Optimization of commercial feed adapted for the Canadian model aqua-farm

Final report

Rudy Reimer (Owner - Well Water Aqua Ltd)

AIMAP-2011-CA01

The Project evaluated a commercially available feed and optimized its formulation for use in the newly constructed Canadian Model Aqua Farm (CMAF), a state of the art recirculating aquaculture system. Well Water Aqua Ltd located in Warren, Manitoba is the site of the ongoing CMAF initiative, including a comprehensive environmental monitoring program.

Feed formula adaptation centers on the addition of an ingredient that acts to stabilize and improve feces consistency thus improving solids removal from the system and ensuring optimal water quality. Although economic analysis of feeding Skretting's BioTrout diet has demonstrated significantly reduced feed costs, preliminary tests revealed significantly lower stability of feces from trout fed this diet. Given these results, there would be considerable risk feeding this diet to fish in recirculating systems; increased suspended solids would affect growth performance and fish health, and would also negatively impact biofiltration efficiency. Addition of ingredients to the BioTrout diet that stabilizes feces would permit the utilization of a cost effective feed in recirculation systems.

An outcome of this Project was the production of “A Fish Farm Technical Manual” by the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. The Manual is comprised of protocols developed and implemented during the ongoing CMAF Initiative and includes a section on Feeding, Growth Tracking and Sampling.