Transporting live silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) with salt addition does not mitigate fish stress and negatively affects meat quality

Sheron Scholze Rosa,Fabiano Bendhack,Ananda Leticia Almeida Cordeiro,Aline Fernanda Lopes Paschoal,Ana Paula Baldan,Renata Ernlund Freitas Macedo,Peter Gaberz Kirschnik,Tâmara Duarte Borges

doi:10.1590/fst.23318

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of NaCl added to water during silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) transportation on stress and meat quality. Physiological indicators of stress (cortisol, glucose, circulating ions and liver glycogen) and meat quality parameters (rigor mortis, pH, instrumental color, psychotropic aerobic count and sensory analysis) were assessed. Adult silver catfish (n=380) were distributed in four experimental groups: T1: non-transported; T2: transported without NaCl water addition; T3: transported with 8.0-g NaCl L–1 water addition; T4: transported with 12.0-g NaCl L–1 water addition. The addition of NaCl was not effective at reducing blood cortisol in silver catfish (P>0.05). An osmotic imbalance was detected as an increase in sodium and calcium levels in the NaCl treatment groups. The 12.0-g NaCl L–1 treatment showed rigor mortis evolution in lesser time than the other treatments, and also presented redder meat color. The NaCl addition in transport water do not mitigate the stress in silver catfish, and in high concentrations (12.0-g L–1) was unfavorable for the homeostasis of fish and have negatively affected its meat quality.

Highlights

Among the native species, silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) is noteworthy in Brazil
Water quality parameters were satisfactory to the silver catfish species during all experimental period
The pH of the water in the earth pond was numerically higher than those of transport units, pH of water is considered normal for the region where the Laboratory of Fish Farming Research is located (Carneiro & Mikos, 2005) and did not affect the growth of catfish (Copatti et al, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) is noteworthy in Brazil This catfish is of South American origin (Pereira et al, 2006) and has characteristics that favor its use for farming, which include high resistance, docility and adaptability to various diets and different cultivation systems. The addition of sodium chloride (NaCl) in transport water has shown positive effects in neotropical species such as matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus) (Carneiro & Ubinati, 2001) and tambaqui (Colossoma macropoun) (Gomes et al, 2003) This procedure helps to maintain the osmoregulatory balance of the fish and NaCl acts prophylactically and stimulates the secretion of mucus from the branchial epithelium (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1986; McDonald & Milligan, 1997)

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Conclusion