AQUAFEED
Recent news from around the globe by Aquafeed.com By Suzi Dominy*
Developments in hatchery feeds Since hatcheries are the focus of this issue, it seemed appropriate to discuss recent developments in hatchery feeds that we have covered over the last few months through our dedicated hatchery media, HATCHERY Feed & Management (Hatcheryfm.com). Alternative proteins have been a constant theme in this column, and hatcheries have not escaped the trend. The market for freshwa-
Australian Crayfish Hatchery.
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ter crayfish is worth some US$7.6 billion, and demand consistently exceeds supply. In the last issue of HATCHERY Feed & Management magazine, Asher Ariel of the Australian Crayfish Hatchery (ACH) explained that this is due to traditional production methods that are labor-intensive, season-dependent and fraught with inbreeding impacts. Describing how ACH had brought together innovative technologies for intensive production of redclaw
crayfish seedstock, including RAS, he noted the major impact of nutrition on health and survival. ACH has eliminated live feeds and has developed a fishmeal-free feed for crayfish hatchlings and broodstock. The feeds are based on insect-derived protein which is produced onsite - maintaining a high level of biosecurity; it is both sustainable and renewable. “Preliminary trials have shown an increase in crayling survival from less than 50% to greater than 90% compared to traditional fishmealbased larval feeds. In addition, an unexpected benefit was also quickly realized. The fishmeal-based feeds led to high ammonia levels requiring extensive biofiltration and water quality management to control. In contrast, using our Entomix diet, we recorded a dramatic reduction in ammonia – a significant bonus in RAS facilities, reducing labor and production costs”. ACH is currently undertaking high-level trials to investigate the effect of Entomix on broodstock health, fecundity and egg quality to further optimize their production technologies. Early-stage trials have shown great promise, with an average fecundity of 12 eggs per gram of female and greater than 95% egg survival to hatch. It’s not all alternatives however. Feed company Aller Aqua and marine ingredients producer TripleNine are seeing results of a research collaboration entered into in 2019 to identify functional components of marine raw materials, with particular attention to their beneficial performance in terms of fish health and growth, as well as sustainability. At Aller Aqua’s research facility, rainbow trout were fed on different diets containing TripleNine’s functional marine ingredients from first feeding until they reached fingerling size. The functional ingredients led to positive effects on fish growth performance and health and providAUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2020
