Effect of dietary rosemary oil on growth performance and flesh quality of farmed seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

In order to assess the effect of a diet integrated with rosemary oil on growth performance and flesh quality of farmed Dicentrarchus labrax, a feeding trial was carried out. Seabass were fed with two different diets for 200 days, after that they were caught and stored in ice in a refrigerator cell (0-2°C) for 17 days. Then they were examinated on 1, 3, 10 and 17 day for sensory evaluation (fresh whole fish and cooked fillet) according to QIM and Torry Scheme. Specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were calculated, fillets were subjected to proximate analysis. No statistical differences were found in the final average body weight for both diets as well as SGR and FCR means. The sensory score (QIM) increased linearly with storage time. No significant difference was noticed between two diets. As for cooked fillet, Torry Scheme score decreased with storage time. At day 10 significant differences were displayed between the diets (7.44 vs. 8.67; P<0.05). Overall sensory acceptability for consuming farmed seabass stored in ice was set in corrispondence of day 13 for control diet and day 14 for experimental diet. No difference was showed in the chemical composition.