Phosphorus nutrition in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) : life stage and temperature effects on bone pathologies

• Published in: Aquaculture
• Main Authors: Fraser, Thomas WK, Witten, Paul Eckhard, Albrektsen, Sissel, Breck, Olav, Fontanillas, Ramon, Nankervis, Leo, Thomsen, Tårn Helgøy, Koppe, Wolfgang, Sambraus, Florian, Fjelldal, Per Gunnar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Fillet damage; Mineralization; Vertebral fusion; X-ray; DIETARY PHOSPHORUS; VERTEBRAL DEFORMITIES; WATER TEMPERATURE; BY-PRODUCTS; L; GROWTH; FISH; REQUIREMENT; PERFORMANCE; MATURATION; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8645931; http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8645931; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.734246; https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8645931/file/8646007

Bone health is important for a viable and ethically sound Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry. Two important risk factors for vertebral deformities are dietary phosphorus and water temperature. Here, we explore the interplay between these two factors during a full production of Atlantic salmon. Salmon were fed one of three diets (low 4.4-5.0 g kg(-1), medium 7.1-7.6 g kg(-1), or high 9.0-9.7 g kg(-1) soluble phosphorus) from 3 to 500 g body weight, followed by a common diet of 7.3 g kg(-1) soluble phosphorus until harvest size at 4 kg. Additional groups were included to investigate the effects of water temperatures of 10 vs 16 degrees C (low and high diets only) and the switching of dietary phosphorus levels (from low to medium or high, from medium to low or high, from high to low or medium), starting at seawater transfer (similar to 100 g body weight) and lasting for 4 months (similar to 500 g body weight). During the experimental feeding period, the low phosphorus diet caused reduced bone mineralization and stiffness and a greater prevalence of vertebral deformities, compared to the medium and high phosphorus diets. However, the prevalence of severely deformed fish at harvest was reduced by switching from the low to either the medium or high phosphorus diets for 4 months after seawater transfer, followed by rearing on the standard commercial feed. Concurrently, switching from either the medium or high to a low phosphorus diet for the same period following seawater transfer had no effect on vertebral deformities at harvest. The higher water temperature for 4 months following seawater transfer increased the severity of deformities at harvest, irrespective of dietary phosphorus. Finally, low dietary phosphorus was associated with increased fillet damage, due to ectopic connective tissue around the spine, at harvest. In conclusion, dietary phosphorus levels of 5 g kg(-1) for the initial 4 months in seawater are more of a risk factor for vertebral pathologies if preceded by low, but not medium or high, dietary ...