QUALITY PARAMETERS OF THE FLESH OF ATLANTIC SALMON (SALMO-SALAR) AS AFFECTED BY DIETARY-FAT CONTENT AND FULL-FAT SOYBEAN-MEAL AS A PARTIAL SUBSTITUTE FOR FISH-MEAL IN THE DIET

Atlantic salmon fed for 9.5 months, diets containing medium (MF, 32%) or high (HF; 39%) fat levels with fish meal (FM) or 10% of the FM prot ein replaced by full-fat soybean meal (FFSM) protein were analyzed by sensory profiling. No significant differences were observed in sensory characteristics. Fish fed HF diets had more total carcass lipid, larg er abdominal and myoseptal fat deposits as determined by chemical anal yses, Visual evaluation and computerized X-ray tomography. CIE-1976 re dness and yellowness (a, b*) were higher in salmon fed HF diets, sugg esting that intestinal astaxanthin absorption was facilitated by highe r dietary fat content. No significant effects of dietary protein sourc e on the amount of astaxanthin in the muscle, visual color score, prox imate composition, fat deposition or sensory characteristics were obse rved. FFSM may partly replace FM in diets for salmonids without compro mising the sensory quality. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.