Enhanced feed acceptance and feed utilization of plant-based diet in rainbow trout following early explosure exposure at first feeding
Résumé
The further development of sustainable aquaculture requires the replacement of fish-based feed sources by plant-based feed sources. Yet, fish fed high levels of plant ingredients often display a poor growth response. In this regard, we explored the possibility of tailoring fish to adapt to plant-based feeds by means of early nutritional imprinting of fish with such feed, in tune with the paradigm in mammals that early nutritional events may permanently alter the organism’s physiology and metabolism in preparation to the predicted environment. In fish, studies testing the effect of early nutritional challenges employing diets with high carbohydrate levels or with different fatty acid profiles triggered persistent digestive and metabolic adaptations at a molecular level.