Swimming Performance and Oxygen Consumption as Non-lethal Indicators of Production Traits in Atlantic Salmon and Gilthead Seabream

The aim of this study was to investigate swimming performance and oxygen consumption as non−lethal indicator traits of production parameters in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. and Gilthead seabream Sparus aurata L. A total of 34 individual fish of each species were subjected to a series of experiment...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in Physiology
Main Authors: Palstra, Arjan P., Kals, Jeroen, Böhm, Thijs, Bastiaansen, John W.M., Komen, Hans
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2020
Subjects:
aquaculture
feed conversion ratio
metabolic rate
selective breeding
starvation-refeeding
swim-tunnel respirometry
Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
Online Access:https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/swimming-performance-and-oxygen-consumption-as-non-lethal-indicat
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00759
Description
Summary:The aim of this study was to investigate swimming performance and oxygen consumption as non−lethal indicator traits of production parameters in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. and Gilthead seabream Sparus aurata L. A total of 34 individual fish of each species were subjected to a series of experiments: (1) a critical swimming speed (Ucrit) test in a swim-gutter, followed by (2) two starvation-refeeding periods of 42 days, and (3) swimming performance experiments coupled to respirometry in swim-tunnels. Ucrit was assessed first to test it as a predictor trait. Starvation-refeeding traits included body weight; feed conversion ratio based on dry matter; residual feed intake; average daily weight gain and loss. Swim-tunnel respirometry provided oxygen consumption in rest and while swimming at the different speeds, optimal swim speed and minimal cost of transport (COT). After experiments, fish were dissected and measured for tissue weights and body composition in terms of dry matter, ash, fat, protein and moist, and energy content. The Ucrit test design was able to provide individual Ucrit values in high throughput manner. The residual Ucrit (RUcrit) should be considered in order to remove the size dependency of swimming performance. Most importantly, RUcrit predicted filet yield in both species. The minimal COT, the oxygen consumption when swimming at Uopt, added predictive value to the seabream model for feed intake.

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