Diet Insights
In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is more important than ever. One food group that has stood the test of time as a cornerstone of healthy eating is fish. Rich in essential nutrients and linked to a variety of health benefits, fish can be a fantastic addition to any diet.
Understanding the diets of farmed fish
One of the most well-known benefits of eating fish is its high content of omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats are essential for the body but cannot be produced naturally by humans, meaning we must get them from our diet. Fish is also a high-quality protein source and is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, and most fish is naturally low in saturated fat.
The successful production of healthy fish for human consumption relies on having a good understanding of their biology and nutrition, which allows for the formulation of diets that promote optimal growth and vitality. Read on to learn how Alltech Coppens takes these factors into consideration in the development and production of our fish feed.
Research
Alltech Coppens carries out practical and applicable research within the field of aquaculture at the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre (ACAC) in the Netherlands. Over the past twenty-five years, hundreds of studies have been carried out at the ACAC.
The experts at Alltech Coppens have extensive knowledge of the nutrient requirements of different fish species, as well as raw materials, how those raw materials can affect the health, growth and performance of fish, and the environmental impact of raw materials and feeds. We are dedicated to utilizing the highest-quality ingredients and partnering with local and trusted suppliers. While the quality of each ingredient or raw material used to produce fish feeds varies based on their source and origin, through our research, we work to determine which ingredients best ensure the safety of the food and full traceability throughout the chain.
Nutrition
Like all living organisms, fish also need to eat. Fish feed should provide fish with the nutrients they need for basic functions, like breathing and digestion, and to help them stay active and promote growth. The nutrient profile of a fish feed should include amino acids (proteins), fats (including omega-3 fatty acids) and carbohydrates. Fish feeds also contain vitamins, minerals and additives that support the health of the fish.
Digestion and water quality
Fish live in water, and it is very important that the water they live in is high-quality. Farmers must take great care with their water filtration systems to maintain optimal water conditions for their fish. Undigested feed can also negatively impact water quality, which adds an element of complexity to formulating diets for fish. Providing fish with feeds that are highly digestible is key to preventing the toxic buildup of feed in the water due to excess or unstable faeces. Alltech Coppens utilizes high-quality raw materials in our feeds to ensure that they are as easily digestible as possible for fish.
Sustainability
At Alltech Coppens, we are committed to Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™. Sustainability is at the heart of all that we do. As members of the agriculture industry, we play an important role in producing the world’s food supply — and we take this role very seriously. We strive to develop science-based solutions that will help ensure sustainable food production for the global population.
Aquaculture is central to the development of thriving communities and ecosystems. To support farmers interested in utilizing sustainable feeds, Alltech Coppens launched a sustainability scoring system for aqua feeds. This scoring index allows us to rank each type of raw material and feed — and will help us formulate feeds that are even more sustainable in the future.
Ingredients
Each species of fish requires its own unique combination of nutrients to thrive, and as a result, specific ingredients that support the health and growth of each species are included in each formulation. Despite these variations, however, the ingredients listed below are primary components of all Alltech Coppens feeds, helping us ensure balanced nutrition for all types of fish.
Wheat and Wheat gluten
Wheat is a widely cultivated grass that is known for its seeds, which are a staple cereal grain consumed around the world. As a rich source of carbohydrates and energy, wheat plays an important role in fish nutrition. Wheat also helps fish maintain their fat reserves, which play a critical role in supporting their energy needs — particularly during the cold winter months, when fish metabolism slows down.
Wheat gluten, a by-product of the starch industry, plays a crucial role in the functional properties of flour. In fish feed, wheat gluten is regarded as a valuable protein source thanks to its excellent binding properties, high digestibility, balanced amino-acid profile and energy density. Wheat gluten also stands out because of its relatively low levels of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), making it a suitable ingredient for promoting optimal fish growth and health.
Fish meal
Fish meal has been traditionally used as the main protein source in the aquafeed industry as a result of its high protein content and well-balanced amino-acid profile. Fish meal also provides essential fatty acids, like EPA and DHA, as well as digestible energy and vital minerals and vitamins, making it an exceptional ingredient for fish nutrition. Fish meal is primarily produced via fish that are not suitable for human consumption or from the bones and offal left over from fish processed for human use (i.e., trimmings). One-hundred percent of the fish meal used in Alltech Coppens feeds is sourced from fish trimmings and/or certified fisheries.
Animal by-products
Poultry meal, poultry blood meal and feather meal are valuable by-products of the poultry industry that are commonly used in aquaculture feeds as protein-rich alternatives to fish meal. Poultry meal is highly palatable and provides a substantial amount of protein, making it an excellent ingredient for fish diets. Blood meal, derived from fresh poultry blood, is rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals — and unlike plant proteins, it is free of anti-nutrients. Feather meal offers a high level of digestible protein, further enhancing its suitability for fish feed.
In addition to being highly digestible for fish, these animal by-products are also sustainable choices. Since they cannot be used for human consumption, they serve as ideal circular raw materials, contributing to a more eco-friendly and efficient approach to aquaculture farming.
Beans
Beans, including horse beans, are a valuable ingredient in fish feeds due to their high protein and starch content. At Alltech Coppens, we use dehulled versions of these beans, as the hulls are not digestible by fish and can reduce their nutrient absorption and feed efficiency. The horse beans included in Alltech Coppens feeds are sourced from Europe and are a sustainable alternative to traditional fish feed ingredients.
Sunflower meal
Sunflower meal is the by-product of the extraction of oil from sunflower seeds. These seeds are grown in colder climates for two reasons: First, sunflowers can be grown within a short growing season, from June to September, and second, those cold winters keep pests and disease away. Alltech Coppens’ sunflower meal comes from Europe, which is a major producer of sunflowers.
Sunflower meal is suitable for inclusion in fish feed because it is free of anti-nutritional substances and contains highly digestible, good-quality protein. As a result, sunflower meal can partly replace fish meal, much like the other protein sources mentioned above.
Rapeseed oil
Rapeseed — a vibrant, yellow-flowering plant belonging to the mustard or cabbage family — is primarily cultivated for its oil-rich seeds. Rapeseed oil is highly valued in fish feeds for its wide availability and for providing the lipids that fish require to meet their energy demands. One of the key benefits of rapeseed oil is its content of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid. Thanks to all of these factors, incorporating rapeseed oil into fish feeds meets the energy and essential fatty acid requirements of the fish while also supporting more sustainable feed production by reducing reliance on marine-based oils.
Fish oil
Fish oil is a highly digestible and energy-rich ingredient that plays a crucial role in fish feed. In addition to providing the energy necessary for growth and activity, fish oil is particularly valued for its high concentrations of essential fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA. These omega-3 fatty acids are vital for maintaining proper fish health. Fish oil is often produced from fish trimmings and by-products of the seafood industry, which would otherwise go to waste.
Algae
Similarly to fish oil, algae oil is also a valuable source of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. Since they offer the same nutritional benefits, fish oil and algae oil can be used alternatingly in fish feed formulations. Incorporating algae oil, however, allows producers to effectively reduce their dependence on fish-based ingredients while still delivering the critical omega-3 fatty acids necessary for fish health, growth and immune function.
Notably, the use of algae oil in aquaculture not only supports the nutritional needs of fish but also promotes more sustainable feed production. Since algae can be cultivated in controlled environments without depleting marine ecosystems, it serves as an environmentally friendly solution to reducing the industry's reliance on traditional marine resources.
