Nutrient requirements and feeding of Haddock

The development of feeds for potential new marine fish species for aquaculture must be based on sound information regarding the nutrient requirements, digestion, absorption and retention of major nutrients and energy utilization from various feed ingredients. Until recently, the field of haddock nutrition remained unexplored. Our preliminary research has shown that diet containing high amounts of protein (50-55%), low carbohydrate (<14%), low lipid (<15%) with a sufficient amount of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (1.5-2.0 % eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic fatty acids) and well fortified with vitamins and trace elements is suitable for initial feed formulations of haddock growout diets. Higher amounts of dietary lipid (>12%) cause fatty liver and an increase in hepatosomatic index. The role of certain critical nutrients (protein and amino acids, essential fatty acids, minerals, vitamins), energy utilization, feeds and feeding for haddock is briefly reviewed.NRC publication: Ye