Atlantic Cod Aquaculture – Optimising The Start By Adapted Feed Solutions
Aquaculture of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) remains a challenging business. Scientific knowledge about nutritional requirements in interdependence with environmental conditions and breeding is still incomplete.
Therefore, HAVLANDET MARIN YNGEL TORSK A/S and ALLER AQUA RESEARCH (AAR) cooperate in a project to benefit from each other’s experience and to gain a deeper understanding of the nutritional and environmental requirements of the fish throughout the production cycle.
As first step, cod fry of 0.4-0.5 g was adapted to specific RAS conditions before ALLER AQUA’s cod fry feed line was benchmarked against the competitor’s feeds in the market. Early life stages are crucial for the development of healthy fish stocks and special attention was given to the optimal balance of nutrients and the influence of carotenoids on survival rates and overall fish health. First findings demonstrated that cod fry fed with ALLER AQUA feed grew significantly better, while at the same time lower mortality rates have been observed.
Consequently, after 100 days, Atlantic cod reached 76 g with ALLER AQUA’s fry feeds, representing approx. 20% higher individual bodyweights compared to fish fed the competitor’s products. Together with the significantly better survival rate, a robust stock was transferred to the pre-grower and grower stage of the feeding trials.
