Enhancing highly unsaturated ω-3 fatty acids in phase-fed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using Alaskan fish oils

Abstract

Rainbow trout, average weight 185–187 g, were fed feeds containing menhaden oil, canola oil or fish oils (pollock, pink salmon or rockfish) produced from Alaskan seafood processing waste as the added oil for 8 weeks, at which time the fish weighed 391–411 g (average 404 g, pooled SE = 5.7). The fish were previously fed from 75 g average weight fed commercial feed containing poultry oil as the added oil. No significant differences were measured in final weight or feed conversion ratio among dietary treatment groups. Significant differences were found in fillet ω-3 fatty acid (FA) levels from fish receiving fish oil-supplemented feeds compared to those from fish receiving feeds containing canola oil. Fillet contents of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5ω3) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6ω3) were highest in the pollock oil treatment group, although all fish oils increased highly unsaturated ω-3 FA contents (mg 100 g−1) of fillets. Fish oil used through the production cycle was reduced by 25% by supplementing feeds with poultry oil during the middle phase of production (75–175 g) compared to using feeds containing fish oil throughout the production cycle. Fish oils recovered from Alaskan seafood processing waste were suitable alternatives to conventional fish oil as ingredients in rainbow trout production feeds.