Causes of variation in carcass traits of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to reveal causes of variation in carcass traits of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). During slaughtering of one year class Atlantic salmon, composed of half sib and full sib groups, samples for determination of carotenoid levels in flesh and ovaries were collected. Also the hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indexes as well as relative visceral fat content were determined. As expected it was found that these traits were influenced by several factors. The material is too limited for firm conclusions, but evidently the carotenoid level depends largely on stage of maturity and possibly also on genetic factors. Genetic factors seem to influence the visceral fat content. In hepatosomatic and visceral indexes, and possibly in visceral fat content, a strange and still unexplained interaction between sex and stage of maturation was observed.