Faster to harvest SKRETTING 25 YEARS OF HEALTH DIETS PROTEC GILL FOR BARRAMUNDI. Nexuswww.skretting.com.au

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1 No Winter The magazine of Skretting Australia Nexuswww.skretting.com.au Faster to harvest 25 YEARS OF HEALTH DIETS PROTEC GILL FOR BARRAMUNDI

2 CONTENTS NEW PHD FOR ARC PRIME AND EXPRESS 25 YEARS OF HEALTH DIETS PROTEC GILL & FLX FOR BARRA page 3 page 4 page 7 page 10 About this issue DR LEO NANKERVIS MARKETING MANAGER Growing fish faster, reducing their exposure to pathogens, is a great way to reduce potential for production losses Three primary areas of optimising aquaculture production are growth, health and mitigating unfavorable conditions. This Winter edition of Nexus comes just as our salmon customers are preparing for the optimal growth periods of Spring, and our timely release of what I am sure is the most advanced pair of grower feeds released yet; Prime and Express. In this edition we break down the holistic approach that we have taken to nutritionally driven growth, and outline the production benefits based on semi-commercial validation trials to date. Growing fish faster, reducing their exposure to pathogens, is a great way to reduce potential for production losses. Another extremely effective way is health-promoting feeds. As we celebrate 25 years of health feeds, we reflect on the advancement of this area of research and development, moving from a single effective approach of stimulating the immune system to support of specific organ systems. The organ support approach has allowed knowledge to be transferred between species and between challenges, and we highlight the application of Protec Gill to barramundi being transferred to growout sites, and the challenges faced with this changing environment. But first we discuss the major environmental challenge faced by salmon farmers: Summer. We are fortunate to now understand a tremendous amount more about the fundamental effects of high water temperature on Salmon, due to a recently completed PhD by our colleague, Vibeke Vikesaa. New PhD from Skretting ARC Leo Nankervis Marketing Manager Skretting Australia Contact Information: 26 Maxwells Road Cambridge Tasmania Australia 7170 PO Box 117 Rosny Park Tasmania Australia 7018 Telephone: james.mciver@skretting.com 2 I hope that this edition gives you a new perspective on fish feeds and the diverse areas in which they can support fish production. Dr Vibeke Vikeså, a Researcher at Skretting ARC, recently defended her thesis entitled Regulation of appetite and growth of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) JAMES MCIVER - SUSTAINABILITY & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AUSTRALIA James is the new Communications & Sustainability Officer replacing Jenna Bowyer at Skretting Australia. James joins us from a background in Agricultural Science and Marketing. He has been involved in sustainability projects including the evaluation and commercial implementation of holistic approaches to disease management techniques in cropping systems. Nexus is published by Skretting and is distributed free to all our customers involved in the Australian and New Zealand Fish Farming Industry. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publishers. This publication is not intended to remove the need to take advice when dealing with specific situations and readers should contact the editor before taking any action in reliance on the articles in Nexus. James coordinated the recent AquaScience conference and will be responsible for managing customer certification requirements and developing communication material. James grew up on the North-West Coast of Tasmania and now resides in Hobart. He will report to Leo Nankervis, Marketing Manager. and effect of water oxygen, temperature and dietary energy on 27 June at the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) in Bergen. The aim of Dr Vikeså s research was to increase the knowledge on appetite and growth regulation in seawater adapted Atlantic salmon in relation to high water temperature, low oxygen conditions and dietary energy concentration. Key findings showed that high temperature reduces appetite and growth, even under favourable oxygen conditions, and low oxygen conditions result in an inhibition of energy metabolism, causing a further growth reduction at both optimal and high temperatures. Increased dietary energy showed a positive effect on both growth and energy metabolism. Dr Vikeså s body of work has resulted in a new understanding of the mechanisms behind appetite and growth in Atlantic salmon. High temperature and low oxygen conditions are some of the most challenging conditions that farmed salmon can experience. The insights gained from this research are of increasing importance for the industry, contributing to the increased growth, welfare and health of the fish. 3

3 Launching globally this month, Skretting s ground-breaking new Prime and Express diets utilise the full growth potential of the fish, providing farmers with the means to further enhance their operations. Using Express, customers are reporting extremely good growth and the lowest FCR in class Sissel Susort Global Product Manager Skretting Global Over the course of the past three decades, Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC) has conducted pioneering research into the functionality of the different nutrients in fish and shrimp feeds. There are a number of stimuli that influence feeding, including taste and hunger. Skretting ARC has successfully found ways to positively influence both of these factors in salmon, thereby enabling the fish to eat more, digest, and assimilate the feed more efficiently. This unique body of work has provided the platform for Prime and Express our two new grower diets that are explicitly designed to stimulate and enhance the appetite and feed intake of salmon, says Sissel Susort, Global Product Group Manager for Skretting. They work in tandem to facilitate the best possible growth of the fish at two crucial growth stages, with Prime optimising consumption at the first seawater growth phase of the production cycle up to 1kg; Express takes over in the final grow-out phase taking the salmon right through to harvest. FOUNDATIONS FOR GROWTH With the new grower diets, an organ system approach was followed with the aim to redesign growth from a complete perspective. The result was two distinct products each tailored to the physiological requirements of the fish at different life stages. Prime prepares, or primes, the fish, building a solid foundation to support fast, high-quality growth. Express builds on the framework created by Prime, maximising the speed of growth by enabling the fish to fully utilise the potential in the feed. This means that the feed can go through the digestive process much faster. Good growth in the first phase in seawater should support the recruitment of new muscle fibres and a healthy bone deposition. In the later seawater phase that leads to harvest, growth occurs primarily by enlargement of the existing muscle fibres and by deposition of fat. Growth at this final stage is only as good as the foundation that we lay in the first phase. With Prime and Express we are supporting fast growth while giving the salmon everything that they need to support the right type of growth, explains Christian De Santis, Researcher at Skretting ARC. DIGESTIVE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY The new feeds are built around an understanding of the digestive physiology of the fish, providing them with a solution that can be broken down and processed much faster than conventional diets. This means that food stays in the stomach for a shorter period of time. And if the stomach empties faster, the fish will be ready to consume again sooner, says De Santis. Grower feeds typically contain high levels of fat. Salmon will digest and absorb this fat and deposit it in the fillet. However, processing a high-fat feed can be challenging to the fish s digestive system. Express is designed to enable salmon to take up the fat from the feed much more proficiently. Validation trials conducted with Express showed that it significantly reduced the accumulation of fat in the intestinal cells, suggesting a far more effective absorption of fat, says De Santis. The skeleton is the architecture upon which the fish grows. Prime & Express are optimised to ensure that the right elements are available to provide a solid basis for supporting maximum growth. The stomach is the first checkpoint in digestion. An empty stomach stimulates ghrelin production, telling the fish it is hungry. A full stomach generates a feeling of satiation. The liver plays an essential role in nutrient metabolism, bile synthesis, detoxification and vitamin and mineral storage. The brain s primary function is to translate stimuli into signals. There are a number of stimuli that influence feeding, including taste and hunger. When feeding Prime & Express there is a noticeable increase in feed intake. 4 The intestinal tract of salmonids is a complex and dynamic interface that not only mediates nutrient uptake but also functions as the first line of defence against ingested pathogens. The unique structure of the pyloric caeca offers a large surface for absorption of nutrients. Trials with Express have shown that growth and yield can be maximised without compromising the texture and colour of the end product. Facilities at the EAF 5

4 A driving force In collaboration with two customers, Skretting compared the growth characteristics and feed conversion of Express with several other commercially available grower feeds. Using Express, those customers are reporting extremely good growth and the lowest FCR in class, confirms Susort. FASTER PRODUCTION OR BIGGER FISH? Thanks to Skretting ARC s focus on optimising appetite, feed intake and digestion, Prime and Express will together enable salmon farmers to reduce their production time by as much as four weeks. Alternatively, if they wish to maintain their current production timescales, then the slaughter weight can be increased by up to 700 grams. Fast growth or fast to harvest is the single most important aspect in salmon aquaculture since this reduces operating costs and also reduces the associated risks of farming fish in open ocean locations, says Susort. Together, Prime and Express are a game-changing solution that will provide our customers with the increased flexibility to do what s best for their production system without taking any shortcuts or unnecessary risks. Whether they choose to reduce the production time or to provide the market with larger salmon, there are considerable benefits to be had from both approaches, she says. Prime and Express launch in September for the Australian salmon market. While the initial development focussed on Atlantic salmon, we plan on validating and refining the concepts so they can be adapted to other fish species. for healthier, stronger fish and shrimp Skretting Health Feeds celebrates 25 years supporting global aquaculture growth through innovative pro-health solutions In 1992, Skretting became the first fish feed company in the world to launch a health diet for fish. Twenty-five years on, its health feeds team with a portfolio of groundbreaking products is making a crucial contribution to the economic viability and sustainability of fish and shrimp farming. Skretting first set off on the unchartered journey to explore health-enhancing aquaculture feeds at the start of the 1990s as the company set about investigating whether solutions that prevent challenges in salmonid farming systems could provide viable alternatives to traditional medicinebased treatments. Crucially, it was at that time that Skretting first began to learn that the use of specific natural substances could result in stronger, more robust animals that were better equipped to deal with diseases. Highly-refined beta-glucans were the novel ingredient to be made available to the market and discussions were held with leading scientists in the field regarding their application. We saw that salmon were being exposed to a number of challenges, and we felt that if we could stimulate the immune defences before the main risk period, then we could provide much-needed support to those fish. The trials gave some good results; good enough that we decided to introduce a new anti-stress product, Response, says Viggo Halseth, Chief Innovation Officer at Nutreco, who held the role of Marketing Manager at Skretting 25 years ago. 6 7

5 EVOLUTION NETWORK For some years, beta-glucans were the core focus of Skretting s health feeds, but in 2004 the decision was taken within the Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC) to establish a health department to see what could be achieved in terms of strengthening preventative health through feeding and diets. Three years later, the industry leading health diet Protec was launched to help support against challenges in the four key areas skin, gills, gut and immune system. In 2013, Protec was comprehensively upgraded to deliver fish support during viral challenges, providing the building blocks for stronger skin and optimising the balance between fish, microbes and environment. Multiple innovative methodologies including quantitative histology and plasma biotechnology have been developed and optimised by Skretting ARC. These have advanced Skretting s understanding of the way different ingredients interact, thereby providing the platform for current and future innovations. The progression of its health feeds have also greatly benefited from the expertise and R&D work undertaken by colleagues in parent company Nutreco s animal nutrition business, Trouw Nutrition, which has five major research centres, as well as through some very important external collaborations with key universities and scientific partners. There are presently more than 50 active collaborations with external partners at present. Thanks in part to the knowledge gained in developing new generation Protec, in 2016 Skretting launched Lorica a shrimp health diet that supports the functioning of the immune system and helps the animal to cope with bacterial challenges. SYNERGIES Today, Skretting s portfolio of health diets contains a wide range of functional ingredients that work in synergy to enhance the animals ability to cope with stressful situations such as disease, handling, transport and vaccinations. Individually, these ingredients have some benefits, but crucially what Skretting continues to evidence is that specific combinations provide synergistic benefits where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, thereby providing greater holistic protection for the animals. 8 It s a very valuable pipeline for us and so it is an area that we are building up. We are an innovative company so being engaged with R&D partners is crucial, not just for us but also to improve the value proposition for our customers, says Charles McGurk, Manager of Fish Health at Skretting ARC. We take our research priorities from the business. All of the projects we have are within the framework of our project portfolio and the issues facing the industry a strategy that closely steers the directions that we take. We really thrive from those stakeholder interactions, says McGurk. Protec Gill, a diet expressly developed to support gill health and recovery from disease, environmental and treatment challenges, is among the most recent innovations to come out of this strategy. And Skretting s recommendation for all proven functional feed solutions is the same: That they should be included proactively before there is a challenge that will affect the condition of the stocks as part of a structured approach to best management practices and an integrated health program, because they work best alongside strategies such as vaccination, disease monitoring and the control of environmental parameters. Skretting s Health Feeds INTEGRATED APPROACH While current challenges are being met head-on, the industry is constantly moving and encountering new obstacles, which is certain to lead to shifts in Skretting s R&D focus. A growing cause for concern, for instance, is the amount of handling that farmed fish undergo, whether for vaccination or treatment for parasites. These are all potential sources of stress that can affect performance and in turn impact the production cycle Addressing this, Skretting s future research work will continue to follow the preventative path and explore what can be done to increase the robustness of fish and shrimp, and if these animals health is compromised then how can they be best supported to deal with the challenge. Furthermore, because timing is critical when it comes to health-related issues, Skretting wants to explore the development of rapid diagnostic tools that can give immediate diagnoses relating to the health status at farm sites. From the very beginning, we believed that feed had to be part of the solution. There are no quick fixes, no miracle solutions. You need to have a holistic approach where you try to put a focus on all different aspects of best-practice: Of course, vaccines are one aspect, health and diet is another, there is also biosecurity and having the right medicines to treat specific diseases. But there is a clear fundamental need to develop health diets and that need very clearly comes from the market, says Alex Obach, Managing Director at Skretting ARC. n Left: Skretting s global health network gathered in Stavanger earlier this year 1992 Response the first use of beta-glucans in fish feed to boost immune systems led to a new category of health-supporting functional feeds 2007 Protec and React functional feeds support fish health 2013 New Protec functional feeds include anti-viral action 2015 Lorica strengthens shrimp immune systems 2016 Protec Gill supports gill health and recovery during disease, environmental and treatment challenges. Shield aids salmon health against sea lice 9

6 Protec Gill supporting barramundi through transfer The role that functional feed ingredients play in supporting farmed fish health, and in turn, improved sustainable and economic production has been a major focus for Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre over the last 25 years. Today, Skretting s Protec solution is used for a number of species worldwide, and is effective in preparing the fish for upcoming stress and challenges in farm conditions, such as handling, vaccination and diseases. It is recognised as the leading and most comprehensively documented functional feed on the market. Scott Hayward, Farm Manager at Sealord King Reef Barramundi. Photo supplied by Sealord King Reef Barramundi. In 2015, Skretting Australia first launched Protec Gill, a new feed that better supported gill health and recovery during environmental, treatment and disease challenges. As the name implies, it contains the full Protec package, which acts synergistically with additional components that ensure better gill health. In 2016, Protec Gill was launched into the Australian barramundi market. Scott Hayward, Farm Manager at Sealord King Reef Barramundi, says, At King Reef we started using Protec Gill to lower fish gill stress immediately after long hours of transport and acclimation from the hatcheries into the grow-out ponds. Our site also has very mineral-deficient source water, which makes gill health a real challenge for small barramundi. By using Protec Gill our prevalence of bacterial gill disease dropped significantly in the first three months of stocking fingerlings, along with the aid of other management practices. We have increased our juvenile survival by up to 20% in some ponds. Going forward, we are looking for more consistency in our juvenile survival and we see Protec Gill as playing an important part in that, says Hayward. Skretting Australia s Product Manager Nicole Ruff says, King Reef s application of Protec Gill is a great example of how we can support the barramundi s gill health through a stressful event such as transfer of fingerlings. We know that this will have longer-term benefits further down the production cycle which will ultimately be of great benefit to our customer

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