| Summary: | During a 97-day winter period, six duplicated groups of 81 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) were fed to satiation 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or every day (D2, D3, D4, D5, D6 and D7(control)) throughout the working week with the purpose of investigating production efficiency, health and quality parameters. The body weights showed a linear increase corresponding with the number of feeding days until day 5. The significantly highest TGC was observed for D5 and D6 (2.1-2.2) and lowest for D2 and D3 (0.7-0.8). The FCR was significantly lower for D2 and D3 (1.6-1.8) compared with D4, D5, D6 and D7 (1.0-1.2). The frequency of the feeding produced two significantly different fillet weight groups, analogous to increasing feeding days per week up to day 4. Registration of production efficiency and health parameters took place at the sampling, while quality measurements followed 6 days after. Weekdays of feeding had no significant impact on fillet fat content, post-rigor pH or slaughter yield. Furthermore, somatic-indexes expressed no significant influence for the feeding regime treatment, which applies also for the melanin in abdominal wall and gut health parameters. In summary, this study suggests a restricted feeding regime as an effective tool in obtaining a healthy Atlantic salmon of good quality and desirable growth during the winter season. The Norwegian Center of Expertise M-AA
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