Effects of histidine on growth performance of North American Atlantic salmon

Authors: Peterson, Brian; Burr, Gary; GAYLORD, G - Us Fish And Wildlife Service

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/28/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) producers harvest over 2.4 million metric tons each year. Salmon feed producers are now including higher levels of alternative proteins due to fishmeal production limits and consumer demand for the use more efficient and sustainable ingredients. With the addition of alternative ingredients, amino acid profiles must be considered to ensure all essential amino acids are supplied at the necessary levels. The requirement for histidine has been defined to reduce the formation of cataracts but not for growth. We examined the effects of histidine in smolt (~355 g/fish) and juvenile (~600 g/fish) North American St. John River strain Atlantic salmon. Salmon from both groups were fed graded levels of histidine (0.5%, 0.7%, 0.9%, 1.1%, 1.3%, and 1.5%) for 16 weeks to determine the level necessary to support growth. Weigh gain, thermal growth coefficient, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion ratio were similar among all treatments in both studies. There were no visual differences in cataracts among treatments in either study. The results suggest histidine requirements to support Atlantic salmon growth are below 0.5% of the diet.

Technical Abstract: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) producers harvest over 2.4 million metric tons each year. Salmon feed producers are now including higher levels of alternative proteins due to fishmeal production limits and consumer demand for the use more efficient and sustainable ingredients. With the addition of alternative ingredients, amino acid profiles must be considered to ensure all essential amino acids are supplied at the necessary levels. Lysine and methionine are considered the first two limiting amino acids and their requirements have been defined for Atlantic salmon. The requirement for histidine has been defined to reduce the formation of cataracts but not for growth. We examined the effects of histidine in smolt (~355 g/fish) and juvenile (~600 g/fish) North American St. John River strain Atlantic salmon. Salmon from both groups were fed graded levels of histidine (0.5%, 0.7%, 0.9%, 1.1%, 1.3%, and 1.5%) for 16 weeks to determine the level necessary to support growth. Weigh gain, thermal growth coefficient, protein efficiency ratio, and feed conversion ratio were similar among all treatments in both studies. There were no visual differences in cataracts among treatments in either study. The results suggest histidine requirements to support Atlantic salmon growth are below 0.5% of the diet.