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TRANSCRIPT
No. 26 - Winter 2017 - The magazine of Skretting Australia
25 YEARS OF HEALTH DIETS
PROTEC GILL FOR BARRAMUNDI
Faster to harvest
SKRETTING
www.skrett ing.com.au
Nexus
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NEW PHD FOR SKRETTING ARC
page 3
PRIME AND EXPRESS
page 4
25 YEARS OF HEALTH DIETS
page 7
PROTEC GILL & FLX FOR BARRA
page 10
CONTENTS
Email: [email protected]
Nexus is published by Skretting and is distributed free to all our customers involved in the Australian and New Zealand Fish Farming Industry.
© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publishers.
This publication is not intended to remove the need to take advice when dealing with specific situations and readers should contact the editor before taking any action in reliance on the articles in Nexus.
Contact Information:26 Maxwells Road Cambridge Tasmania Australia 7170PO Box 117 Rosny Park Tasmania Australia 7018Telephone: +61 3 6216 1201
Three primary areas of optimising aquaculture production are growth, health and mitigating
unfavorable conditions. This Winter edition of Nexus comes just as our salmon customers are
preparing for the optimal growth periods of Spring, and our timely release of what I am sure is the
most advanced pair of grower feeds released yet; Prime and Express. In this edition we break down
the holistic approach that we have taken to nutritionally driven growth, and outline the production
benefits based on semi-commercial validation trials to date.
Growing fish faster, reducing their exposure to pathogens, is a great way to reduce potential for
production losses. Another extremely effective way is health-promoting feeds. As we celebrate 25
years of health feeds, we reflect on the advancement of this area of research and development,
moving from a single effective approach of stimulating the immune system to support of specific
organ systems.
The organ support approach has allowed knowledge to be transferred between species and
between challenges, and we highlight the application of Protec Gill to barramundi being transferred
to growout sites, and the challenges faced with this changing environment.
But first we discuss the major environmental challenge faced by salmon farmers: Summer. We are
fortunate to now understand a tremendous amount more about the fundamental effects of high
water temperature on Salmon, due to a recently completed PhD by our colleague, Vibeke Vikesaa.
I hope that this edition gives you a new perspective on fish feeds and the diverse areas in which
they can support fish production. n Dr Vibeke Vikeså, a Researcher at Skretting ARC,
recently defended her thesis entitled “Regulation of
appetite and growth of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)
and effect of water oxygen, temperature and dietary
energy” on 27 June at the National Institute of Nutrition
and Seafood Research (NIFES) in Bergen. The aim of
Dr Vikeså’s research was to increase the knowledge
on appetite and growth regulation in seawater adapted
Atlantic salmon in relation to high water temperature, low
oxygen conditions and dietary energy concentration. Key
findings showed that high temperature reduces appetite
and growth, even under favourable oxygen conditions,
and low oxygen conditions result in an inhibition of
energy metabolism, causing a further growth reduction
at both optimal and high temperatures. Increased dietary
energy showed a positive effect on both growth and
energy metabolism.
JAMES MCIVER - SUSTAINABILITY & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER SKRETTING AUSTRALIAJames is the new Communications & Sustainability Officer replacing Jenna Bowyer at Skretting Australia. James joins us from a background in Agricultural Science and Marketing. He has been involved in sustainability projects including the evaluation and commercial implementation of holistic approaches to disease management techniques in cropping systems.
James coordinated the recent AquaScience conference and will be responsible for managing customer certification requirements and developing communication material. James grew up on the North-West Coast of Tasmania and now resides in Hobart. He will report to Leo Nankervis, Marketing Manager.
Dr Vikeså’s body of work has resulted in a new
understanding of the mechanisms behind appetite
and growth in Atlantic salmon. High temperature
and low oxygen conditions are some of the most
challenging conditions that farmed salmon can
experience. The insights gained from this research
are of increasing importance for the industry,
contributing to the increased growth, welfare and
health of the fish. n
Growing fish faster, reducing their exposure to pathogens, is a great way to reduce potential for production lossesLeo Nankervis Marketing ManagerSkretting Australia
DR LEO NANKERVIS MARKETING MANAGER
About this issue
New PhD from Skretting ARC
Launching globally this month, Skretting’s ground-breaking new Prime and Express diets utilise the full growth potential of the fish, providing farmers with the means to further enhance their operations.
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Over the course of the past three decades, Skretting
Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC) has conducted
pioneering research into the functionality of the different
nutrients in fish and shrimp feeds. There are a number of
stimuli that influence feeding, including taste and hunger.
Skretting ARC has successfully found ways to positively
influence both of these factors in salmon, thereby
enabling the fish to eat more, digest, and assimilate the
feed more efficiently.
“This unique body of work has provided the platform
for Prime and Express – our two new grower diets that
are explicitly designed to stimulate and enhance the
appetite and feed intake of salmon,” says Sissel Susort,
Global Product Group Manager for Skretting. “They work
in tandem to facilitate the best possible growth of the
fish at two crucial growth stages, with Prime optimising
consumption at the first seawater growth phase of the
production cycle – up to 1kg; Express takes over in the
final grow-out phase – taking the salmon right through to
harvest.”
FOUNDATIONS FOR GROWTH
With the new grower diets, an organ system approach
was followed with the aim to redesign growth
from a complete perspective. The result was two
distinct products – each tailored to the physiological
requirements of the fish at different life stages. Prime
prepares, or primes, the fish, building a solid foundation
to support fast, high-quality growth. Express builds on
the framework created by Prime, maximising the speed
of growth by enabling the fish to fully utilise the potential
in the feed. This means that the feed can go through the
digestive process much faster.
“Good growth in the first phase in seawater should
support the recruitment of new muscle fibres and a
healthy bone deposition. In the later seawater phase that
leads to harvest, growth occurs primarily by enlargement
of the existing muscle fibres and by deposition of
fat. Growth at this final stage is only as good as the
foundation that we lay in the first phase. With Prime
and Express we are supporting fast growth while giving
the salmon everything that they need to support the
right type of growth,” explains Christian De Santis,
Researcher at Skretting ARC.
DIGESTIVE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The new feeds are built around an understanding of the
digestive physiology of the fish, providing them with a
solution that can be broken down and processed much
faster than conventional diets.
“This means that food stays in the stomach for a shorter
period of time. And if the stomach empties faster, the fish
will be ready to consume again sooner,” says De Santis.
Grower feeds typically contain high levels of fat. Salmon
will digest and absorb this fat and deposit it in the fillet.
However, processing a high-fat feed can be challenging
to the fish’s digestive system. Express is designed to
enable salmon to take up the fat from the feed much
more proficiently.
“Validation trials conducted with Express showed
that it significantly reduced the accumulation of fat
in the intestinal cells, suggesting a far more effective
absorption of fat,” says De Santis.
Using Express, customers are
reporting extremely good growth and the lowest FCR in class
Sissel SusortGlobal Product Manager
Skretting Global
The stomach is the first checkpoint
in digestion. An empty stomach
stimulates ghrelin production, telling
the fish it is hungry. A full stomach
generates a feeling of satiation.
The skeleton is the architecture
upon which the fish grows. Prime &
Express are optimised to ensure that
the right elements are available to
provide a solid basis for supporting
maximum growth.
The intestinal tract of salmonids is a
complex and dynamic interface that
not only mediates nutrient uptake
but also functions as the first line of
defence against ingested pathogens.
The liver plays an essential role in
nutrient metabolism, bile synthesis,
detoxification and vitamin and
mineral storage.
The unique structure of the pyloric
caeca offers a large surface for
absorption of nutrients.
The brain’s primary function is to translate
stimuli into signals. There are a number
of stimuli that influence feeding, including
taste and hunger. When feeding Prime &
Express there is a noticeable increase in
feed intake.
Trials with Express have shown that
growth and yield can be maximised
without compromising the texture and
colour of the end product.Facilities at the EAF
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“In collaboration with two customers, Skretting compared
the growth characteristics and feed conversion of
Express with several other commercially available grower
feeds. Using Express, those customers are reporting
extremely good growth and the lowest FCR in class,”
confirms Susort.
FASTER PRODUCTION OR BIGGER FISH?
Thanks to Skretting ARC’s focus on optimising appetite,
feed intake and digestion, Prime and Express will together
enable salmon farmers to reduce their production time
by as much as four weeks. Alternatively, if they wish to
maintain their current production timescales, then the
slaughter weight can be increased by up to 700 grams.
“Fast growth or fast to harvest is the single most
important aspect in salmon aquaculture since this
reduces operating costs and also reduces the associated
risks of farming fish in open ocean locations,” says
Susort.
“Together, Prime and Express are a game-changing
solution that will provide our customers with the increased
flexibility to do what’s best for their production system
without taking any shortcuts or unnecessary risks.
Whether they choose to reduce the production time
or to provide the market with larger salmon, there are
considerable benefits to be had from both approaches,”
she says.
Prime and Express launch in September for the Australian
salmon market. While the initial development focussed
on Atlantic salmon, we plan on validating and refining the
concepts so they can be adapted to other fish species.
n
Skretting Health Feeds celebrates 25 years supporting global aquaculture growth through innovative pro-health solutions
In 1992, Skretting became the first fish feed company in the world to launch a health diet for fish. Twenty-five years on, its health feeds team with a portfolio of groundbreaking products is making a crucial contribution to the economic viability and sustainability of fish and shrimp farming.
Skretting first set off on the unchartered journey to explore health-enhancing aquaculture feeds at the start of the 1990s as the company set about investigating whether solutions that prevent challenges in salmonid farming systems could provide viable alternatives to traditional medicine-based treatments. Crucially, it was at that time that Skretting first began to learn that the use of specific natural substances could result in stronger, more robust animals that were better equipped to deal with diseases.
Highly-refined beta-glucans were the novel ingredient to be made available to the market and discussions were held with leading scientists in the field regarding their application.
“We saw that salmon were being exposed to a number of challenges, and we felt that if we could stimulate the immune defences before the main risk period, then we could provide much-needed support to those fish. The trials gave some good results; good enough that we decided to introduce a new anti-stress product, Response,” says Viggo Halseth, Chief Innovation Officer at Nutreco, who held the role of Marketing Manager at Skretting 25 years ago.
A driving force for healthier, stronger fish and shrimp
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EVOLUTION
For some years, beta-glucans were the core focus of Skretting’s health feeds, but in 2004 the decision was taken within the Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC) to establish a health department to see what could be achieved in terms of strengthening preventative health through feeding and diets. Three years later, the industry leading health diet Protec was launched to help support against challenges in the four key areas – skin, gills, gut and immune system. In 2013, Protec was comprehensively upgraded to deliver fish support during viral challenges, providing the building blocks for stronger skin and optimising the balance between fish, microbes and environment.
Thanks in part to the knowledge gained in developing new generation Protec, in 2016 Skretting launched Lorica – a shrimp health diet that supports the functioning of the immune system and helps the animal to cope with bacterial challenges.
SYNERGIES
Today, Skretting’s portfolio of health diets contains a wide range of functional ingredients that work in synergy to enhance the animals’ ability to cope with stressful situations such as disease, handling, transport and vaccinations. Individually, these ingredients have some benefits, but crucially what Skretting continues to evidence is that specific combinations provide synergistic benefits where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, thereby providing greater holistic protection for the animals.
NETWORK
Multiple innovative methodologies including quantitative histology and plasma biotechnology have been developed and optimised by Skretting ARC. These have advanced Skretting’s understanding of the way different ingredients interact, thereby providing the platform for current and future innovations. The progression of its health feeds have also greatly benefited from the expertise and R&D work undertaken by colleagues in parent company Nutreco’s animal nutrition business, Trouw Nutrition, which has five major research centres, as well as through some very important external collaborations with key universities and scientific partners. There are presently more than 50 active collaborations with external partners at present.
“It’s a very valuable pipeline for us and so it is an area that we are building up. We are an innovative company so being engaged with R&D partners is crucial, not just for us but also to improve the value proposition for our customers,” says Charles McGurk, Manager of Fish Health at Skretting ARC.
“We take our research priorities from the business. All of the projects we have are within the framework of our project portfolio and the issues facing the industry – a strategy that closely steers the directions that we take. We really thrive from those stakeholder interactions,” says McGurk.
Protec Gill, a diet expressly developed to support gill health and recovery from disease, environmental and treatment challenges, is among the most recent
innovations to come out of this strategy. And Skretting’s recommendation for all proven functional feed solutions is the same: That they should be included proactively – before there is a challenge that will affect the condition of the stocks – as part of a structured approach to best management practices and an integrated health program, because they work best alongside strategies such as vaccination, disease monitoring and the control of environmental parameters.
INTEGRATED APPROACH
While current challenges are being met head-on, the industry is constantly moving and encountering new obstacles, which is certain to lead to shifts in Skretting’s R&D focus. A growing cause for concern, for instance, is the amount of handling that farmed fish undergo, whether for vaccination or treatment for parasites. These are all potential sources of stress that can affect performance and in turn impact the production cycle
Addressing this, Skretting’s future research work will continue to follow the preventative path and explore what can be done to increase the robustness of fish and shrimp, and if these animals’ health is compromised then how can they be best supported to deal with the challenge.
Furthermore, because timing is critical when it comes to health-related issues, Skretting wants to explore the development of rapid diagnostic tools that can give immediate diagnoses relating to the health status at farm sites.
“From the very beginning, we believed that feed had to be part of the solution. There are no quick fixes, no miracle solutions. You need to have a holistic approach where you try to put a focus on all different aspects of best-practice: Of course, vaccines are one aspect, health and diet is another, there is also biosecurity and having the right medicines to treat specific diseases. But there is a clear fundamental need to develop health diets and that need very clearly comes from the market,” says Alex
Obach, Managing Director at Skretting ARC. n
Response – the first use of beta-glucans in fish feed to boost immune systems led to a new category of health-supporting functional feeds
1992
Skretting’s Health Feeds
Left: Skretting’s global health network gathered in Stavanger earlier this year
New Protec functional feeds include anti-viral action2013
Protec and React functional feeds support fish health 2007
Lorica strengthens shrimp immune systems2015
Protec Gill supports gill health and recovery during disease, environmental and treatment challenges. Shield aids salmon health against sea lice
2016
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In 2015, Skretting Australia first launched Protec Gill, a
new feed that better supported gill health and recovery
during environmental, treatment and disease challenges.
As the name implies, it contains the full Protec package,
which acts synergistically with additional components
that ensure better gill health.
In 2016, Protec Gill was launched into the Australian
barramundi market. Scott Hayward, Farm Manager
at Sealord King Reef Barramundi, says, “At King Reef
we started using Protec Gill to lower fish gill stress
immediately after long hours of transport and acclimation
from the hatcheries into the grow-out ponds. Our site
also has very mineral-deficient source water, which
makes gill health a real challenge for small barramundi.”
“By using Protec Gill our prevalence of bacterial gill
disease dropped significantly in the first three months
of stocking fingerlings, along with the aid of other
management practices. We have increased our juvenile
survival by up to 20% in some ponds. Going forward, we
are looking for more consistency in our juvenile survival
and we see Protec Gill as playing an important part in
that,” says Hayward.
Skretting Australia’s Product Manager Nicole Ruff says,
“King Reef’s application of Protec Gill is a great example
of how we can support the barramundi’s gill health
through a stressful event such as transfer of fingerlings.
We know that this will have longer-term benefits further
down the production cycle which will ultimately be of
great benefit to our customer.” nScott Hayward, Farm Manager at Sealord King Reef Barramundi. Photo supplied by Sealord King Reef Barramundi.
Protec Gill supporting
barramundi through transfer
The role that functional feed ingredients play in supporting farmed fish health, and in turn, improved sustainable and economic production has been a major focus for Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre over the last 25 years. Today, Skretting’s Protec solution is used for a number of species worldwide, and is effective in preparing the fish for upcoming stress and challenges in farm conditions, such as handling, vaccination and diseases. It is recognised as the leading and most comprehensively documented functional feed on the market.
www.skretting.com