Feb 1,2020
Commercial aqua feed currently contain about 5-7% dietary oils that meet the minimum requirement of dietary lipids in most culture systems. Dietary lipids are an important source of highly digestible energy and the only source of essential fatty acids required for normal growth and development of fish. Apart from dietary lipids, dietary protein constitutes a significant nutritional value in the development of fish feed. However, the high cost of dietary protein is a limiting factor for use. Therefore, protein sparing capabilities with increasing dietary lipid in fish feed without affecting fish growth and feed utilization is a priority for developing a cost-effective and nutritionally balanced feed.
Avitech, with its commitment to offer nutritional solutions in aquaculture, has developed and launched a new product, LIPIDIN, which is a specially formulated blend of lysophospholipids to serve as an effective emulsifier and nutrient absorption enhancer in aquaculture. LIPIDIN improves performance resulting in increased body weight and growth with better FCR and optimised feed cost.
An experimental trial was conducted to determine the effect of LIPIDIN supplementation in tilapia on growth performance and feed efficiency using 5 experimental feeds formulated with ingredients of fish meal (58% crude protein), soybean meal (46% crude protein), cassava meal, rice bran, fish oil and soy oil. Marine fish oil and soy oil (50:50) were used to supply essential fatty acids and balance the feed energy. The test feeds were processed in a feed mill using the extruder to produce floating feed with 2 mm diameter. LIPIDIN was mixed through the premix while processing of extruded feed. Fish oil coating was sprayed after the extrusion.
The trial was conducted at Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam for a period of 8 weeks in Nile Tilapia fingerlings (Oreochromis niloticus) acclimated to the confined condition in fiber tanks (500 lts) and fed pellets for 2 weeks before feeding the experimental feed. The details of the result are as below:
The results indicated that LIPIDIN supplemented feeds helped reduce up to 100 Kcal/kg gross energy in the diets for tilapia feed without affecting growth and performance.
The trial also proved that supplementation of 0.1-0.15% LIPIDIN in feed resulted in a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) even at high and low fat content of 7% or 5%.
All the water quality parameters in the five treatments were maintained optimal for growth without any difference among treatment, which indicates the difference in fish growth and feed utilization was due to the supplementation of LIPIDIN in feeds.
It may be stated that Lipidin supplementation in tilapia feed, whether in regular or reformulated feed, helped to significantly contribute towards additional weight gain and an improved FCR.
It is admissible to add Lipidin in all aqua feeds. Even for aqua feed producers Lipidin can help save on feed cost through reformulation.
Depending on the dietary incorporation of fat, Lipidin may be included at a level of 1 Kg/MT for diets having up to 5% fat and 1.50 kg/MT for diets having 5% fat and above.