Effect of feeding sunflower and linseed oil in pelleted mixtures on chemical composition of carp meat and fatty acid profile

Experiment was conducted during the growing season in two commercial ponds, each measuring 1.2 ha and 1.2 m deep on average. Each pond was stocked on 27 March with 1250 two-year-old carps with an average body weight of about 180 g. Throughout the feeding season (May - September), fish in the control pond received standard Aller Clasic pellets, and fish in the experimental pond were fed the same pellets supplemented with a 6% mixture of sunflower oil and linseed oil (80%:20%). In the feed fatty acid profile, the gross energy and amino acid content were determined. In meat samples basic nutrients, fatty acid profile and total cholesterol content were measured. It has been shown that the level of C20 and C22 acids in carp meat increased with their age. These acids were also found to increase in the meat of carp as a result of feeding diets enriched with a mixture of sunflower and linseed oil. The results show that the feeding is an important factor, which enable the modification of meet fat making fish meat of higher dietetic and health-promoting value, because of reduced total cholesterol content.