October 4, 2006 

Bacterial protein meal may reduce the need for fish meal

Bacterial protein meal (BPM) may be a prime replacement for fishmeal, which can reduce the industry's reliance on fish meal, according to a doctoral research conducted by Norwegian researcher Turid Synnøve Aas.

BPM is derived from bacteria which uses methane gas as a carbon and energy source. This protein-rich bacterial meal is grown from natural gas sources from the North Sea.

The research focussed on the use of BPM as a protein source in feed for salmon, rainbow trout and halibut.

The researcher compared BPM with fish meal and recorded different tolerance levels for BPM in the three fish species. Based on growth rate, feed intake and feed utilisation, BPM appeared to be a viable protein source in salmon feed when the feed contained up to 36 percent of BPM.

Growth rate and feed utilisation became higher as BPM in the feed was increased up to that level.

Rainbow trout given feed containing up to 27 percent BPM also yielded satisfactory results. For halibut, however, only 9 percent is suitable.

With limited and dwindling stocks of fishmeal in the global supply chain, it would be necessary to find good alternatives to fish meal, the research pointed out.

BPM, which can be produced in large quantities, and because of its high protein content, would be a prime candidate to replace fishmeal, the researcher said.