The 10th International Symposium on Sturgeon (ISS10)

The global depletion of natural sturgeon populations and the rising demand for caviar have made sturgeon aquaculture an essential and economically significant industry. The Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) is widely cultured due to its adaptability and high-quality, moderately priced caviar. However, excessive fat accumulation in broodstock gonads negatively impacts caviar yield and quality, posing a challenge to commercial production. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary lipotropic compounds in reducing gonadal fat and improving caviar output. Four premix formulations containing L-carnitine, bile acids, inositol, methionine, choline, betaine, emulsifiers, and vitamin B6 were tested at inclusion levels of 7.0%, 8.0%, 9.0% and 1.0% in broodstock diets. The experiment was conducted over one year in a commercial sturgeon farm located in Fars province, Iran, using five dietary treatments (including a control) fed to A. baerii broodstock (average weight 5,000 ± 300 g) under standardized conditions. Key performance indicators—including visceral fat index, gonadosomatic index (GSI), caviar yield, and ratios of caviar to gonad and body weight—were measured. Statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA, SPSS v21) revealed that lipotropic premixes significantly decreased visceral and gonadal fat (P < 0.05), with the 8.0% premix producing the highest caviar yield and best fat mobilization. These findings suggest that targeted nutritional strategies using lipotropic additives offer a practical and cost-effective approach for improving reproductive efficiency, caviar yield, and product quality in Siberian sturgeon aquaculture.
 

Siberian sturgeon, caviar yield, lipotropic compounds, broodstock nutrition