January 3, 2024

Skretting introduces Nutra Terra hatchery feed

 

Skretting recently introduced Nutra Terra, a novelty in hatchery feed with reported high performance and reduced emissions, on December 11.

Nutra Terra is Skretting's "largest innovation in grower feed for juvenile fish in over a decade," the company said. "All available knowledge and research have been gathered to develop a new and optimised feed recipe."

The hatchery feed contains smaller amounts of limited raw materials such as fishmeal and phosphorus compared to conventional hatchery feeds. A portion of fishmeal is replaced with insect protein, which is part of the natural diet of salmon in the wild.

"Validation trials show a 7% increase in growth and 4% lower feed factor in fish fed with Nutra Terra," said Marcus Søyland, head of Land Based at Skretting Norway. "It is gratifying to see such good performance numbers while reducing the need for limited raw materials."

One of the major changes in Nutra Terra's feed prescription is the enzyme phytase, which makes phosphorus and zinc in plant raw materials more accessible to the fish. This also makes it possible to reduce the total amount of phosphorus and zinc added to the feed.

"Trials show that the fish absorb more phosphorus and as much zinc with Nutra Terra, despite the fact that the feed contains less of these minerals," Søyland explained. "A pleasant effect of this is that less phosphorus and zinc are excreted in the faeces. In trials, we have seen that emissions of phosphorus and zinc are reduced by 30% in fish fed with Nutra Terra."

"In Nutra Terra trials, we have analysed the spine of the fish to look at mineralisation and deformities," Søyland added. "The results show that fish fed with Nutra Terra accumulate more phosphorus in the spine, which is positive for bone development."

"Reduced zinc emissions open up new and more valuable uses for the sludge from land-based production facilities," Søyland said. "In some fjords, phosphorus emissions can limit production, and the reduction in phosphorus emissions can give our customers new opportunities for increased production."

- Skretting