New Feeding For New Species

Laurent Genet

SKRETTING

LAURENT GENETSkretting, Vietnam

‐ Laurent Genet is the senior Skretting executive in charge of Southeast Asia. ‐ Skretting is the world leader in high‐quality feed for farmed fish, with annual 

production of approximately 1.4 mmt. Part of Nutreco, Skretting has companies on five continents that produce and deliver feeds from hatching to harvest for over 50 species of farmed fish.

‐ Genet recently moved to Vietnam to manage Skretting’s latest acquisition, Tomboy Ltd., the country’s fourth‐largest shrimp feed manufacturer. 

‐ He has a background as a DVM in France and a 19‐year career in animal nutrition. Eight years were based in Indonesia, establishing and managing feed and premix businesses across the region.

New Feeding for New SpeciesDr L. GENETGOAL 2010Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

How to farm new species in a sustainable manner ?

Prerequisites for sustainable fish farming

• Domesticationlife cycle control and genetic selection

• Farming technologyrearing techniques adapted to environment

• Pest controlbiosecurity plans and availability of medicinal products

• Appropriate nutritionspecies specific

Aquaculture Feeds

• Specific feed must be adapted to every species’ nutritional requirements

• Specific feed must be adapted to every species’ feeding behaviour:– Size

– Shape

– Sinking / floating

– Dry / soft consistency

– …

TUNA FEED

BIG FEEDFOR

BIG FISH

A HOT ISSUE!

REPRODUCTION ABOUT TO BE CONTROLLED

GOOD NEWS, BUT...

THE FEED BOTTLENECK REMAINS

TRASH FISH DRAWBACKS

• Traceability and sustainability very difficult / impossible to demonstrate

• No control on the nutritional profile of the feed, and possible unsatisfactory quality (e.g. rancidity)

• High risk of disease transmission to tuna• High environmental impact (waste)• Labour‐intensive handling of the feed• Economics: price volatility, frozen storage, logistics…

NEED FOR FORMULATED FEED!

AquaSoft Tuna

THE MATRIX TECHNOLOGY• The Matrix is an innovative technology to produce big, soft pellets on 

farm, based on:– Extruded pellets, uniquely formulated for the relevant species at its stage 

of development.– A “2‐component binder”, which, when water is added, reacts instantly 

with specific raw materials in the pellet, and creates a matrix between the pellets themselves.

• The feed + binder is formulated to meet the nutritional specifications when proportion of binder is according to our recommendations.

• The Matrix technology produces a soft and palatable pellet with a natural “bite,” and enables the releasing of flavors and attractants. It holds the wet pellets together, ensuring that all feed is delivered to the fish, and none is lost to the environment. This cold technology also enables us to add heat‐labile components known for better fish health.

STEP 1: MIXING• Pellets, binder and 

water are mixed in the right proportion

• After a few minutes mixing, the 2‐components binder reacts with pellet raw materials and a dough is formed

Water(sea)

Binder1 + 2

ExtrudedFeed

STEP 2: FORMING

• The dough is formed in big, soft pellets using a modified meat mincer

THE FINAL PRODUCT The mincer produces soft, big pellets:

– Moisture content around 30%

– Test productions successful with different sizes beween 15 and 60 mm

– Pellets can either be long or cut shorter

Standard feedFor comparison(moisture 10 %)

AQUASOFT TUNA• Application of Matrix technology to tuna feeding

• Formulation developed for demonstration trial– CP/CF 47/33 on a dry matter basis

– Marine raw materials

– Palatability enhancers/attractants

– Anti‐stress package

• Possibility to introduce a second formulation in the finishing period

ADVANTAGES OF AQUASOFT TUNA• Improved logistic

– AquaSoft can be supplied regularly from nearest Skretting feed factory, as any other fish feed

• Easy handling of the feed– Can apply the Matrix technology on the feeding boat– Possible to make feeding automated– Less volume to handle, > 90% dry matter in the AquaSoft prior to adding 

water – No need for costly frozen storage, and no energy cost of keeping trash fish 

frozen• Full control over the nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fat level…), and no 

problems with degradation of feed quality, like rancidity• Can add medication, or micronutrients, or palatability enhancers• No disease transmission to tuna or environment from raw fish• Reduced environmental impact• Raw materials with full traceability• Raw materials from sustainable fisheries

UPSCALINGSkretting already working on upscale, in order to provide for next season:

– Full range of formulations (weaning, fattening, finishing…)

– Recommendations for production and feed delivery equipments 

AQUASOFT TUNA IN THE FIELD: SUCCESSFUL TRIALS IN AUSTRALIA, JAPAN

HOW TO DESIGNSUSTAINABLE DIETS

FORNEW FARMED SPECIES ?

STEP # 1: what do fishes need ?

1. Research with focus on nutrient requirements

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Total dietary P (%)W

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(% D

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Whole body phosphorus

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.54.0

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7.5

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Total dietary P (%)

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(% D

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0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.54.0

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5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

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7.5

8.0

Total dietary P (%)

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(% D

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Whole body ash

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.50.8

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1.2

1.3

1.4

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Total dietary P (%)W

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Total dietary P (%)W

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Protein, Fat, Fiber, Starch, Amino Acids, Ca, P, NaCl,…

STEP # 2: raw materials assessment

1. Research with focus on nutrient requirements

2. Research with focus on nutritional value of raw materials

• Over 500 raw materials tested for composition and digestibility• Effect of anti-nutritional factors on fish performance• Determination of max inclusion levels of raw materials• Assess potential food safety risks and process functionality

Fish meal, Fish oil, Soya bean meal, Wheat flour… X 500 ++

Looking for good quality, safe, sustainable and affordable raw materials:

Fish meal and fish oil replacement to increase flexibility in raw material use

• A more economic feed →To help us cope with fluctuations in raw material prices

• A more sustainable feed→Critical for a growing industry with limited supply of marine raw materials

Challenges in Fish Nutrition

Replacement of fish meal and fish oil has been the main focus in fish nutrition research for the last 15 years.

Atlantic salmon (1.7-3.0 kg)Growth from 30% down to 15% fishmeal (summer conditions)

STEP # 1 + STEP # 2 NOT ALWAYS SUFFICIENT…

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0,40

0,50

0,60

0,70

0,80

0,90

1,00

FM 30 FM 25 FM 20 FM 15

Gro

wth

(SG

R; %

/d)

Fishmeal substitution protein to protein no addition of active micro-ingredients

STEP # 3

MicroBalance™

Physiology / Metabolismand Nutrition

1. Research with focus on nutrient requirements

2. Research with focus on nutritional value of raw materials

More than 500 raw materials tested for composition and digestibiity3. Research with focus on physiology (metabolism)

micro nutrients

Metabolic pathways: exploring biochemical exchanges and interactions at cells and organs level

Metabolic Profiling: 238 analytes(160 metabolites)

• Arginine

• Aspartate

• Cortisol

• ATP

• Cysteine

• Lactate

• Glutamate

• Vitamin C

• .....

Potential effect of micronutrients?

Health Parameters

Make sure that no unwanted effects are observed on fish health, immunity… with advanced diets.

Flesh quality parameters must be optimal

• Sensory evaluation – No difference

• Pigment and colour – No difference

• Fillet fat – No difference

• Texture – No difference

1,0

2,0

3,0

4,0

5,0

6,0

7,0Own smell

foreign smell

Fresh oil smell

Protein precipitation

Colour consistency

Discolouration

Metallic taste

Acidic tasteOwn tasteForeign taste

Rancid taste

Oil taste

Bitterness

Chewiness

Consistency

Juiciness

Stickiness

High fish meal Low F ish meal + MB

MicroBalanceTM• Today, fishmeal can be safely reduced to 15% in diets for 

Atlantic salmon, without affecting performance, health or quality of the final product.  

• This can be achieved by substitution with good quality raw materials, combined with the use of  active micro‐ingredients (MicroBalanceTM). Micronutrients proven to

be active, safe and easily available, taken into account in feed formulation, brought by specific raw-materials

0,5

0,55

0,6

0,65

0,7

0,75

0,8

0,85

0,9

30% FM 15% FM 15% + MB

Gro

wth

(SG

R, %

/d)

Confirmation Studies (with MicroBalanceTM)Atlantic Salmon (2.6 – 4.7 kg)

Equal growth with MicroBalance™

Other species….Similar trials are ongoing or in the planningphase with other aqua species to assess thepotential of MicroBalanceTM to furtherreduce fish meal levels. 

New focuses in Skretting

Skretting delivers outstanding nutrition and services to fish farmers worldwide for the sustainable production of healthy and delicious fish (soon shrimp...).