As per the results of the study shows how feeding Atlantic salmon high levels of both plant proteins and vegetable oils would affect the fish. It is said that this experiment resulted in two kilos of salmon protein generated per kilo of fish meal protein in the feed. The study showed a slight reduction in salmon growth, even though all known nutrient requirements of the fish were covered by the feed.
The study is carried out by the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES), salmon were given a feed where a high proportion of fish meal and fish oil were replaced by plant proteins and vegetable oils. This is the first time that a feeding study of this kind has been carried out on Atlantic salmon.
Dr. Bente Torstensen, senior scientist at NIFES, informed that a fish diet comprising 70 percent plant oils and 80 percent vegetable proteins means that two kilos of salmon protein are produced for every kilo of fish meal protein in the feed. This means that a good net production of high quality fish protein is obtained from plant proteins. NIFES has previously shown that 90 percent of the fish meal in the feed can be replaced by plant proteins without affecting the growth of the salmon as long as the source of fat in the fish diet is fish oil.
The study indicate that interaction effects between plant proteins and vegetable oils in the feed may be the cause of the reduced feed intake in the group with the highest level of plant raw material. Torstensen opined that they are now studying whether the combination of vegetable oils and plant proteins may affect the salmon’s metabolism.
