A sustainability-focused feeding strategy
As today’s salmon feeds are mainly plant-based with small inclusion of marine ingredients to address resource sustainability, farmers face challenges such as reduced palatability, nutrient imbalances, and increased reliance on synthetic supplements.
Kiranpreet Kaur, Director R&D, Aker QRILL Company adds:
“This research shows that QRILL Aqua can maintain high fish performance in plant-based diets, low fish meal. It’s a functional ingredient that delivers both nutritional and environmental benefits.”
Key results
The 25-week trial compared three diets containing 0%, 8%, and 12% krill meal (QRILL Aqua) with low fishmeal inclusion (10%). Salmon fed the krill meal diets:
- Required 31% less plant protein, lipid supplements, micronutrient additives, and synthetic astaxanthin in comparison to control
- Showed significantly higher fillet pigmentation with 12% inclusion
- Displayed healed wounds with more uniform skin color at 12% inclusion, potentially reducing fillet downgrading
“The improved external appearance in the krill meal high-inclusion group indicates potential for supporting product quality and reducing economic losses, as uniform skin and fillet appearance is important for both market value and consumer perception,” says Kaur. “Our findings suggest QRILL Aqua may help fish with improved wound healing, which is an important welfare and quality consideration for the industry.”
The study, Effects of dietary inclusion of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) meal in low fishmeal diets on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) growth, nutrient utilization, fillet quality, and wound healing capacity, is published in Aquaculture Report.