Fillet quality and health of vaccinated or unvaccinated Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L)

Abstract

The prime goal of the present study was to investigate the impacts of vaccine on biometric traits, melanization of tissues and fillet quality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L). In the experiment, a total number of 420 salmon, (1+ spring smolt), with an average body weight of 2548 ± 2 g (mean ± standard error) were randomly distributed in three same sized net pens (125 m³; 100 vaccinated and 40 seawater injected salmon in each net pen). The experimental period was from 5th June to 19th August 2014. The salmon were vaccinated or seawater injected on 4th April, 2013 when body weight was minimum 35 g. The fish were fed a standard commercial feed. Harvesting was performed according to standard procedures or after crowding. There were demonstrated variations in the biometric and quality parameters of the vaccinated and unvaccinated salmon. The condition factor (P = 0.0014), fillet yield (P = 0.0227), organ adhesions (P < 0.0001), fat in viscera (P = 0.0073) and fat in fillet (P = 0.0248) were significantly higher in the vaccinated salmon compared with the unvaccinated salmon. On contrary, the flesh texture of posterior part of the fillet was significantly softer (P = 0.0006). Melanin spots of fillets showed no significant difference between the vaccinated and unvaccinated salmon, but melanin of the abdominal wall and organs were significantly higher of the vaccinated salmon (P = 0.0169 and P < 0.0001 respectively). In conclusion, the vaccine had significant effects on the condition factor, fillet yield and fat in fillet and had no significant effects on the melanin spots in fillet of the salmon in the experiment.