Research Article

Liver content of fatty acids and reproductive indices of carp in relation to level of dietary vitamin A

Miroslava B. Maletich, Josip F. Rivis

Institute of Agriculture Carpathian region NAAS, Ukraine

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 14(3), 2015, 59‒66

Abstract. We investigated the effect of increased amounts of vitamin A in the diet of spawning carp on the content of fatty acids of the total lipids in the liver, as well as the reproductive ability of the fish. The experiment was conducted in the prespawning period in three groups of carp. The control group were offered the standard granulated mixed fodder. The test groups were additionally administered retinyl acetate added to the diet. It was established that in both females and males liver of the test groups, which received higher amounts of vitamin A, the content of fatty acids of total lipids increased. In the liver of the test groups carp, the increases were due to saturated fatty acids with an even and odd number of carbon atoms in the chain, monounsaturated fatty acid of families n-7 and n-9, and polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 and n-6 families. The test group females, which were given vitamin A in quantities of 2500 and 5000 IE/kg feed, showed a significant and dose-dependent increase in both working and relative fecundity. The males had also an increased volume of milt. The supplementation also significantly and dose-dependently increased the percentage of larvae per spawned eggs.

Keywords: carp, vitamin A, fatty acids