Effects of short‐term starvation periods on flesh quality in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in different seasons |
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| Authors: | Albert Kjartan Dagbjartarson Imsland Bjrn Roth Line Bach Christensen Sten Ivar Siikavuopio Atle Foss |
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| Institution: | Albert Kjartan Dagbjartarson Imsland,Bjørn Roth,Line Bach Christensen,Sten Ivar Siikavuopio,Atle Foss |
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| Abstract: | Possible effects of short‐term starvation on flesh quality in Arctic charr were studied in spring (March) and summer (August). Groups of juvenile Arctic charr (mean weight March 536 g ± 24; August 461 g ± 15 SEM) were starved for 1, 2 and 4 weeks (March) and 1, 2 and 3 (August). After each starvation period, the fish were slaughtered, and flesh samples collected in order to investigate quality and textural properties in the different experimental groups. Starvation had a positive effect on flesh quality giving firmer texture and lower gaping scores. Starved fish had lower cathepsin activity at slaughter, and a similar difference was seen one‐week post mortem. The results showed that the effect of starvation period was seasonally dependent. Starvation had a larger effect in summer, where a three‐week starvation resulted in firmer texture, whereas this was not seen during spring. |
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| Keywords: | Arctic charr flesh quality food deprivation season |
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