Effect of safflower oil on growth, feed conversion and body composition in turbot (Psetta maxima)

In this research, the effects of the diets that contain safflower oil and fish oil as lipid source on growth, feed conversion and body composition in turbot (Psetta maxima) were investigated. Two isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets (54% protein and 13% lipid) were prepared that include 100% fish oil and 100% safflower oil for turbots with avarage weight 62.21±1.28 g and fish were fed with these diets for 104 days.At the end of the experiment, weight gain was obtained as 62.34 g and 52.23 g in the safflower oil group and fish oil group, respectively. Specific growth rate was calculated as 0.65±0.04 in the safflower oil group and 0.58±0.03 in fish oil group. Feed conversion ratio was 0.90±0.02 in fish fed the diet contains safflower oil and 1.07±0.03 in fish fed the diet contains fish oil (p<0.05).Fatty acid composition of fish body reflected the fatty acid composition determined in the experimental diets. The amounts of palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1?9), linoleic acid (C18:2?6) and docosahexaneoic acid (C22:6?3) were determined as the most in the fatty acids present in the fish body. Significant differences between the rates of saturated fatty acid and mono, ?3 and ?6 unsaturated fatty acid groups were determined (p<0.05).In this research, it was confirmed that the usage of safflower oil instead of fish oil in turbot feed did not generate any harmful effects on growth and feed conversion and the values regarding to the growth performance were found so close to the values of fish oil group. However, some changes were observed in fatty acid composition of fish body and results indicated that usage of safflower oil and fish oil with other plant oils should be investigated in further studies.Key words: Turbot (Psetta maxima), safflower oil, growth performance, feed intake, fatty acids