One of the main challenges of aquaculture is to develop efficient feed adapted to different aquaculture species, as well as to ensure proper digestive and immune development during the initial culture stages.

The natural multifunctional solution tested in this trial has been designed with the aim of ensuring the growth and improving the performance of salmon fry. This solution contains pronutrients that enhance intestinal health and boost the immune system, inorganic acids that reduce digestive pH and enzymes that improve the digestibility of the feed protein, especially during the initial stages, when fry lack the necessary enzymes to optimally digest the protein present in the feed.

Objective

Evaluate the effect of a natural multifunctional solution on the productive parameters in fry (parr) of Atlantic salmon.

2. Material and methods

The trial was conducted with 360 salmon fries in the pre-smoltification phase, when they weighted between 5-6 g. The fries were divided into the following experimental groups:

• Control group: standard diet without multifunctional solution.
• Experimental group 1: standard diet supplemented with multifunctional solution at dose of 3 kg/t.
• Experimental group 2: standard diet supplemented with multifunctional solution at dose of 4.5 kg/t.
• Experimental group 3: standard diet supplemented with multifunctional solution at dose of 6 kg/t.

3 replicates were made per treatment. The culture system used was RAS (recirculating aquaculture system). The weight and the specific growth rate (SGR) were evaluated during the 6 weeks of the trial and carcass yield was checked at the end of the trial.

Results

Regarding the final weight, all groups supplemented with the natural multifunctional solution obtained a higher final weight, with an increase of 1.1%, in the case of the group supplemented at a dose of 3 kg/t, 0.5% for the group supplemented with a dose of 4.5 kg/t and 3% for the group supplemented with a dose of 6 kg/t.

In the case of the specific growth rate (SGR), the best result during the first 3 weeks of cultivation was obtained in the group supplemented with a dose of 3 kg/t of the multifunctional solution, with a difference compared to the control group of 9.6%, while, in the last 3 weeks of trial, the group supplemented with the multifunctional solution at a dose of 6 kg/t obtained the best result, with a difference of 3.7% compared to the control group.

Finally, carcass yield (%) was evaluated at the end of the trial. The groups supplemented with the multifunctional solution at doses of 3 kg/t, 4.5 kg/t and 6 kg/t, obtained a carcass yield of 84.56%, 86.42% and 81.12% respectively, while the control group achieved a carcass yield of 80.4%, that is, a difference of 4.18%, 6.03% and 0.72% respectively compared to the control.

Feed consumption and feed conversion rate were also evaluated during the trial. However, a problem occurred during the feed pelletization process at low temperature, which significantly reduced the stability of the pellets. Therefore, the results obtained related to these parameters were not representative.

Conclusion

During the early cultivation stages, salmon are exposed to several stressors, such as high growing densities that, together with the poor development of their immune and digestive systems, significantly reduce their productive performance.

The use of this natural multifunctional solution improves the growth of salmon fry.

This solution combines, among other active components, pronutrients that improve the physiological functioning of enhancing immune response and intestinal health, along with inorganic acids and enzymes that ensure the digestibility of the dietary protein.

The use of this multifunctional solution improves the final weight of salmon by up to 3% and improves the specific growth rate (SGR) by up to 9.6% in 6 weeks of culture. At the same time it increases carcass yield by up to 6.03%.

This multifunctional solution has been developed by Biovet S.A. and is marketed under the name Alquermix Salmons.