Open AccessDietary lipid sources affect the performance of Nile tilapia at optimal and cold, suboptimal temperatures
Author(s) -
Corrêa C.F.,
Nobrega R.O.,
Mattioni B.,
Block J.M.,
Fracalossi D.M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
aquaculture nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2095
pISSN - 1353-5773
DOI - 10.1111/anu.12469
Subject(s) - nile tilapia , linseed oil , polyunsaturated fatty acid , food science , biology , sunflower oil , fish oil , tilapia , coconut oil , fatty acid , weight gain , feed conversion ratio , body weight , oreochromis , fish <actinopterygii> , biochemistry , fishery , endocrinology
Five sources of dietary fatty acids (fish, linseed, sunflower, olive and coconut oils) were evaluated in juvenile Nile tilapia in two trials: at optimal (28°C) and suboptimal (22°C) temperatures lasting 9 and 12 weeks, respectively. At 28°C, there was no clear effect of dietary source on fish growth, but at 22°C, the highest daily weight gain occurred in fish fed sunflower, linseed and fish oil. Feed efficiency and apparent net protein utilization increased as the amount of unsaturated fatty acids, especially n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ), in the diet increased. Coconut oil, which is rich in saturated fatty acids ( SFA ), led to the worst growth results, especially at 22°C, with the lowest weight gain, feed intake and feed utilization by tilapia. The body fatty acid profile, in % of total fatty acids, was dependent on diet composition. However, for all treatments, PUFA body content increased with the decrease in temperature, but SFA and monounsaturated fatty acids remained the primary contributors to the body profile. Either fish oil or vegetable oil may be used as sources of dietary fatty acids for Nile tilapia, but at suboptimal temperatures, a dietary source containing more PUFA and less SFA improves performance.