The Impact of Marine Resource-Free Diets on Quality Attributes of Atlantic Salmon

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The Manuscript "The Impact of Marine Resource-Free Diets on Quality Attributes of Atlantic Salmon" deals with an interesting and usefull topic. The intorduction is clear and giustify the aim of the study. The methods are well reported and results well described. The discussion is well written.

However there are minor corrections to make:

- check the references which are sometimes listed as superscripts and other times not

- check at the line 113 were is reported ";" and not "("

- check the figure 2. Reports more informations about the different groups "P1, A1,...and so on). Moreover, the figure is not reported in the main text. Maybe the authors can add more informations about the figure 2 in the paragraph 2.5

- check that each abbreviation contains the acronym (e.g. SL in line 182)

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English is fine and only some spelling errors are present

Author Response

- check the references which are sometimes listed as superscripts and other times not

check at the line 113 were is reported ";" and not "("

The open bracket is at line 112 (fraying...; Fig. 1). The semi-colon is required to initiate the pause between "deterioration" and "Fig. 1."

check the figure 2. Reports more informations about the different groups "P1, A1,...and so on). Moreover, the figure is not reported in the main text. Maybe the authors can add more informations about the figure 2 in the paragraph 2.5

As suggested, we have added more information to the legend to direct readers to original diet formulations. The reader's attention is drawn to the Figure on line 195 where it was erroneously noted as Fig. 1. The figure should also be moved to a location closer to table 4. 

check that each abbreviation contains the acronym (e.g. SL in line 182).

We thank the reviewer for catching this and have inserted the abbreviation at line 110, thje first m,ention of stanmdard length. Other abbreviations have been checked throughout the manuscript. 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Main revisions:

Beware of the abusive use of abbreviations without discrimination or explanation. Although the abbreviations are known by the scientific community, the article can be read by anyone who needs to be informed of the concepts involved.

Line 86-88 and Tables. Although the diet formulations are described in reference 6, it would be interesting to know what were the main plant (P diets) and animal (A diets) raw materials used.

Line 94 and line 104 “presence of cataracts”. No results are presented for the presence of cataracts, although they are discussed (line 233-249). Results must be presented.

Figure 2 is misplaced in the article (it should be in the results and not in the materials and methods), and is referred to in the results (line 195, line 203) as figure 1 and not as figure 2.

The results of the evaluation analysis are only briefly mentioned in lines 212-214. More results are presented in the discussion (line 346-353). No results are presented on the influence of the socio-demographic characteristics of the tasters, although it is concluded (line 378-379) that "plant-based diets are generally preferred by younger taste testers". Some additional results must be presented to support the findings.

 

Minor things:

Line 42- The information in parenthesis should come after the words natural and climate-induced effects.

Line 121 (Legend of Figure 1) “above” instead of “below”.

Author Response

Beware of the abusive use of abbreviations without discrimination or explanation. Although the abbreviations are known by the scientific community, the article can be read by anyone who needs to be informed of the concepts involved.

All abbreviations have been checked throughout the manuscript and appropriately dealt with.  

Line 86-88 and Tables. Although the diet formulations are described in reference 6, it would be interesting to know what were the main plant (P diets) and animal (A diets) raw materials used.

The main ingredients for each diet have been included in the methods section (protein source and oil) as requested at lines 90-93.

Line 94 and line 104 “presence of cataracts”. No results are presented for the presence of cataracts, although they are discussed (line 233-249). Results must be presented.

A sentence has been inserted in the results section stating that no cataracts were observed (lines 192-193). 

Figure 2 is misplaced in the article (it should be in the results and not in the materials and methods), and is referred to in the results (line 195, line 203) as figure 1 and not as figure 2.

Agreed and a request has been made as a comment to move this figure to a more appropriate place in the manuscript, around line 201.

The results of the evaluation analysis are only briefly mentioned in lines 212-214. More results are presented in the discussion (line 346-353). No results are presented on the influence of the socio-demographic characteristics of the tasters, although it is concluded (line 378-379) that "plant-based diets are generally preferred by younger taste testers". Some additional results must be presented to support the findings.

An additional figure has been inserted into the results section (line 226) and a paragraph presenting findings included from lines 230-236. Lines 364-370 have also been edsited to reflect the input of additional taste data.

 

Minor things:

Line 42- The information in parenthesis should come after the words natural and climate-induced effects.

Corrected as requested.

Line 121 (Legend of Figure 1) “above” instead of “below”.

This was a result of typesetting and has been corrected, as requested, with the removal of the sentence.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

L14 The letter “P” should be italicized.

 

L16 The first mention of “NQC” in the article is that the full name should be written.

 

L16-17 relative fin condition. Please elaborate.

 

Introduction: Please supplement the research progress of krill meal, plant protein and poultry meal on mechanical and organoleptic/palatability characteristics of fillets.

 

L82-87 At least the key parts of the feed formulation need to be provided herein so that the experimental design can be more easily understood.

 

L86-87 Please specify what animal protein and plant protein.

 

Table 2 Tables are best represented by three-line tables.

 

L195-203 Why is it not measured for δ13C and δ15N in the experimental diets to verify the results of fillet stable isotope?

 

L205 According to the presentation in the Texture and Color Determination, why is there no data on chewiness?

 

L212-213 The results of the Sensory Evaluation need to be more detailed, and the presentation herein is two simple.

 

L283 Why is the full name of NQC only provided in the discussion?

 

L293 the incorporation of Schizochytrium sp. oil at 4.5% of the diet. This information should be provided in the Materials and Methods.

 

L373-374 The results of this study do not lead to such conclusions. “Total replacement of FM/FO from Atlantic salmon post-smolts had limited effect on growth”

 

L381 These need to specify which parameters of muscle quality are measured, not to say that all are unaffected.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

No.

Author Response

L14 The letter “P” should be italicized.

Tnis has been done throughout the manuscript as requested.

L16 The first mention of “NQC” in the article is that the full name should be written.

This has been done as requested.

L16-17 relative fin condition. Please elaborate.

The formula for RFI is presented in  line 114.

Introduction: Please supplement the research progress of krill meal, plant protein and poultry meal on mechanical and organoleptic/palatability characteristics of fillets.

As requested, mention  is made of the impact of alternate proteins on mechanical/organoleptic quality of salmon fillets with insertion of as semtence in the discussion (lines 336-338).

L82-87 At least the key parts of the feed formulation need to be provided herein so that the experimental design can be more easily understood.

This has been undertaken as requested also by reviewer #2.

L86-87 Please specify what animal protein and plant protein.

This has been undertaken as requested also by reviewer #2.

Table 2 Tables are best represented by three-line tables.

This is personal ;preference and is dependent upon the data presented

L195-203 Why is it not measured for δ13C and δ15N in the experimental diets to verify the results of fillet stable isotope?

This is a relevanmt question and measurements were not made so can not be included. However, the results illustrate separations between FM/FO use and their absence from feeds as detected by fillet analysis.

L205 According to the presentation in the Texture and Color Determination, why is there no data on chewiness?

Chewiness was not measured and reference to this on line 140 has been deleted.

L212-213 The results of the Sensory Evaluation need to be more detailed, and the presentation herein is two simple.

This has been dealt with as per the similar request of reviewer #2 with inclusion of a new figure and details of results therefrom and modification in the discussion section.

L283 Why is the full name of NQC only provided in the discussion?

This has been correc ted as per request.

L293 the incorporation of Schizochytrium sp. oil at 4.5% of the diet. This information should be provided in the Materials and Methods.

This information has been incorporated in the methods section (lines 92-93) as requested.

L373-374 The results of this study do not lead to such conclusions. “Total replacement of FM/FO from Atlantic salmon post-smolts had limited effect on growth”

Table 2 presents data to the contrary. As stated, there were no differences in weight, length or condition factor between treatments.

L381 These need to specify which parameters of muscle quality are measured, not to say that all are unaffected.

We state that "There was limited impact of treatment on texture or organoleptic profiles

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 The letter “P” should be italicized. For example in the line 229-235.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

No.

Author Response

The P has been italicized as requested