Effect of feeding levels on Carcass and Liver of Gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1895)

Abstract

The experiments were performed on (Gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata L.) , which is one of the important species to the aquaculture industry in the Mediterranean region. A feeding experiments was conducted to investigate the influence of feeding levels on the carcass and liver of S. aurata. Four feeding levels were employed: 1.0% ; 2.0% ; 3.0% and 4.0%BW/day. The lipid content of carcass and liver show an increase with an increasing of feeding regimes. Important changes were observed in the final carcass and liver in terms of lipid content comparing to the initial. Histological examination showed an increase of lipid deposition around the liver cells and blood vessels due to an increase of feeding levels. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) and condition factor (K) showed the same trend, high in fish fed higher feeding levels and lower in fish fed low feeding regimes. It is probably due to many factors one of these the high lipid content in the experimental diet. The studies so far provide evidence that the feeding levels is one of the main factors influencing the carcass and liver proximate composition of the fish. These results could be have an important implication in terms of industrial diet, fish quality, and it's economic as well as human health.