Crab meal in Aquaculture
Our crab ingredients are used in both cod and salmon diets in Norway and Seabass and Seabream feed in Europe. Our feeding trials shows increased appetite and growth, improved quality of fish skin and intestines and anti-inflammatory properties.
Trials with cod
In studies* with crab meals from Nutrishell added to cod diets the results demonstrated an increase in appetite and feed intake for fish with diets with crab meal and crab hydrolysate compared to control diet.
There were also discovered an effect on the lipid metabolism due to higher content of plasma phospholipids in fish with crab diet. The positive effect showed 18% lower liver index for both crab diets.
In crab shell you will find a structural polysaccharide called Chitin. It's similar to cellulose and forms the hard and protective layer of crabs. When Nutrishell crushes the crab shell we naturally get chitin in our crab meal. Chitin activates the immune system and protects against pathogen infections especially in cod, since cod has the enzyme chitinase that breaks down the chitin. Chitin can reduce the probability of intestinal loop in Cod and therefore also mortality. Looking at the health benefits in the study we could see less cell dividing and cell death in intestines.
*Studies in collaboration with Nofima (The Norwegian food research institute)
Trials with Salmon
In studies* with crab meals added to salmon smolt feed after transport the results demonstrated efficient growth and improved quality and strength of the protective dorsal skin with more mucus cells and less pigmented spots.
It also showed anti-flammatory properties which may contribute to improve robustness and health of salmon and reduce problems with high production losses of salmon after transport.
The crab hydrolysate was also tested against Tenacibaculum Finnmarkense by liquid growth inhibition assay by Nofima and showed clear inhibition. There is ongoing research to find out more about this property.
*Studies in collaboration with Nofima (The Norwegian food research institute) and Skretting (Large fish and shrimp feed company)
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