Feed intake, growth and feed utilization of offspring from wild and selected Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar)

The aim was to assess whether selection for increased growth rate in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) is associated with increased feed intake and/or better feed utilization. Growth responses of offspring from selected and wild lines of Atlantic salmon (initial weight 814±14 g and 533±12 g, respectively) were tested in a 14-week experiment. Selected and wild salmon increased body weight by 79 and 39%, respectively, during the experiment. Relative feed intake (DFI), thermal growth coefficient (TGC) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) were significantly higher in the selected (DFI: 0.67% BW d −1, TGC: 2.96×10 −3 and FER: 1.16), than in the wild, line (DFI: 0.48% BW d −1, TGC: 1.39×10 −3 and FER: 0.93). FER was positively correlated with mean growth rate ( r=0.90, n=6, P