Development of seasonal pigment strategy for Atlantic salmon (SPS)

To develop new and more efficient pigmentation regimes for Atlantic salmon in order to reduce costs based on new knowledge about how season, smolt type, growth pattern, feed intake and previous pigmentation regime affect the pigment retention. Astaxanthi n digestibility and retention variations during the seawater production phase will be explored in both ½ and 1-year smolts in relation to dietary ax levels and switching of these. Further information about the effect of previous pigmentation history, seas on and exceptionally high feed intake/rapid growth and reduced ration will be obtained. Optimal pigmentation strategies to obtain predetermined final pigmentation levels will be defined. This includes mathematical modelling of pigment retention for salmo n in the seawater phase. No pigment model exists that is based on retention figures obtained from real feed intake, thus making this unique with a direct impact on the industry. The project information will be published and thus be of benefit not just to Nutreco but also to the rest of the aquaculture industry.