts were fed one of two supplemented dietary histidine levels; low (L, 12.6 g kg^?1 diet) or high (H, 17.4 g kg^?1 diet) from March to September following their first sea winter. Low severity cataracts were detected in both ploidy prior to supplemented His diet application. Thereafter, 3N‐L showed progression of cataract development in the second spring‐summer period, while development was inhibited in 3N‐H. Severity of cataract showed a strong family effect. A positive correlation between initial triploid seawater growth (weight and TGC) under increasing water temperature and cataract severity was identified as a major risk factor. The relationship was reversed at harvest, where triploids were on average 7.5% smaller than their diploid siblings. Lens N‐acetyl‐histidine content reflected dietary His inclusion level and cataract severity, although no significant differences in lens His content were evident between ploidy or dietary groups. Results indicate that triploid Atlantic salmon appear to have a higher dietary histidine requirement than diploids and that preventative measures can be taken to mitigate further cataract development.     

Growth and survival of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. fed different dietary levels of astaxanthin. Juveniles

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., juveniles, with a mean initial weight of 1.75 g, were fed casein-based purified diets which had been supplemented with different levels of astaxanthin for a 10-week period. The astaxanthin content of the diets ranged from 0 to 190 mg kg^?1 dry diet. The growth and survival of the juveniles were recorded throughout the experiment. The proximate composition, astaxanthin and vitamin A content were determined from whole-body samples at the start and termination of the experiment. The dietary treatment was found to affect growth significantly (P < 0.05). A reduction in the mean weight of the juveniles was observed in the groups fed the diets without astaxanthin supplementation. There was no difference in growth rate between the fish in the groups fed the diets containing 36 or 190 mg astaxanthin kg^?1 dry diet, whereas the fish in the group fed the diet containing 5.3 mg astaxanthin kg^?1 dry diet had a lower growth rate. There was a tendency to higher survival in the groups fed the diets containing astaxanthin when compared with the groups fed the non-supplemented diets. The moisture and ash contents were significantly lower and the lipid content was higher in the groups fed the astaxanthin-supplemented diets. The astaxanthin and the vitamin A concentrations in the fish were found to be dependent upon the dietary astaxanthin dose; the highest values were found in the fish fed the diet with the highest astaxanthin content. These results strongly indicate that astaxanthin functions as a provitamin A for juvenile Atlantic salmon. The body storage of vitamin A increased in the fish fed the diets containing astaxanthin. However, the increase was low in the fish fed the diet containing 5.3 mg astaxanthin kg^?1 dry diet.     

Effects of dietary vitamin C on growth and parr-smolt transformation in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr were fed fish meal based pelleted diets supplemented with graded levels of ascorbate-2-monophosphate (AP), equivalent to 0, 20, 60 and 1000 mg ascorbic acid (AA) kg”¹ throughout smoltification on a continuous light regime from February to June. No differences were observed in growth rate and body length distribution between the dietary regimes. The condition factor and the hepatosomatic index were somewhat elevated in fish fed no vitamin C throughout the smoltification, which can reflect changes in lipid metabolism in fish with suboptimal vitamin C nutrition. Sea water challenge tests (exposure to sea water with salinity of 34 gL^?1 and ambient temperature for 24 h) performed monthly did not reveal differences attributed to the vitamin C status, as measured by mortality, serum chloride and cortisol concentrations, haematological parameters and liver and head kidney ascorbate concentrations after 24 h. Elevated serum cortisol concentrations most probably reflected stress in the challenge tests, and some lower concentrations in fish fed high vitamin C levels may indicate a certain stress-ameliorating effect. The present results do not, however, support the anticipation of increased requirement of dietary vitamin C above the minimum requirement during smoltification in Atlantic salmon.     

Water temperature regimes affect cataract development in smolting Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

The effect of fluctuation in water temperature during the freshwater rearing stage on cataract development in Atlantic salmon was investigated. Presmolts were exposed to either constant low or high temperatures, or high temperature with cold-water fluctuations. Temperature fluctuations caused the fastest growth rate and most severe cataracts, whilst low temperature resulted in slow growth and minor cataracts. The fish were then individually marked and maintained together in a seawater net pen for 7 months. Cataract progressed in all groups, fish from the low temperature group showed the fastest subsequent growth, and developed cataracts to the same degree as fish from the other groups. There were no statistically significant differences in selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase levels in pooled samples of aqueous humour, lens and plasma from fish with or without cataract, except from the last freshwater samples, where cataractous fish showed lower plasma activity. Plasma cortisol and glucose levels did not differ, nor did whole eye riboflavin levels. Higher concentrations of some free amino acids in whole eyes were found in fish with cataract. This study shows that fluctuation in water temperature may cause both increased growth rate and cataract development in Atlantic salmon and that cataract development initiated in the freshwater rearing phase continues after transfers to seawater.     

The need for riboflavin supplementation in high and low energy diets for Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. parr

A two-factor study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary riboflavin and lipid levels on the growth, health performance and riboflavin status of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). Atlantic salmon parr were fed four fishmeal-based diets with or without supplementation of 20 mg riboflavin kg^–1, at two lipid levels, 150 or 300 g kg^–1. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks of fish for 12 weeks. Unsupplemented diets contained between 6 and 8 mg riboflavin kg^–1. There were no significant differences in growth as a result of riboflavin supplementation. No mortality or histomorphological changes in eye tissues were observed. Dietary treatments did not affect blood haemoglobin values. After 12 weeks, muscle lipid content seemed to be reduced by riboflavin supplementation irrespective of dietary lipid level. Riboflavin status of whole body, muscle, liver, kidney and eye lenses is reported. Saturation levels of riboflavin in liver and muscle were reached with unsupplemented diets. The concentrations of riboflavin and lipid in liver were negatively correlated. There was a tendency of higher whole body riboflavin concentration in fish fed high-lipid diets. Based on growth, absence of deficiency signs and maximal tissue saturation of riboflavin, it can be concluded that the requirement for riboflavin was met by the natural riboflavin content in the raw materials of the feed. However, independent of dietary lipid level, dietary riboflavin supplementation may increase lipid utilization in rapidly growing salmon parr.     

Effect of astaxanthin and vitamin A on growth and survival during first feeding of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Abstract. The interactions of astaxanthin and vitamin A on the growth and survival of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., during the first-feeding period were examined using semi-purified diets. Alevins, with a mean initial weight of 0.18g, were fed diets supplemented with 0, 20 and 40 mg astaxanthin/kg dry diet and 0, 750 and 1500 μg vitamin A/kg dry diet for 20 weeks. The weights of the fish were recorded throughout the experimental period and carcasses were collected for proximate composition, vitamin A and astaxanthin analyses at the beginning and end of the experiment. The feeds were analysed for proximate composition, vitamin A and astaxanthin levels.
No interaction between astaxanthin and vitamin A was found in relation to the growth, survival or vitamin A content of the fry. Astaxanthin was found to strongly influence the growth, survival and vitamin A concentration in the fish. Poor growth and low survival rates were observed in groups fed diets without astaxanthin, including the group fed a diet with sufficient vitamin A. The results indicate both a provitamin A function of astaxanthin and a specific function of astaxanthin. Astaxanthin was found to be essential to alevins during the first-feeding period.     

Histidine nutrition and genotype affect cataract development in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of dietary levels of histidine (His) and iron (Fe) on cataract development in two strains of Atlantic salmon monitored through parr-smolt transformation. Three experimental diets were fed: (i) a control diet (CD) with 110 mg kg(-1) Fe and 11.7 g kg(-1) His; (ii) CD supplemented with crystalline His to a level of 18 g kg(-1) (HD); and (iii) HD with added iron up to 220 mg kg(-1) (HID). A cross-over design, with two feeding periods was used. A 6-week freshwater (FW) period was followed by a 20-week period, of which the first three were in FW and the following 17 weeks in sea water (SW). Fish were sampled for weighing, cataract assessment and tissue analysis at five time points. Cataracts developed in all groups in SW, but scores were lower in those fed high His diets (P < 0.05). This effect was most pronounced when HD or HID was given in SW, but was also observed when these diets were given in FW only. Histidine supplementation had a positive effect on growth performance and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), whereas this did not occur when iron was added. Groups fed HD or HID had higher lens levels of His and N-acetyl histidine (NAH), the latter showing a marked increase post-smoltification (P < 0.05). The HD or HID groups also showed higher muscle concentrations of the His dipeptide anserine (P < 0.05). There was a strong genetic influence on cataract development in the CD groups (P < 0.001), not associated with tissue levels of His or NAH. The role of His and His-related compounds in cataractogenesis is discussed in relation to tissue buffering, osmoregulation and antioxidation.     

Dorsal aorta cannulation: a method to monitor changes in blood levels of astaxanthin in voluntarily feeding Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

This study was undertaken to assess dorsal aorta cannulation as a method to evaluate alterations in diet composition and feeding protocol on pigment retention in salmonid fish. Temporal changes in blood astaxanthin concentrations of dorsal aortacannulated Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were followed in relation to variations in dietary pigment concentration and fish-feeding husbandry protocol. The fish were held individually in 200-L fibreglass tanks supplied with running sea water. Each fish was forced to swim at 0.5 body lengths s^?1 and was fed daily by hand to satiation. The fish had an average growth rate of 1% day^?1. Blood astaxanthin concentrations were noted to be highly correlated (r= 0.995) with dietary levels of astaxanthin, but not as well correlated (r= 0.71) with total gut content of this pigment. Marked variations in blood astaxanthin concentration were noted between individual fish at each dietary pigment concentration, but the ranking of the fish was generally unaffected between each dietary pigment level. After cessation of feeding a diet supplemented with 75 mg of astaxanthin kg^?1, salmon fed a diet with no pigment showed more-rapid blood pigment clearance than those that were starved. Likely, feed remaining in the alimentary tract of the starved fish functioned as a reservoir of pigment for the blood until the intestinal tract was empty. Blood pigment levels were not depressed in salmon fed a diet supplemented with 75 mg of astaxanthin kg^?1 once daily instead of twice daily.     

An estimation of dietary iron requirement of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr

A study was conducted to determine the dietary iron requirement of fingerling Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. During the first 4 weeks of the experiment, fish with an initial weight of 5 g were fed a casein–gelatine-based purified diet which contained 11 mg iron kg^?1. Thereafter duplicate tanks (200 fish in each) were fed the casein–gelatine purified diets containing supplemental iron levels of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 100, 200 or 400 mg iron kg^?1 (added as FeSO_?4* 7H₂O) for 12 weeks. Weight gain, body length and mortality were monitored. Liver iron and ascorbic acid concentration were analysed in addition to whole-body iron, manganese and zinc concentration. Several haematological parameters were also measured. There were no significant differences in weight gain and survival of salmon fed diets containing different iron levels. Haematological values, hepatic and whole-body iron concentrations were, however, significantly affected by the dietary iron content. Liver vitamin C concentration decreased with increasing dietary iron levels. Dietary supplementation with iron significantly reduced whole-body manganese, but no effect of dietary iron on whole-body zinc was found. Based on haematology and hepatic iron concentration, the iron requirement of Atlantic salmon was determined to be between 60 and 100 mg iron kg¹.     

A multivariate study on the effects of dietary vitamin K, vitamin D3 and calcium, and dissolved carbon dioxide on growth, bone minerals, vitamin status and health performance in smolting Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.

Bone deformities represent an increasing, unsolved problem for intensive farming of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. To increase insight into nutritional and environmental impacts on bone mineralization, 16 groups of Atlantic salmon parr were fed diets with different levels of menadione sodium bisulphite (MSB), vitamin D₃, and calcium (Ca), and exposed to different levels of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂) based on a multivariate factorial design (2⁴). The composition of the experimental diets was either a high or low level of each of the design variables. In addition, four groups (centre points) were fed a diet with intermediate levels of all dietary parameters and exposed to an intermediate level of dissolved CO₂ to record the variation among tanks. After 6 weeks in fresh water, fish were marked according to group, transferred to a common net pen in sea water and fed commercial feed for another 11 weeks. High levels of CO₂ decreased fish growth both in fresh water and sea water. No visible bone deformities were recorded at any time. Dry matter, protein and ash compositions of bone and concentrations of Ca, phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) in bone were not significantly affected by any of the design variables. Minor effects were observed in clinical parameters recording health performance, stress and plasma Ca homeostasis. The mean level of vitamin D₃ measured as cholecalciferol in fish organs increased significantly during the freshwater period and reflected dietary vitamin D₃, whereas the level decreased when fish were fed commercial feed in sea water. The level of menaquinone in liver increased significantly in response to high dietary levels of MSB, indicating that dietary MSB was converted to menaquinone in salmon.     

Control of bacterial kidney disease in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., by dietary modification

Abstract. The effects of dietary treatments were investigated as a prophylactic measure to minimize the occurrence and severity of bacterial kidney disease (BKD) infections in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., at Margaree Fish Culture Station, Nova Scotia, Canada. Six diets containing various levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, cobalt and iodine in addition to one commercial diet were fed to post–yearling Atlantic salmon in two consecutive experiments. Natural infection was utilized to examine the effects of each diet on the prevalence of BKD. Diet containing high levels of iodine (4.5 mg/kg feed) and fluorine (4.5 mg/kg) reduced BKD prevalence rate to 3% and 5% respectively compared to 95% and 38% with commercial feed. Some other experimental diets also reduced prevalence of BKD, but to a lesser degree than the diet with additional iodine and fluorine.     

Ascorbate-2-sulfate as a dietary vitamin C source for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): 2. Effects of dietary levels and immunization on the metabolism of trace elements

Atlantic salmon fingerlings were fed a vitamin C deficient diet for four months. The fish were then provided a dry, practical fishmeal based diet supplemented with 0, 500 or 5000 mg vitamin C/kg as L-ascorbic acid or equivalent amounts of ascorbate-2-sulfate. After six weeks on these diets ten fish in each group were injected with a soluble antigen (NIP₁₁-LPH). Six weeks thereafter blood, liver, kidney, spleen and vertebrae were examined for trace elements. The livers were also analysed for metallothionein. The vitamin C deficient fish were anemic despite the significantly elevated iron concentrations in the liver. Vitamin C had no positive effect in lowering tissue levels of cadmium. The highest level of dietary vitamin C given as ascorbic acid reduced the liver selenium concentrations. In response to antigen injection, the fish in all groups showed increased levels of hepatic metallothionein, copper, zinc and cadmium, while hepatic selenium and iron levels were less affected. The elemental composition in other organs was affected by the antigen injection to a minor extent.     

Modeling optimal dietary pigmentation strategies in farmed Atlantic salmon: Application of mixed-integer non-linear mathematical programming techniques

The most important visual quality characteristic of Atlantic salmon is the red/pink flesh color. The primary source of this coloration in salmon is caused by deposition of relatively large amounts of pigments, such as astaxanthin, obtained from their diet. Astaxanthin is expensive, and in commercial farming practice, dietary color pigments comprises about 15-20% of the total feed cost. One important operational process in commercial fish farms is therefore to minimize pigment costs. Based on recent models on the effects of dietary pigment concentration and fish size on visual color perception of Atlantic salmon, this study has built a mathematical programming model designed to optimize dietary astaxanthin concentrations throughout the grow-out period that results in well-pigmented fish at minimum cost. We have applied a mixed-integer non-linear programming algorithm to solve this problem. Various managerial implications of applying optimization models in product quality management of farmed salmon are discussed.     

Dietary menadione nicotinamide bisulphite (vitamin K3) does not affect growth or bone health in first-feeding fry of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

The aim of the present study was to elucidate if increasing levels of added vitamin K in the feed influenced fish growth, health or the incidences of bone deformities in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) from onset of start feeding to ∼100 g in freshwater. Duplicate groups of Atlantic salmon fry (∼0.20 g) were fed eight levels (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20 and 50 mg menadione kg⁻¹) of the vitamin K derivate menadione nicotinamide bisulphite (MNB) in a regression design for 28 weeks. All fish maintained high growth rates throughout the experiment, and showed no significant differences in specific growth rate, condition factor, whole body proximate analysis, blood coagulation time, vertebra morphology or mechanical properties of vertebrae. We found a dose-response between whole body vitamin K concentration and the dietary MNB supplementation level. Analysis of liver γ-glutamylcarboxylase activity revealed significant dose-dependent differences between groups given the 0, 10 and 50 mg MNB kg⁻¹ diets. In conclusion, Atlantic salmon seems to require low levels of dietary vitamin K, and the amount of vitamin K found naturally in the presently used feed ingredients may be enough to maintain optimal growth, health and bone strength in Atlantic salmon fry from start feeding.