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HAVBRUK2-Stort program for havbruksforskning

Method to obtain accurate records of individual feed intake in Atlantic salmon

Tildelt: kr 1,00 mill.

In the production of Atlantic salmon, feed account for 45-50% of the total cost. An improvement of the feed conversion ratio by 0.01 unit only (e.g. from 1.20 and 1.19) in the Norwegian industry would annually save 12 000 tons of feed valued about NOK 120 million. Today's methods for obtaining trait records for feed intake and feed efficiency in fish breeding programs have their shortcomings (either it too difficult to obtain phenotypes on large groups of fish or gain is through indirect selection for other traits). In addition current selection methods that rely on genomic (GS) information for selection and QTL detection would be maximized if individual records are available. It is therefore imperative to obtain more accurate phenotypes and develop cost effective methods that can record individual feed intake on a large number of fish reared in a group. This approach will allow for for direct selection for increased feed efficiency. In this project we will investigate if it is possible to get a single fish to swim from a tank with other fish (holding tank) through a hole in a smaller tank (feeding station) placed in the centre of the holding tank, and back to the holding tank through another hole after having finished its predetermined amount of feed. In this enter-eat-exit period, the fish ID, body size and the amount of not-eaten feed will be recorded, from which the feed efficiency can be calculated.

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HAVBRUK2-Stort program for havbruksforskning