Triploid performance
Sterile triploid salmon are under assessment for their applicability to aquaculture. Little knowledge exists on many aspects of triploid physiology. There is a need understand the greater variability in triploid vs diploid performance and the poorer performance of triploids during periods of high water temperature (>15 C). In addition, the nutritional requirements of triploids are unknown for many feed ingredients. The current work will deepen the knowledge on triploid performance, temperature preference, and nutrition.
In the experiments described we will gain knowledge on;
1) The growth performance of early, middle, and late hatching larvae that may allow early selection for the best performing triploids
2) The growth performance of triploid postsmolts under different temperature regimes
3) The swimming performance of triploid postsmolts following acclimation to various water temperatures
4) Triploid behaviour in seacages, and relate this to water temperature preference
5) Micronutrient requirements of triploids at different temperatures
The purpose of these experiments is to increase our understanding of how triploids will cope within aquaculture facilities. This knowledge is important in order to improve triploid welfare and performance, and provide a profitable method of producing sterile fish to the industry.
Growth trials induce minimum stress to the animals, the only stress being associated with tagging and moving fish between tanks. Similarly, the swim respirometry and behaviour experiments are not expected to cause severe stress or harm to the animals. We do expect the fish to find water temperatures of 18 and 20.5 C, as used in experiments 2 and 3, physiologically challenging, but these temperatures are relevant to the industry.
In experiment 4, the fish will be reared and handled using standard farm procedures, so this experiment does not require ethical permission. As such, we have not included these fish in the calculations of fish numbers.
All experiments have been designed to minimize the number of experimental animals while still providing useful scientific results.
We expect to use a total of 4000 animals. This number may at first seem high, but is required in order to provide relevant data for the conditions expected on salmon farms.
In the experiments described we will gain knowledge on;
1) The growth performance of early, middle, and late hatching larvae that may allow early selection for the best performing triploids
2) The growth performance of triploid postsmolts under different temperature regimes
3) The swimming performance of triploid postsmolts following acclimation to various water temperatures
4) Triploid behaviour in seacages, and relate this to water temperature preference
5) Micronutrient requirements of triploids at different temperatures
The purpose of these experiments is to increase our understanding of how triploids will cope within aquaculture facilities. This knowledge is important in order to improve triploid welfare and performance, and provide a profitable method of producing sterile fish to the industry.
Growth trials induce minimum stress to the animals, the only stress being associated with tagging and moving fish between tanks. Similarly, the swim respirometry and behaviour experiments are not expected to cause severe stress or harm to the animals. We do expect the fish to find water temperatures of 18 and 20.5 C, as used in experiments 2 and 3, physiologically challenging, but these temperatures are relevant to the industry.
In experiment 4, the fish will be reared and handled using standard farm procedures, so this experiment does not require ethical permission. As such, we have not included these fish in the calculations of fish numbers.
All experiments have been designed to minimize the number of experimental animals while still providing useful scientific results.
We expect to use a total of 4000 animals. This number may at first seem high, but is required in order to provide relevant data for the conditions expected on salmon farms.