Dietary Protein, Lipid and Insect Meal on Growth, Plasma Biochemistry and Hepatic Immune Expression of Lake Whitefish ()

Overview

Journal Fish Shellfish Immunol Rep

Date 2023 Jul 17

PMID 37456711

Authors

Yubing Chen

Rebecca Lawson

Umesh Shandilya

Marcia A Chiasson

Niel A Karrow

David Huyben

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Studies are lacking that investigate the dietary nutrient requirements of lake whitefish (), a newly farmed fish species in Ontario, Canada. Dietary levels of protein and lipid must be optimized to ensure high growth performance for the commercial success of this species. Additionally, the inclusion of insect meal in the diet may improve growth and immune response. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary protein:lipid ratios and insect meal as a feed additive on the growth performance and hepatic immune function of juvenile lake whitefish (301 ± 10 g). A 16-week (112 day) trial was performed with five diets including a commercial control diet (BCC), and four experimental diets with high or low levels of protein (54 and 48%, respectively) and lipid (18 and 12%, respectively). The high protein dietary groups contained 5% of full-fat black soldier fly larvae (). Fish weights, viscera, liver, and blood were collected for further analysis. Specific growth rate, thermal growth coefficient and weight gain were significantly higher in fish fed with the BCC and high protein high lipid (HPHL) diets. However, viscerosomatic index was found to be significantly higher in fish fed the BCC diet, thus HPHL is more optimal for non-visceral weight gain. Higher levels of plasma phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase and potassium indicated poor growth and stress in fish fed low lipid diets. Relative expression of , involved in cellular repair, was significantly downregulated in fish fed high lipid diets, and no effects were found on the expression of innate immune and oxidative stress genes. Also, and were upregulated (non-significant) in fish fed the HPHL diet with the largest weight gain. No effects of insects were found on growth, plasma biochemistry or gene expression, which suggests 5% dietary inclusion was too low. Overall, we recommend a HPHL diet for the cultivation of lake whitefish based on improved growth performance, low viscera weight, improved plasma biochemistry and downregulation of cellular repair genes.

Citing Articles

Effects of Dietary Protein to Lipid Ratio and Insect Meal on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, and the Gut Microbiome of Lake Whitefish ().

Lawson R, Chen Y, Zhang J, Chiasson M, Ellis J, Bureau D Aquac Nutr. 2025; 2025:5511161.

PMID: 39949360 PMC: 11824390. DOI: 10.1155/anu/5511161.

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