EFFECT OF LOW-TEMPERATURE ON FEED-INTAKE, GROWTH-RATE AND BODY-COMPOSITION OF JUVENILE BALTIC SALMON

Feed intake, specific growth rate and changes in body composition were studied in juvenile (140-170 g) Baltic salmon, Salmo salar, reared at three temperatures (2, 4 and 6 degrees C) under continuous light cond itions. Feed intake increased from 20.4 kJ kg(-1) day(-1) at 2 degrees C to 63.8 kJ kg(-1) day(-1) at 6 degrees C, and growth rate increased from 0.10% day -1 to 0.37% day -1 over the same temperature interval. The estimated lower temperature limits for feeding and growth were ap proximately 0.35 degrees C and 0.6 degrees C, respectively. Amongst fi sh reared at 2 degrees C the majority (86%) of the weight gain consist ed of water and protein, and these fish deposited very little lipid. L ipid deposition increased amongst the groups of fish held at the highe r temperatures, and amongst the salmon reared at 6 degrees C lipid acc ounted for 43% of the body energy gain.