Utilization of hydrolysed potato starch by juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., when using a restricted feeding regime

Summary

A 56-day growth trial was conducted to study the utilization of hydrolysed potato starch by juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. using a restricted feeding regime. Two diets supplemented with either 15% or 30% hydrolysed potato starch and a control diet without carbohydrate supplementation were each fed to triplicate groups of salmon. Feeding rate varied from 1.4% to 2.0% of body weight per day, so that fish were fed similar amounts of protein and lipid. In spite of the restricted feeding used. no growth stimulation was measured as a consequence of the additional starch intake. No variation was found in protein utilization, measured as protein efficiency ratio values (PER), while feed utilization showed decreased values as starch intake increased. Plasma glucose concentrations did not vary as a consequence of increased starch intake when measured 24h after feeding, indicating efficient regulation of plasma glucose. In fish fed the 30% starch, the plasma triacylglycerol concentration was significantly increased, which map point to de novo lipid synthesis from the high starch intake, No variation was found in plasma cholesterol or protein concentrations, or asparagine aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. This shows that the fish health status and liver function were normal (no mortality was registered). Liver and muscle showed increased glycogen levels as a function of increased starch intake. The same diets were also fed to juvenile white sturgeon Acipencer transmontanus and hybrid tilapia Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus. These results are presented separately.