Requirement of Atlantic salmon for dietary phosphorus

Triplicate lots of young Atlantic salnon (Salmo salar) were fed a diet containing graded levels of supplemental inorganic phosphorus. The basal diet, containing mainly dehulled soybean meal and other plant materials, provided 40% crude protein, 0.7% phosphorus, 1.5% calcium, and 4,000 IU of supplemental cholecalciferol per kg of diet. Supplements of inorganic phosphorus significantly improved growth, feed utilization, and bone ash content. Inorganic phosphorus supplementation up to 0.6% of the diet increased growth rate and bone ash content; additions beyond this level had little further effect. This study suggests that when young salmon are fed diets containing 0.7% phosphorus from plant sources, the minimum requirement for supplemental inorganic phosphorus is approximately 0.6% of the diet.