DESEMPENHO PRODUTIVO, PERFIL DE ÁCIDOS GRAXOS E QUALIDADE DA CARNE DA TILÁPIA DO NILO ALIMENTADA COM DIETA SUPLEMENTADA COM ÓLEO DE SOJA OU DE LINHAÇA

Abstract

Linseed oil has emerging as functional food for human being one richest source of α-linolenic fatty acid. Four fishmeal-free diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (321.2 g/kg of crude protein), isocaloric (17.1 Mcal/kg of gross energy) and isolipidic (73.1 g/kg of total lipids), containing two sources of vegetable oils (soybean oil or linseed oil) supplemented at two levels (15 or 30 g/kg). A hundred and forty-four fish (1076.3 ± 37.2 g) were distributed in a completely randomized in a 2x2 factorial scheme, into twelve 1000 L each floating cage, hand fed until apparent satiety and reared at 18 to 24 oC, during 6 wk. Higher weight gain, feed intake and improved feed conversion ratio were observed in fish fed 30 g/kg of linseed oil compared to fish fed 15 and 30 g/kg of soybean oil. Fillet yield of fish fed 30 g/kg of linseed oil was higher compared to observed in fish fed 30 g/kg of soybean oil. No differences on initial body weight, hepatosomatic index and proximate composition of fillets were observed. Fish fed 30 g/kg of linseed oil showed higher 18:3 n-3 and lower 18:2 n-6 content in the fillets compared to fish fed 15 and 30 g/kg of soybean oil. Higher sum of SFA, MUFA and n-3 FA were observed in fillets of fish fed 15 g/kg of soybean oil. Fish fed 30 g/kg of linseed oil showed higher sum of PUFA and sum of n-3 fatty acids in the fillets. Fillet of fish fed linseed oil showed lower ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids compared to fish fed soybean oil. Color, water holding capacity, pH and hardness of fillets were not affected. The adhesiveness of fillets analyzed at one and seven days post-mortem was increased in fish fed linseed oil, while lower chewiness was observed in fillet of fish fed 30 g/kg of soybean or linseed oil compared to observed in fish fed 15 g/kg of soybean or linseel oil. In conclusion, linseed oil was demonstrated to be functional food as α-linolenic source to enhance n-6/n-3 ratio of the fillets. In addition, linseed oil at 30 g/kg is recommended in finishing diets