Minimizing the feed cost of Arctic charr
The results of previous studies have shown that it is possible to breed char on a protein-less feed than is traditionally used, thereby significantly reducing production costs in charr farming. Previous research has been carried out in experimental facilities and the aim of this project was to repeat feed experiments in real conditions during the production of char. Arctic charr were reared on two different compound feed types that contained different amounts of protein, which also came from different sources, with 50% of the fishmeal protein in the reference feed and 45% in the experimental feed. The effect of feed type on fish growth, chemical composition and quality factors was assessed. The results show that the different feeds tested did not affect the growth or quality of the products, and the results indicate that it is possible to reduce the proportion of protein in the feed and replace fishmeal with cheaper protein-rich plant raw materials. The results also show that it is possible to reduce the protein content compared to the feed currently on the market for char and thus reduce the production cost of char significantly.
Previous results have suggested that Arctic charr can be reared on feed with lower protein content than is commonly used, without compromising growth rate and quality, and thus lowering production cost. Previous experiments have only been carried out using experimental conditions and but this project aimed aims at confirming previous results in large scale experiments carried out using at actual production conditions. Arctic charr was fed for eleven months on two feed formulations containing different total protein content and proteins of different origin, The test feed contained different proportions of fish meal with 45% of the protein originating from fish meal in the test diet as compared to 50% in the control feed. The effects of the diets on growth and product quality were nutritional factors was evaluated. The results indicate that the test diet feed tested neither did not affect growth nor and product quality of the product. Also, tThe results therefore suggest that it is possible to reduce the proportion the ratio of proteins and the fish meal in the diets for Arctic charr can be reduced and partially and substituted fish meal for by raw material of plant origin. This substitution of fish meal with less expensive raw material could reduce the cost of Arctic charr production considerably.