Relationship of hepatopancreas colours with lipid and mineral contents in cultured grass carp during winter

To clarify the relationship between hepatopancreas colours and lipid and mineral contents of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), we analyzed the moisture, total lipid and minerals contents of hepatopancreas with different colours during winter. Results show that the average moisture and lipid contents in kermesinus, spot, white and yellow hepatopancreas were 77.78%, 70.98%, 67.91%, 64.01% and 2.06%, 2.85%, 4.24%, 5.28%, respectively, which were significantly different (P<0.05). Compared with kermesinus hepatopancreas, the Ca, Cr, Zn and Se contents in spot, white and yellow hepatopancreas all increased significantly (P<0.05). Cu and As contents in spot hepatopancreas, and Mg, Fe, Cu contents in white hepatopancreas were lower than those in kermesinus hepatopancreas. However, all the detected minerals in yellow hepatopancreas were higher than those in kermesinus hepatopancreas. Briefly, there was less lipid in hepatopancreas of grass carp during winter, but when the hepatopancreas colours changed from kermesinus to spot, white and yellow, the moisture  contents gradually decreased but the lipid gradually increased. Compared with kermesinus hepatopancreas that had lower lipid content, the contents of Ca, Cr, Zn and Se in hepatopancreas with the other colours which had higher lipid contents significantly increased (P<0.05).