STUDIES ON BIOTIN SUPPLY TO MIRROR CARP (CYPRINUS-CARPIO L)

The effect of increasing biotin supplementation of a purified diet was studied in growing mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Parameters examined were the retention and utilization of nutrients and energy as well as growth rate. During the experimental period of 84 days the fishes were kept in tanks of a warmwater recirculating system under standardized environmental conditions at a feeding level of 22 g kg-0.8 day-1. Special analyses were carried out to study the effect of biotin supply on the concentration of biotin in the blood plasma and liver tissue as well as the fatty acid profile in adipose tissue. It was concluded that the minimum supply of biotin to growing carp should be 1 mg/kg feed. The optimum supply was determined to be 2.0 to 2.5 mg biotin/kg feed. The concentration of biotin in the liver tissue and blood plasma was directly correlated to the biotin content of the diet. Increasing biotin supplementation of the experimental diets caused an alteration in the fatty acid profile of the adipose tissue. © 1990.