Do feeds contain growth hormones or antibiotics?

No. Skretting feeds do not contain any growth-promoting hormones. In some markets, antibiotics are added to Skretting feed upon customer request and per veterinary prescription, in accordance with specific rules established by law. The requirement of veterinary prescription ensures that the usage is well documented and justified, based on a proper diagnosis thus helping to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Medicines can only be used in the event of disease, never as a preventative measure or as growth promotor. In order to reduce the risk of transferring traces of antibiotics in treated animals to consumers, medicated feed containing antibiotics must be produced and administered under strict controls. A “withdrawal period” must be adhered to, which is the set period of time required between treatment and harvest. This ensures that the medicine is no longer present in the fish when being consumed.

Skretting is strongly working towards reducing the use of antibiotics through recommending best husbandry practices, encouraging the use of vaccines and promoting the use of functional diets to minimise the risk of disease. Even though we strive to keep the animals healthy and free from disease, bacterial diseases do inevitably occur. In some of these cases, antibiotic treatment still plays an important role in relieving animal suffering, safeguarding animals health and welfare. The central principle is therefore to use antibiotics responsibly, as little as possible and only when necessary.

The newly published ESVAC report, representing data from 31 countries within EU/EEA, shows that the use of antibiotics in animals is continuously reducing, with a drop of 34% in sales of veterinary medicines between 2011 and 2018. Measures such as national action plans for prudent use of antibiotics in animals and restriction on use of certain antimicrobials in food-producing animals have contributed to this decrease.

Pincoy

Concrete support to reduce the use of antibiotics  

The Chilean salmon industry has long been criticised for its extensive use of antibiotics. In recent years, growing pressure from governments and consumers has resulted in a strong industry focus to reduce antibiotics. This has led to the development of many useful innovations and to overcome this challenge, Skretting initiated the Pincoy Project in 2016 to bring together industry partners from various stages in the Chilean salmon production chain to find a holistic solution. In addition to making important improvements in health, welfare and monitoring, Pincoy 1.0 was successfully completed, and the roll-out of the second phase, Pincoy 2.0, took place at the end of the year. Current participants include Skretting, AquaGen/Blue Genomics, Pharmaq, Centrovet, Cermaq, Blumar and Camanchaca. 

About Pincoy

 

FAQs

Why choose farmed over wild fish?
Are farmed fish and shrimp healthy to eat?
Do salmon and trout feeds contain colouring?
What ingredients are in Skretting feeds?
Are the raw materials that Skretting uses in its feeds responsibly sourced?
Do feeds contain chemicals or preservatives dangerous to human health?
Are the animal by-products used in aquaculture feeds dangerous to human health?
Do feeds contain growth hormones or antibiotics?
What are fish meal and fish oil, and why are they used in aquaculture feeds?
Is low fish meal/fish oil content in feeds harmful to fish and shrimp?
Does Skretting use novel ingredients in its feeds?
What is ethoxyquin and is it safe?
Are circular economy principles applied to aquaculture feeds?
Is aquaculture sustainable?
Is aquaculture controlled?
Why is aquaculture important?
Why do aquaculture species grow quickly?
Are farms healthy environments for producing fish and shrimp?
How much wild fish is needed to feed farmed fish?
Are Skretting feeds sustainable?
Is it safe to eat farmed fish and shrimp?
How is Skretting contributing to feeding a growing global population?
Is one feed sufficient for all aquaculture species?
How much feed is needed to grow a farmed fish?
Can efficient feed management help improve the sustainability of aquaculture?