by Dr Alexandros Samartzis
First published in International Aquafeed, July-August 2016
There are 303 different species cultured in aquaculture in contrast to the whole livestock industry where the number of cultured animal species is only eighteen. Out of the total three hundred and three, there are two hundred and ten finfish species and thirty crustacean species farmed. Each individual species has different culture conditions and biological needs as well as nutritional requirements and feeding behaviours.
As a result, the amount of research and customised applications for each one in aquaculture is multiple compared to livestock. In addition to the vast variation among aquatic species (from crustacean to marine carnivorous fish and fresh water filter feeder fish), the aquatic environment where the species live contribute to an even bigger challenges to the farmers and feed manufacturers.
A typical example is the shrimp industry, where the animals have slow feeding behaviour. Being external masticators they nibble their feed patiently which results in a prolonged residence time of the feed pellets in the water.
Consequently the nutrients that are present in the feeds are being leached out of the pellets or dissolved in the water. This is considered as one for the main issues of the industry because the consumed and utilised nutrient intake does not meet the intended levels provided from the feed to meet the species requirements.
Read the full article in International Aquafeed HERE.
First published in International Aquafeed, July-August 2016
There are 303 different species cultured in aquaculture in contrast to the whole livestock industry where the number of cultured animal species is only eighteen. Out of the total three hundred and three, there are two hundred and ten finfish species and thirty crustacean species farmed. Each individual species has different culture conditions and biological needs as well as nutritional requirements and feeding behaviours.
As a result, the amount of research and customised applications for each one in aquaculture is multiple compared to livestock. In addition to the vast variation among aquatic species (from crustacean to marine carnivorous fish and fresh water filter feeder fish), the aquatic environment where the species live contribute to an even bigger challenges to the farmers and feed manufacturers.
A typical example is the shrimp industry, where the animals have slow feeding behaviour. Being external masticators they nibble their feed patiently which results in a prolonged residence time of the feed pellets in the water.
Consequently the nutrients that are present in the feeds are being leached out of the pellets or dissolved in the water. This is considered as one for the main issues of the industry because the consumed and utilised nutrient intake does not meet the intended levels provided from the feed to meet the species requirements.
Read the full article in International Aquafeed HERE.
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