Factors affecting feed intake, aggression, growth and condition around transfer to sea in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) ...

• Main Author: Flood, MJ
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23233193; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Factors_affecting_feed_intake_aggression_growth_and_condition_around_transfer_to_sea_in_Atlantic_salmon_Salmo_salar_/23233193

Atlantic salmon is an anadromous species undergoing smoltification to adapt to the seawater environment. In aquaculture despite being fully smolted when transferred from freshwater hatcheries to sea cages, feed intake is suppressed, sometimes for long periods of time. Farms try to ensure salmon recommence feeding rapidly to reduce loss of condition which may lead to pinheading. The current research aimed to better define the term pinheading and examine factors effecting feed intake, aggression, growth performance, condition and nutritional status of fish around seawater transfer. Pinheads and non-pinheads from a commercial farm were compared. All pinheads had condition factors ‚Äöv¢¬ß0.865. Pinheads had significantly (p<0.05) lower body weight, fork length, condition factor, visceral fat ratios, dry matter, total lipid and gross energy and significantly higher ash than non-pinheads, all indicating decreased condition. There was no significant difference in crude protein, osmolality, or digestive ability ...