The effect of fish and rapeseed oils on growth performance, egg fatty acid composition and offspring quality of sterlet sturgeon ( Acipenser ruthenus )

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the long‐term effects (7‐month experiment) of diets consisting of fish oil (Kilka fish) and vegetable oil (rapeseed) on the reproductive performance of sterlet sturgeon ( Acipenser ruthenus ) broodstock. Forty‐five broodstock (990.3 ± 20.05 g) were randomly allocated to three different diet treatments. Three experimental diets were formulated with graded levels of fish oil (100% FO), vegetable oil (100% VO), and a combination of fish and vegetable oil (50% FO + 50% VO). At the end of the 7‐month feeding trial period, the weight gain and final weight were changed significantly different between the treatments ( p  < 0.05). Broodstock fed the FO + VO diet had higher growth than those fed the only FO or VO diets ( p  < 0.05). The highest germinal vesicle migration percentage was observed in FO + VO treatment ( p  < 0.05). The DHA/EPA, DHA/ARA and EPA/ARA ratios in oocyte exhibited a significant difference in the different treatments ( p  < 0.05). This study indicates that nutrition of broodstock with diet including FO + VO ( p  < 0.05) can positively affect the growth performance of larvae compared with only FO or VO diets. Furthermore, the high levels of 18:1n‐9, AL and ALA contents in oocytes from broodstock fed VO and the lowest ALA content in oocytes from broodstock fed FO underlined the important role of broodstock diets in the reproductive process and embryonic and/or larval developments of sterlet.