BioMar launches fish feeds with EU-approved probiotics

A long term research and development project, initiated through the French OFIMER programme and bringing together fish feed producer BioMar, the French research institutes IFREMER and INRA, and the industrial company Lallemand, has resulted in the first EU-approval of the use of probiotics for salmonids.

 

This has allowed BioMar to develop an innovative dietary probiotic concept and will result in the introduction of the first trout and salmon feed containing probiotics.

 

CEO of the BioMar Group Torben Svejgard said: “The use of probiotics in feed for salmonids has shown to have significant impact on fish health and thereby the economic performance of fish farming.

 

“At the same time the use of probiotics has also important environmental benefits. By reducing the risk of diseases, the necessity of medication – and thereby the risk of residues left in the environment – is reduced.

 

“Therefore the introduction of probiotics in fish feed should also be seen as an important step in our continuous efforts to improve the sustainability of aquaculture.”

 

Svejgard underlines that including probiotics doesn’t work as a stand-alone measure: “A number of other factors must also be controlled,” he says.

 

“First of all the right feed formulation is extremely important in order to secure optimal healthy growth, but factors such as farm hygiene and general disease prevention are also still equally important in order to achieve the desired performance.”

 

BioMar has together with the other project partners successfully concluded a series of trials both in laboratories and in the field, where the utilisation of probiotics showed a reduced amount of deformities.

 

The trials also indicated a positive impact e.g. on reducing the risk of gastro enteritis – a disease with high mortality, which has had major outbreaks in several European countries in recent years.

 

In order to achieve the best results the probiotic must be utilised from first feeding, and this is also the rationale behind the first new products with probiotics.

 

“The probiotic will be included in new health concepts as well as in a new fry feed concept, which will be launched by the start of the new season, but we expect probiotics to be an important element in many new feed types over the coming years,” concludes Torben Svejgard.

 

The probiotic Bactocell from Lallemand (lactic acid bacteria strain Pediococcus acidilactici CNCM MA18/5M), is approved for use as a zootechnical feed additive in salmonids and shrimp.

In salmonids the probiotic is able to improve the quality of the final fish products by increasing the number of well-conformed fish (prevention of Vertebral Compression Syndrome).

 

This syndrome, which is thought to affect over 20% of rainbow trout harvested constitutes an important economic loss for fish farmers.

 

In shrimp the probiotic is able to increase survival and growth performance. The trials submitted with the application dossier demonstrated beneficial effects in terms of growth enhancement, feed utilization, as well as improved resistance against Vibrio sp. infections.