2016
Improving Aquaculture Sustainability by Developing Rainbow Trout with Enhanced Capacity to Utilize Omega 3 Fatty Acids in Plant Oils to Increase EPA and DHA
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Soy Aquaculture Alliance
Category:
Export/Trade
Keywords:
Aquaculture
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Ron Hardy, University of Idaho
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
1640-512-5289
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
United Soybean Board
(n/a)
Institution Funded:
University of Idaho
(n/a)
Brief Project Summary:

Research done in the 1980s evaluated whole body and fatty acid profiles of rainbow trout, Pacific salmon and Atlantic salmon. Research in this project provided new knowledge that overturns previous concepts regarding mechanisms that control or regulate bioconversion of linoleic acid. This knowledge will be used to identify genetic markers for use in selective breeding programs for trout, salmon and other farmed fish species to enhance fillet levels of EPA and DHA, and lead to higher use levels of soy oil in feeds for farmed fish to replace costly fish oil, and contribute to producing sustainable aquaculture feeds.

Key Audience:
Aquaculture feed producers, aquaculture nutritionists, rainbow trout producers

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Updated December 3, 2019:

View uploaded report Word file

The research done in this project has provided new knowledge that overturns previous concepts regarding mechanisms that control or regulate bioconversion of linolenic acid, the only omega-3 fatty acid found in plant oils, to EPA and DHA, essential dietary nutrients for fish and healthful fatty acids for humans. Knowledge of these mechanisms will be used to identify genetic markers for use in selective breeding programs for salmon, trout and other farmed fish species to enhance fillet levels of EPA and DHA, and lead to higher use levels of soy oil in feeds for farmed fish to replace costly fish oil, and contribute to the production of sustainable aquaculture feeds.

The immediate impacts of the proposed research will be development of a strain of rainbow trout that exhibits enhanced deposition of EPA and DHA in muscle tissues (fillet) compared to commercial trout strains currently used by the US trout industry. Germplasm from the improved strain will be made available to commercial trout growers. This is currently being done with earlier strains of rainbow trout selected for improved growth when fed all plant-protein feeds. The impacts of the study will therefore be evaluated by successful transfer of germplasm to commercial producers and reported as such, furthermore the research station will continue selection for trait improvement. Other impacts will be identification of genetic markers that can be immediately used by companies producing trout eggs for growers in their selective breeding programs. Reporting will involve assessment of the extent to which these markers are used. Finally, use of new genetic markers in other fish species, starting with salmon, will be a longer-term impact. Evaluation and reporting will follow that used in the rainbow trout industry. Finally use of this improved germplasm will lead to formulation of commercial feeds utilizing substantially higher levels of protein and oils from plants.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.