Effects of total fish oil replacement to vegetable oils at two dietary lipid levels on the growth, body composition, haemato-immunological and serum biochemical parameters in caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, 1877)

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of two dietary fat levels [low fat (LF) (10%), high fat (HF) (20%)] and sources [fish oil (FO), vegetable oil (VO)] on the growth and some physiological parameters of Caspian brown trout fingerlings for 60 days. Tuna oil or blends of canola and soybean oils (85:15) were added to diets to design four feeds namely LFFO, HFFO, LFVO and HFVO according to the fat levels and sources. The fish fed the LFFO diet had lower weight gain than the other fish (P < 0.05). The total n-6 fatty acids increased in fish fed diets with the blends of VO, while the total n-3 fatty acids decreased in these fish (P < 0.05). Serum lysozyme activity was higher in fish fed the HFVO diet than the other fish (P < 0.05). Serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein were lower in fish fed LFFO than the other fish (P < 0.05). The present study demonstrates that in terms of fish growth, VOs can be used as an alternate source of dietary fat, whereas fish health and nutritional value are improved with the LFFO diet. According to these results, a partial substitution of FO by VO in high-level fat diets is suggested for long-term feeding of Caspian brown trout.