Genetic variation in mineral absorption of large Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared in seawater

Abstract Apparent absorption coefficients (AACs) of mineral elements (K, Na, Cu, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, P) were studied in 82 full-sib family groups of individually tagged Atlantic salmon (41 sires, 2 dams per sire, 7–27 fish per family), with an average weight of 4.6 kg. The fish were kept in one net-pen in seawater and fed a diet with Y 2 O 3 as the inert marker. Faeces were obtained by stripping and pooled for each family. The mean AACs (%) of elements and ash were: K, 97.5; Na, 23.8; Cu, 55.9; Ca, −11.7; Mg, −260; Zn, 37.9; Fe, 23.8; Mn, 7.6; P, 40.4 and ash, 16.6. Differences between paternal half-sib families were significant ( P