title: Replacement of fish oil with sunflower oil in feeds for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.): effect on growth performance, tissue fatty acid composition and disease resistance.
abstract: Dietary sunflower oil (SFO) was used to gradually replace fish oil (FO) in six diets (which also contained fish meal) for Atlantic salmon parr (initial mass: 21.7 g). The effect on growth performance, tissue fatty acid profiles and disease resistance was monitored after 63 days. At the conclusion of the trial, no significant differences were detected in growth between any of the feeds. Fatty acid composition of whole carcass, dorsal muscle and liver generally reflected that of the diets. Forty percent of the FO could be replaced by SFO before tissue 22:6n-3 was significantly reduced, although other essential and non-essential fatty acids were more susceptible to change. Significant differences were detected in cumulative mortality of Atlantic salmon challenged with Vibrio anguillarum at the trials conclusion, although this was not correlated to the inclusion level of SFO. Despite the changes observed to the tissue fatty acid profile, there was no significant effect on growth suggesting that SFO is a suitable alternative to FO in diets for Atlantic salmon parr when fish meal is also included.
authors.affiliation: Marine Research Laboratories, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, TAFI-MRL, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia. matthew.bransden@utas.edu.au
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bransden
authors.forename: Chris G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D004032:Diet; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074242:Sunflower Oil