High dietary lipids elevate carbon loss without sparing protein in adequate protein-fed juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima)

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of dietary lipid levels on growth and nutrient utilization, and carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balances in juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima) in brackish water. Four isonitrogenous diets (50 % protein) differing in dietary lipid levels from 10 to 19 by 3 % increments (named 10L, 13L, 16L and 19L, respectively) were fed to four replicate groups of fish with an initial weight of 54.4 ± 0.2 g for 9 weeks. Significantly better growth and feed conversion ratio were observed in fish fed 13L than those fed 16L and 19L. The whole body, fillet, viscera and liver dry matter and lipid levels were increased as dietary lipid was increased. Liver protein levels were lower in 16L and 19L than 10L. There was an ascending pattern in the whole-body C levels and C/N ratios with the increase in dietary lipids. No significant effect of dietary lipids on either protein efficiency ratio or N and P retentions was detected. Dietary lipids led to an increase in C losses to the environment. Overall, high dietary lipids when introduced at an adequate protein level did reduce growth and feed utilization without a protein-sparing effect and resulted in higher C losses in juvenile turbot reared, and a dietary lipid level of about 13 % seemed to be optimum.