Why do aquaculture species grow quickly?
Growth rates vary by species, genetics, life stage, feed, health, water quality, temperature and farm management. Some farmed fish and shrimp species grow relatively quickly because their biology is suited to the production environment and because producers manage nutrition and farming conditions for the species being raised.
Rapid growth is not the only measure of good production. Health, welfare, feed use, survival, water quality and product quality are also important when performance is assessed.
Frequent questions on animal health and welfare
Why do aquaculture species grow quickly?
In aquaculture, all of the production factors are optimised. This makes it possible for farmed species to reach market sizes faster than wild species.
Are farms healthy environments for producing fish and shrimp?
Aquaculture farming systems must comply with extremely strict requirements designed to safeguard animal welfare, hygiene and safety. These also ensure a wide range of characteristics are optimised, including water and waste management.
Is low fish meal/fish oil content in feeds harmful to fish and shrimp?
No. The latest feed formulations are specifically designed to give aquaculture species all of the nutrients that they need in order to optimise their health and growth performance, and to ensure end-product quality.