Choose your language

To give you the best possible experience please select your preference.

Continue
Photo 08@2X

Tailored Sturgeon Nutrition for Strong Endo- and Exoskeletons

The Challenge

In recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) farms, sturgeon can grow quickly when provided optimal water temperatures. This rapid growth allows for earlier caviar harvesting, which helps improve the farmer’s ROI. However, fast-growing females may become overly fat, resulting in poor caviar quality. Additionally, rapid growth can lead to spinal deformities due to unbalanced early feeds. Alltech Coppens tackled this issue by conducting sturgeon feed trials at the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre. The results led to the formulation of the Sturgeon Skeleton Pack (SSP).

Unlike bony fish, sturgeon belong to the Chondrostei group, with a cartilaginous spine and strong external scutes. This unique skeletal structure demands different nutritional requirements.

Trial Goal and Results

Through our trials, the research team aimed to create a balanced nutrition plan that supports fast growth while ensuring sufficient mineralization to keep the spine and scutes strong, thereby preventing deformities. The results led to the formulation of the Sturgeon Skeleton Pack (SSP), which includes organic minerals, essential nutrients and a special ingredient known as "Ingredient X". SSP has proven instrumental in minimizing deformities across all sturgeon life stages.

Aquatir Sturgeon Ras Farm Moldova

Optimizing Sturgeon Diets

Upon the creation of the SSP, we were able to optimize the composition of the sturgeon diet to prevent unnecessary fattening. We developed specific feeds for male and female sturgeons, including higher-energy feeds for meat production in males and lean-growth feeds for egg development in females. The feeding tables reflect these unique needs, with restricted feeding recommended for females to promote good egg development and more generous feeding recommended for males for faster growth and succulent meat. With the SSP, faster growth is now safer, as the mineralization of the sturgeon's bony and cartilaginous tissues can keep up with quick weight gain.

“
SSP has proven instrumental in minimizing deformities across all sturgeon life stages.

All Alltech Coppens feeds for sturgeon include the SSP. It has been proven effective in every test for all farmed sturgeon species.

Alltech Coppens maintains strict quality control over its raw materials, which are tested and evaluated according to the 4 P principles: palatability, performance, pollution control and the planet. Our Quality Control department conducts daily checks on all feed production. Alltech Coppens adheres to European feed legislation and has received a prestigious certification from EcoVadis.