Efficiency of protein deposition and amino acid utilization as key factors for improving feed efficiency, economical and environmental sustainability of rainbow trout culture

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The sustainabilityof trout culture operations in Canada and France is highlydependent on how well these enterprises can improve their productivityand conversion of expensive and changing feed inputs into a marketable product, and reduce their waste outputs and environmental footprint.The efficiencyof conversion of feed resources into fish biomass (feed efficiency, FE, biomass gain/ feed served) has a significant impact on production cost and waste outputs of fish culture operations. Studies and model simulations have revealed the determinant effect of protein deposition on growth and feed efficiencyof rainbow trout. Bodyprotein accretion and overall efficiencyof protein utilization efficiency(protein gain/protein intake) varyconsiderablydepending upon live weight, genetic background or diet composition in rainbow trout. Despite a considerable number of studies on protein and amino acid nutrition of fish, our understanding of the determinants of protein deposition and efficiencyof protein utilization is relatively limited. The recent identification byINRA scientists of rainbow trout strains showing consistent genetic variation in FE and the characterization of changes in FE and efficiencyof protein utilization of rainbow trout throughout their life cycle byresearchers at the Universityof Guelph offer interesting and novel models for studying the mechanisms underlying the regulation of the efficiencyof protein utilization in fish. The project will make use of the complementaryexpertise of two partnering research groups in France and Canada. It will involves three complementarytasks comprised of 1) animal feeding studies and advanced mathematical and statistical analysis of the phenotypic responses, 2) fine analysis of molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the efficiencyof protein utilization and 3) development of production management tools. This combined approach will generate new scientific knowledge and contribute to the development of cost-effective, environmentallyfriendlyaquaculture production technologies.