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Research Project: Integrating the Development of New Feed Ingredients and Functionality and Genetic Improvement to Enhance Sustainable Production of Rainbow Trout

Location: Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research

Title: Energy composition of diet affects muscle fiber recruitment, body composition, and growth trajectory in rainbow trout (Oncorhnychus mykiss)

Author
item Overturf, Kenneth - Ken
item Barrows, Frederic
item HARDY, RONALD - University Of Idaho
item BREZAS, ANDREAS - University Of Idaho
item DUMAS, ANDRE - The Center For Aquaculture Technologies

Submitted to: Fish Nutrition and Feeding Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/12/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Energy composition of diet affects muscle fiber recruitment, body composition, and growth trajectory in rainbow trout (Oncorhnychus mykiss) The cost and scarcity of key ingredients for aquaculture feed formulation call for a wise use of resources, especially dietary proteins and energy. For years the evaluation of feeds and ingredients was based on growth performance and feed conversion results. Recently, new production goals have been set that relate to body composition, fillet quality and yield, and even muscle fiber recruitment and hypertrophy. These traits have become important to modern aquaculture. It is now feasible to identify the genes responsible for expressing these phenotypes, thanks to new molecular biology tools and the advent of nutrigenomics. Genomic information can be used to track the regulating effect of nutrients on either genetic signals or expression of genes for traits of interest.. This approach constitutes nutrigenomics: understanding the interaction between nutrients and other dietary bioactives with the genome. The practice of nutrigenomics in fish nutrition is still in its infancy and offers learning opportunities. There is a need to describe further how dietary macronutrients, such as protein and lipid, affect gene regulation and how these interactions correlate with growth performance, body composition, nutrient utilization and muscle growth in fish. A deeper understanding of molecular and metabolic responses to nutrient intake will provide directional cues for refining the formulation of feeds that better meet the metabolic requirements of aquatic species. Ultimately, new knowledge in this field will strengthen the foundations of nutritional programming and potential for imprinting of nutrient utilization when starting fish on feed.