| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this thesis was to find the optimal level of vitamin K3 based on general health and bone health in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in early sea phase. This was done by testing six diets with increasing levels of menadione nicotinamide bisulphite (MNB) (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/kg) on Atlantic salmon in early sea phase, the experiment lasted for 105 days, and the salmon were fed their respective diets for 102 days. There were two samplings, one after feeding for 74 days and the other was at the end of the study.
Growth as well as other biometric traits of the salmon were monitored. The salmon were also analysed for blood parameters, mechanical properties of vertebra, deformities, content of minerals (calcium and phosphorous) of vertebral column and gene expression of bone Gla protein (BGLAP), gla rich protein (GRP), periostin, protein S and growth arrest specific 6 (GAS6).
The analyses of vitamin K3 content in the feed revealed that diet with 0 mg/kg MNB had 0.1 mg/kg vitamin K3.
There were conducted preliminary testing of analysing mechanical properties of vertebrae to train on the analysis and to find the proper setting to conduct this analysis on the vertebrae from the study.
There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between the dietary groups on growth, biometric traits, blood parameters, mechanical properties of vertebra, content of minerals (phosphorous and calcium) in vertebral column and gene expression.
The linear regression between the dietary groups on incidents of deformities, growth, mechanical properties of vertebrae and gene expression were not significant (P>0.05), however, linear regression of calcium content in the vertebral column was significant (P=0.025).
Based on the results from the present study, the optimal level of MNB for Atlantic salmon in early sea phase is 0.1 mg/kg MNB, based on the analyses conducted in the present study.
This study has contributed to more knowledge of effect of vitamin K3 on general health and bone health, MNB do not seem to influence on general health and bone health. However, the calcium content seemed to be influenced by MNB and it remains to further investigate the effect of more calcium in the vertebral column. | |
