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Abstract
The main objective of this field experiment was to investigate whether ration level affected utilization of carotenoids, macronutrients, and minerals in 1,300 g Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during rapid growth. Salmon fed ration levels of either 1.2% or 0.6% of biomass of a commercial diet supplemented with astaxanthin and canthaxanthin (37 and 39 mg kg−1, respectively) in two consecutive 6-day feeding periods had carotenoid digestibility coefficients of 11.8% and 32.1% at the high and low feed rations, respectively. Thus, low carotenoid digestibility, but good macronutrient digestibility, may explain poor pigmentation and good feed conversion in rapidly growing salmon. Practical implications are illustrated.
EWOS financially supported the feeding trial. We would like to thank the laboratory personnel at Nofima AS for analyses of proximate composition and carotenoids. Dr. Bjørn Bjerkeng was supported by a grant funded by the Norwegian Research Council (Carotenoid metabolism in farmed fish, grant no. 122827/122). Dr. Trine Ytrestøyl was supported by a grant funded by the Norwegian Research Council (Uptake and metabolism of carotenoids in salmonid fishes, grant no. 142008/120).
