Growth, flesh adiposity and fatty acid composition of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) families with contrasting flesh adiposity: effects of replacement of dietary fish oil with vegetable oils

Published source details Bell J.G., Pratoomyot J., Strachan F., Henderson R.J., Fontanillas R., Hebard A., Guy D.R., Hunter D. & Tocher D.R. (2010) Growth, flesh adiposity and fatty acid composition of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) families with contrasting flesh adiposity: effects of replacement of dietary fish oil with vegetable oils. Aquaculture, 306, 225-232.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use an alternative oil source: plant-based Action Link

Use an alternative oil source: plant-based

In 2010, a replicated study in Norway (Bell et al., 2010) found that salmon, Salmo salar, with different breed characteristics (fat and lean flesh) had different growth rates and flesh lipid content from each other and the control group, dependant on whether they were fed fish or vegetable oil diets. Growth rates ranged from 0.89 in the fat group fed the 100% vegetable oil diet to 1.01 in the control group fed the same diet. Flesh lipid levels were in the order fat>control>lean in diets containing 100% fish oil and fat=lean>control in diets containing 100% vegetable oil. It was calculated that a 140g portion of fish oil-fed salmon would provide 63–76% of the recommended weekly human intake of n-3 PUFA, while the vegetable oil-fed salmon would provide 46–61% of this value. Over 55 weeks, three groups of trait-bred salmon smolts were grown on diets with reduced fish meal that contained either 100% fish oil or vegetable oil (comprised of rapeseed, palm and Camelina oils in a ratio of 5:3:2). After a 15 week finishing diet, flesh lipid content was analysed. Growth rates were also measured over the course of the study.