Looking for products available in your market?
Product availability varies by market. Visit the Skretting website serving your country for locally relevant product information and support.
LifeStart nutrition
The earliest stages of life lay the foundation for how fish and shrimp develop. As larvae, fry, juveniles and post-larvae grow, their nutritional needs, feeding behaviour and ability to digest feed change quickly. LifeStart brings together Skretting's expertise in early-life nutrition, health, feed technology and hatchery production. From first feeding through the nursery stage, it combines species-specific feeds with feeding programmes and guidance for the production environment. Alongside careful feeding, good water quality and attentive hatchery management, this approach supports nutrition through important early-life stages.
Nutrition that changes as they grow
Young fish and shrimp need more than a smaller version of a grow-out feed. Their nutritional needs and ability to find, eat and digest feed change as they develop, so nutrition, feed form and feeding approach need to change with them.
A LifeStart feeding programme considers:
- nutrients suited to the species and stage of development
- particle or pellet size, digestibility and stability in water
- feeding behaviour and transitions between feeds
- water quality and production conditions in the hatchery or nursery
Feeding through early-life transitions
Feed choice, feeding routines, production conditions and timing need to work together as young animals develop. Species, developmental stage, production system, water conditions and hatchery goals all help determine feed selection and transitions between feeding stages.
Local Skretting teams can provide guidance on feeding programmes and products available for different production conditions.
Research behind LifeStart
LifeStart concepts draw on research into nutrient needs, digestibility, feed intake and physical feed quality. These insights are applied to feeds developed for the species, life stages and production settings studied.
Frequently asked questions on LifeStart
Are LifeStart feeds different from grow-out feeds?
Yes. LifeStart feeds are designed for the nutritional needs, feeding behaviour and physical capabilities of larvae, fry, juveniles and post-larvae. Particle size, digestibility, nutrient concentration and performance in water may differ from feeds used later in production.
How do I choose a LifeStart feeding programme?
Start with the species, developmental stage, production system, water conditions and hatchery goals. These factors shape feed selection and transitions between feeding stages. Your local Skretting team can help you identify a suitable programme for your production conditions.