The impact of Vitaton on the rearing parameters and meat quality of sturgeon hybrids [SHORT COMMUNICATION]

Abstract

The aim of the studies was to determine the impact of the feed supplement Vitaton, a preparation containing b-carotene, on the growth rate, feed utilization, and meat quality of reciprocal back cross hybrids of Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii Brandt × green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris Ayres, (SSZ group) and Siberian sturgeon × Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedti Brandt, (SRS group). It was confirmed that b-carotene results in a statistically significant increase in growth rate of about 20% and a decrease in the value of the feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 9.6% in the fish from the SSZ group. Statistically significant differences between the Vitaton and control subgroups in the SRS group occurred only with regard to the FCR at values of 1.64 ± 0.08 and 1.71 ± 0.09, respectively. The results of meat quality tests indicated that under the influence of Vitaton there was a statistically significant increase in the fat content to 13.21 ± 1.04% in comparison with the control group values of 9.57 ± 2.33% and a decrease in the water content from 72.73 ± 1.57% to 68.82 ± 1.28% in the fish from the SRS group. No significant impact of b-carotene was noted in the studied fish with regard to meat color.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:

Prof. Ryszard Kolman, Instytut Rybactwa Śródlądowego, Zakład Ichtiologii, ul. Oczapowskiego 10, 10-719 Olsztyn, Tel./Fax: +48 89 5240171, +48 89 5240505; e-mail: kolrys@infish.com.pl