Effects of dietary phospholipids on early stage Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) performance: A comparison among phospholipid sources

Abstract

The present study aimed to confirm that additional phospholipids are needed in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) fry diet for optimal performance. Furthermore, comparisons were made among soy lecithin and two marine-based phospholipids- krill oil and marine phospholipids extracted from fishmeal. First feeding salmon juveniles had significantly reduced mortality and increased growth when marine-based phospholipids (both krill and fish-sourced) were supplemented to high fishmeal diets (baseline control diet and a low phospholipid control diet). Fish fed diets with added soy lecithin had lower but not significantly different growth rates compared to fish fed diets supplemented with marine-based phospholipids, however, growth was also not significantly different than the baseline control. Thirty days after first feeding, differences in growth were no longer significant among supplemented diets and the control diet. However, both survival and growth for the low phospholipid baseline control remained poor, indicating a lowered but still present requirement for dietary phospholipids at this stage. Results show marine-based phospholipids, despite original source (fish versus krill), perform similarly, while soy lecithin has a tendency to perform slightly lower in the first-feeding juvenile stage. Marine-based ingredients are sustainable, but limited; therefore, it is important that many numerous, effective ingredient sources are available for the aquaculture industry.