Cooperation brings improvements in fish performance and health
In August 2019 Aller Aqua and marine ingredients producer TripleNine entered a research collaboration. The aim was to identify components of marine raw materials with particular function to benefit performance in terms of fish health and growth, as well as a greater extent of sustainability. The feeding trials with fish have been finalised and gave remarkable results.
In the feeding trial which took place at Aller Aqua’s research facility, the use of functional marine ingredients produced by TripleNine was investigated. From first feeding after hatch, rainbow trout were fed different test diets containing functional marine ingredients until they reached fingerling size.
The functional ingredients led to positive effects on fish growth performance and health and provided excellent survival rates in the test groups. This fulfils the initial aim of maximising feed performance through targeted use of the functional properties of marine ingredients.
“We appreciate that TripleNine, a well know producer of marine ingredients, specializes in value-adding products. The ones we have tested are nutritionally valuable fish feed ingredients but using them as concentrated functional ingredients increase their impact. Our trials confirm this.” Explains R&D Director at Aller Aqua, Dr Hanno Slawski.
Chief Commercial Officer at TripleNine, Kenneth Storbank states: “We are very happy that the trials confirmed our intentions with 999Vital, which is the name for the product. Ensuring optimal efficiency by concentrating the functional ingredients ensures that we will contribute to heightening both performance and sustainability in the aquaculture sector. We have a good collaboration with Aller Aqua, and it is a good way for us to get our products commercially tested and solidly documented.”
In future, 999Vital will serve as set functional ingredients in Aller Aqua’s starter feeds. Continuous testing will further evaluate effects in grow-out and broodstock stages of fish lifecycles for possible later application.
Sustainability has been the focus of the conducted research from the beginning, and the key factors have been a desire to make the most of available resources, and in this way further optimising the aquaculture value chain. It has therefore been important that the research cooperation impact on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Particularly goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, and goal 14, Life below water are considered when discussing marine raw materials. The marine ingredients are locally produced, which fits into Aller Aqua’s policy of buying regional raw materials when feasible. Concentrating the functional ingredients in marine raw materials ensures minimum waste and optimum effect from less raw materials. This reduces the aquaculture value chain’s reliance on marine raw materials, as less is needed, and at the same time, less waste ensures a better water environment.
Source: Aller Aqua