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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #195611
Title: ENRICHMENT OF CHANNEL CATFISH (ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS) FILLETS WITH CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID AND OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS BY DIETARY MANIPULATION

Author
item MANNING, B - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item LI, M - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item ROBINSON, E - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item Peterson, Brian

Submitted to: Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2006
Publication Date: 11/1/2006
Citation: Manning, B.B., Li, M.H., Robinson, E.H., Peterson, B.C. 2006. Enrichment of channel catfish (ictalurus punctatus) fillets with conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids by dietary manipulation. Aquaculture 261:337-342.

Interpretive Summary: An experiment was conducted with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to determine the effects of feeding diets high in levels of healthful fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 HUFA). Refined menhaden fish oil at 1.5% of diet supplied the n-3 HUFA. Corn oil was added to the control diet at 3%. Diets were fed twice daily for six weeks. Results showed that feed consumption and feed conversion were similar. Greater weight gains were observed only for fish fed the diets with CLA and fish oil compared to fish fed the diet containing CLA and corn oil. Fillet n-3 HUFA levels were higher for fish fed diets containing fish oil when compared to n-3 HUFA fillets of fish fed diets containing either corn oil or CLA. Fillets from fish fed CLA diets contained substantial amounts of CLA of up to 6.4% of total lipids. Fillets from fish fed corn oil or fish oil diets had no CLA. Taste panel evaluation indicated that fillets containing n-3 HUFA and CLA were essentially without fishy off-flavor and had excellent sensory qualities. Catfish fillets produced with diets of n-3 HUFA and CLA at the levels used in this study would contain elevated levels of these fatty acids and could be an important human food source for these healthful fatty acids.

Technical Abstract: An experiment was conducted in aquaria with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to determine the efficacy of augmenting fillets with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 HUFA) by feeding diets amended with products containing high levels of these nutrients. Refined menhaden fish oil at 1.5% of diet supplied the n-3 HUFA. CLA was used at dietary levels of 0.5% and 1% with a preparation that contained approximately 65% isomers of CLA. Corn oil was added to the basal diet at maximum inclusion level for added lipids of 3% for the control diet and to adjust total added lipid content of the other diets to 3%. Experimental diets were fed twice daily for six weeks. At that time, fish were group weighed for determination of weight gain and feed conversion. Fillets of six fish per aquarium were recovered and stored at -80 degrees Celsius for proximate analysis, fatty acid analysis, and sensory evaluation. Results showed feed consumption and feed conversion did not differ (P > 0.05). Significantly (P < 0.05) greater body weight gains were observed only for fish fed the diets with two combinations of CLA and 1.5% fish oil compared to fish fed the diet containing 0.05% CLA and corn oil. Fillet n-3 HUFA levels were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated for fish fed diets containing fish oil when compared to n-3 HUFA fillets of fish fed diets containing either corn oil or CLA and corn oil. Similarly, fillets from fish fed diets amended with CLA contained substantial amounts of CLA of up to 6.4% of total lipids. Fillets from fish fed corn oil or fish oil diets had no CLA. Taste panel evaluation indicated that fillets containing n-3 HUFA and CLA were essentially without fishy off-flavor and had excellent sensory qualities. Catfish fillets produced by amending diets with sources of n-3 HUFA and CLA at the levels used in this study would contain elevated levels of these nutraceuticals and could be an important human food source for these healthful fatty acids.