Fish health and feed

Fish health in pounds and pence

We are all what we eat. There is no doubt that fish health is affected by what we feed the fish. As a minimum, fish must have nutrients that cover their need for energy, growth and maintenance. If these needs are not covered, the fish will stop growing and may develop deficiency diseases.

Fish health in kroner og øre

Fish health is more than just a challenge for fish welfare. Poor fish health can have a substantial effect on production results and slaughter quality.

In 2011, an extensive mapping project was carried out of the wastage in the sea phase which showed that a substantial part of the loss can be explained either through disease, death in connection with handling, exposure or undefined mortality at sea.

In addition to the fact that dead fish means a direct loss for the fish farmer, poor fish health will also lead to poorer utilisation of MTB – the total biomass the fish farmer is allowed to have through production.

Production potential is not exploited, with the losses this entails. Often, the earliest sign of disease is that the fish stops eating. The fish will therefore need more time at sea to reach slaughter weight. This in its turn increases the risk of being affected by new health challenges.

It is therefore economically advisable to keep the fish as healthy as possible, and the prevention of disease especially is the key to healthy fish and optimum animal welfare throughout production. And fish health can be especially important for slaughter quality and therefore has a direct effect on the fish farmer's financial situation.

Functional feed

In addition to basic health needs, we believe that it has a positive effect on fish to give them feed that contains nutrients or additives that have a positive effect on health. Feeds containing such substances are often called functional or health feeds.

Through extensive research of its own, and use of documented components from human and veterinary nutrition, BioMar has developed a reliable range of functional feeds that counteract a number of ill-health challenges that we see in the industry today. On these pages you can fund examples of functional components, and how they work.

It is important that we see these feeds as tools in a holistic strategy surrounding preventive and health-promoting work. A sensible strategy, with correct feed at the right time, is the key to success.

Health-modulating substances

Krill

Krill is a shrimp-like creature that is caught in the Antarctic Ocean. Krill oil is rich in phospholipids that carry with them the valuable marine fatty acids EPA and DHA. High content of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA strengthen appetite, the immune system and promote normal development.

Nucleotides

Nucleotides act as energy for cells and are building blocks in genetic material such as DNA and RNA.

In situations where the fish has to adapt to new surroundings, strengthen their defences and rebuild tissue after damage, substantial cell division is involved and the supply of nucleotides will be useful to promote function and healing.

Nucleotides therefore have both a preventive and treatment affect

Glucans

Glucans are immuno-stimulants. The bodies immune cells are stimulated by the glucans and initiate a non-specific response that prepares the fish for any attacks from substances that cause infection.

The glucans that the immune cells recognise are component parts from cytoskeletons from grains, algae or fungi.

Photo: BioMar

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics

Probiotics are bacterial strains that need to be a part of the normal flora of the fish, and as such contribute to better intestinal health and a stronger immune system.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are indigestible carbohydrates that function as "food" for the bacteria in the intestines and as such contribute to the effects of the probiotics.

Photo: Åge Hojem

Vitamins

Vitamins have important tasks as antioxidants, and in physiological functions involved in the immune system, wound healing, and normal development.

Vitamin E functions as an antioxidant and is important in the protection and restoration of tissue.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, and amongst other things is important for the immune system, wound healing, and for normal development of the skeleton and connective tissue.
Vitamin A is important for a range of biological functions, including vision, the skin and mucosa, and the immune system.

Astaxanthin, in addition to being a dye that provides the characteristic red colour in the muscles, is also an antioxidant that protects tissues together with the other vitamins.

Photo: Åge Hojem

Minerals

Fish have access to supplies of many minerals through the water they live in.

It is primarily zinc, selenium, phosphorus, copper and iodine that the fish need to be supplied with through their feed.

Selenium is an important antioxidant together with vitamin C.
Zinc is important for wound healing amongst other things.
Minerals are important for optimum development of the skeleton, organs and connective tissue, wound healing and the immune system.

Photo: Åge Hojem

BioMar's work with fish health

BioMar's development department works specifically with the health challenges presented by the sea. Research into fish health has changed drastically over a short period of time, with ever-increasing focus on the connection between nutrition and health-related physiology.

We have acquired much knowledge about feed composition based on the inner mechanisms of the fish, right down to the level of cells and genes. This means we can work pro-actively with health challenges.

Key areas of research

BioMar's main focus in its research and development work is, naturally enough, areas that are important for our customers and for the development of the industry.

Key areas of research

BioMar has for a number of years worked to increase sustainability and was the first company within the aquaculture industry to be certified in terms of sustainability.

Increased sustainability, better fish welfare and sound growth are the main aims and are reflected in all sections of the organisation.

Three main areas

We carry out research in three main areas: organ systems, disease and animal welfare.

Research into organ systems covers the intestines, skin, and the heart and circulation, and investigates the connections between disease and the respective organ systems.

Research into disease covers investigations into and development of growth feed with optimum nutritional composition, the effects of health feed and triploid feed, and
research into optimum combinations of feeds and ingredients.

Research into animal welfare mainly covers different forms of feeding trials and the development of feed for cleaner fish.