What ingredients are in our feed?
Aquaculture feeds provide nutrients such as protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients can come from marine, vegetable, animal and other approved sources. The ingredients used vary by species, life stage, product, market, regulatory requirements and availability.
Feed formulations are developed to meet defined nutritional and product specifications. Formulators consider the nutrients provided by each ingredient, as well as its quality, safety, digestibility, physical properties and suitability for the intended feed.
Ingredient sources
Depending on the product and market, aquaculture feeds may include:
- agricultural ingredients such as wheat, maize, soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, lupin and faba bean products;
- marine ingredients such as fishmeal, fish oil and crustacean meal;
- by-products from seafood processing;
- eligible processed animal proteins and fats;
- novel ingredients such as algal oils, insect ingredients, single-cell proteins or fungi-based ingredients; and
- micro-ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and pigments.
Not every feed contains ingredients from every category. Ingredient availability, regulatory approval and product requirements differ between markets.
Marine ingredients
Fishmeal and fish oil provide protein, essential fatty acids, minerals and other nutrients used in some aquaculture feeds. They may be produced from whole fish or from by-products generated when seafood is processed for human consumption.
The proportion and source of marine ingredients vary between feeds, species and life stages. Our marine-ingredient requirements consider available information on species, fishery and origin, the use of whole fish and by-products, traceability, certification and fishery improvement programmes.
By-products and circular ingredients
Suitable by-products and side streams from seafood, agriculture and other food-production systems can provide useful nutrients and broaden the range of raw materials available for feed. Before use, these ingredients must meet applicable nutritional, quality, safety, regulatory and availability requirements.
Using a by-product does not by itself demonstrate a lower environmental footprint. Performance depends on factors including processing, allocation, transport, geography and the lifecycle methodology applied.
MicroBalance®: expanding formulation options
MicroBalance® is a formulation approach developed through Skretting’s research into micronutrients and how they support fish and shrimp nutrition. This knowledge helps formulators use a broader range of suitable raw materials while meeting the nutritional requirements of the species and life stage.
The ingredients used and the achievable inclusion levels vary by species, product, market and available raw materials. The complete formulation must continue to provide the nutrients required for its intended use.
Frequent questions on feed ingredients
What ingredients are in our feed?
Aquaculture feeds contain essential nutrients that should be delivered in the right quantities to keep fish and shrimp growing well and healthily. These nutrients come from a variety of different sources. In addition to fish meal and fish oil, they often contain other vegetable-based meals and oils, fish trimmings and processed by-products from land animals.
Are our raw materials responsibly sourced?
We work to source raw materials responsibly by setting approval and sourcing requirements for ingredients and suppliers. Depending on the ingredient and supply chain, these requirements can cover nutrition, quality, safety, regulatory compliance, traceability, and environmental and social risks.
Are animal by-products dangerous to human health?
Animal by-products are not inherently dangerous to human health when they are legally permitted for use in aquaculture feed and meet the applicable safety, quality and processing requirements. Only eligible materials from defined categories can be used, and controls apply to their sourcing, processing and inclusion in feed.
Do salmon and trout feeds contain colouring?
Yes. Feeds for salmon and trout may contain astaxanthin, a carotenoid that contributes to the characteristic red or pink colour of salmonid flesh. Astaxanthin occurs naturally in the aquatic food chain and also has biological functions in salmonids.
Do feeds contain growth hormones or antibiotics?
Skretting feeds do not contain growth-promoting hormones. Antibiotics are not used as routine feed ingredients or to promote growth.
Do feeds contain chemicals or preservatives?
Feeds may contain authorised additives, including preservatives, when they serve a defined purpose such as maintaining product quality or stability. These substances must comply with applicable feed legislation and the permitted conditions and maximum levels for their use.
What is ethoxyquin and is it safe?
Ethoxyquin is an antioxidant that protects and maintains the quality of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish meal, particularly during transport and storage.
What are fish meal and fish oil, and why are they used in aquaculture feeds?
Fish meal is a powder obtained after cooking, pressing, drying and milling fresh raw fish, while fish oil is a liquid pressed from the cooked fish. Both are produced from harvesting short-lived, fast-growing stocks of small, bony and oily fish for which there is little or no demand for human consumption.
How much wild fish is needed to feed farmed fish?
Skretting now has the knowledge and R&D to produce Atlantic salmon feeds requiring zero fish meal, and zero fish oil. We invest in R&D that provides full flexibility.
Do we use novel ingredients in our feeds?
Yes. Skretting is in full support of the development of novel ingredients and we have been using some of these in our diets with the support of those customers.