Feed utilisation in Atlantic salmon kept at fluctuating oxygen saturation. A CREATE project

Abstract

Atlantic salmon (initial weight 383 g) was kept at either stable oxygen saturation (>80%, control) or exposed to four daily drops in oxygen saturation to 70, 60 or 50% in a 68-days experiment. The fish was fed twice daily during normoxic (>80% oxygen saturation) periods. At termination of the trial, the feed intake and growth was significantly correlated to oxygen saturation during the hypoxic periods, and the SGR ranged from 1.16 (70% group) to 0.99 (50% group), and the range of TGC was from 1.97 (control and 70% groups) to 1.67 (50% group). Treatment did not significantly affect FER, apparent digestibility of macronutrients or retention of these. The growth was suboptimal in the trial, probably due to sexual maturation that was observed.

Feed utilisation in Atlantic salmon kept at fluctuating oxygen saturation. A CREATE project