Diet fed to broodstock during a spawning period influences the quality and quantity of egg production. Furthermore, it can be extremely costly to provide a high-quality diet to broodstock year-round. By understanding the timeline of nutrient incorporation from parent to offspring, a more efficient diet plan can be established. This will help reduce cost as well as increase feed efficiency. The objective of this study is to determine the duration required for the broodstock to transfer nutrients obtained from their diet into eggs using an alternating diet plan of cut bait and commercial pelleted feed. In 2021, nine California yellowtail, Seriola dorsalis, broodstock at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in San Diego, CA were fed two alternating diets from April to September: Vitalis Prima pellets (World Feeds Ltd, UK) and a cut-bait diet comprised of sardine and squid. Each diet was switched after every 6 weeks within the spawning season, which lasted for a total of 24 weeks. Egg samples, along with biometric data from each spawn, were collected and processed for proximate analysis and fatty acid content. Data from samples collected were compared for varying nutritional incorporation that occurred during each diet switch. Proximate analysis results of eggs were statistically similar throughout each feed and diet switch as seen in Figure 1.
This study will provide a greater understanding and insight into nutritional assimilation on a temporal scale. Findings from this study will contribute towards the development of a cost-effective and reliable broodstock diet for farmers, which will further improve the economic viability of the California Yellowtail as a staple aquaculture species.