The response of triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar ) to varying levels of energy and phosphorus

The goal of this research was to determine whether triploid Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared in fresh water can attain optimal growth and nutrient uptake from diets that have been formulated for diploids. To address this issue, two growth trials and subsequent digestibility trials were conducted. During the first experiment fish were fed diets varying in energy (22.3, 23.2 and 24.3 MJ kg-1). The second experiment varied the level of dietary phosphorus (0.8, 1.0 and 1.4%). There were inconsistencies between the two studies in terms of specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, there were many congruent results between trials including triploids weighing significantly more at the end of the growth trials and having lower condition factors. The most important similarity was the absence of significant differences between ploidies in any of the apparent digestibility coefficients measured.