Effects of partial and complete replacement of fish oil with perilla oil on growth performance, feed efficiency, health status, and fatty acid accumulation in flesh of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) reared in freshwater

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of partial and complete replacement of fish oil with perilla oil on growth performance, feed efficiency, health status, proximate analysis, and fatty acid composition in flesh of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) reared in freshwater. Five diets were prepared: a control diet based on a basal diet with 12 % fish oil (F12), two vegetable oil-based diets, in which fish oil was replaced entirely with soybean oil (S12) or perilla oil (P12), 8 % (P8), and 4 % (P4). Asian seabass were fed until satiation twice daily for 8 weeks. Partial and total replacement of fish oil with perilla oil did not negatively affect feed intake, growth rate, FCR, PER, lipid and protein retentions, proximate composition, intraperitoneal fat index, and hepatosomatic index of Asian seabass (P > 0.05). Total cholesterol of fish fed S12 was higher than that of fish fed P12 (P < 0.05). While high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of Asian seabass fed S12 was higher than that of fish fed F12 (P < 0.05). The other biochemical parameters analysed were similar between diets. Linolenic acid increased in fish flesh with increasing levels of fish oil replacement with perilla oil. In contrast, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels decreased (P < 0.05). Replacement or substituting fish oil with perilla oil changed the fatty acid profile of the flesh but did not impact the growth and health of Asian seabass.