Fishmeal is a brown-hued product derived through the processes of cooking, pressing, drying, and grinding raw fish, as well as waste from fish processing industries. The primary ingredient in fishmeal production is pelagic fish, constituting up to 75%, with the remaining 25% comprising trimmings from food fish. The fishmeal industry, marked by increased production and exports, sees Peru leading as the largest manufacturer, exporter, and supplier, followed by China, Chile, Norway, Denmark, and Malaysia.
Aquaculture accounts for approximately 46% of the annual fishmeal production, with the feed serving to reduce operational costs by up to 40%. The remaining 54% is utilized across various sectors, including the cattle industry, dairy, poultry (about 12%), pig feed (20%), and for fish, shrimp, and other animal farming.
Fishmeal has been a staple in the animal industry for centuries, contributing to enhanced production of DHA, protein, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in pork, poultry, and egg production. According to fishmeal manufacturers, it serves as a rich source of vitamins, particularly vitamin B-complex, encompassing Niacin, Riboflavin, Choline, and Cobalamin.
- For weanling pigs and during their early growth stages, fishmeal is a crucial component of their diet. For young piglets, fishmeal’s protein is less expensive and easily digested. Pig farmers choose fishmeal because it is a rich source of nutrients. To evaluate the effects of different protein sources, such as fishmeal, soybean, and linseed meal, among others, a trial has been carried out at IFFO. The outcomes demonstrated that fishmeal worked better than all other diets when added up to 5% daily.(Wu and others, 2015)
- Companies that sell fishmeal assert that it contains proteins, minerals (primarily phosphorous), vitamins A, D, and E, and a balanced amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Poultry feed uses a variety of fishmeal diets (such as brown rock, Dover, Pacific whiting, and Atlantic cod) based on the variable nutrient makeup. Growth rate is accelerated, disease resistance is increased, the bones and neurological system develop more healthily, and the few losses from carcass condemnations are typically the result of inadequate food, inflammation, sepsis, etc. Additionally, fishmeal increases the fertility of chickens, both male and female.Cruz and associates, 2019
- To increase the production of conjugated linoleic acid (500% greater than cows fed standard dairy feed), eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the cattle sector mostly uses fishmeal and fish oil in feed. Increased fat content in milk, improved milk production, and improved reproductive efficiency—particularly the 10%–15% conception rate—are the outcomes of this nutrient supplement. A young dairy cow will produce an additional 1 to 2 liters of milk per day and have a protein level of 0.1 to 0.2% when fed 2 kg of compound feed. The great digestibility of this substance aids in the quicker growth of beef cattle.
- Because it contains glutamic acid, the use of fishmeal in aquaculture diets has been shown to be particularly beneficial for growth, nutrient-dense diets, and palatability. Aquatic animals can consume less pollution from waste water effluent by including fishmeal in their diets because of its higher digestibility. Fishmeal is a healthful or appealing protein supplement for aquaculture because of its optimal amino acid composition.
- 30–45% of the total protein in fish feed is often present.
- 35–45% of a shrimp’s diet is protein.
- The diets of salmon and trout comprise 45–55% protein and
- Tilapia and carp have 6-7% protein.
Now, when we compare the protein level of fishmeal to that of regular fish feed, we find that fishmeal has between 60 and 72 percent crude protein by weight. For this reason, producers of fishmeal assert that the aquaculture sector prefers and requires fishmeal above other types of feed.
- Fishmeal has an ash level of 17–25%. Greater amounts of ash indicate higher concentrations of minerals and vitamins, particularly calcium and phosphorus. Fishmeal contains phosphorus in a form that is easily obtainable, unlike phytate form found in plants.
Animals with a single chambered stomach, or monogastric animals, have little trouble using phosphorus. Fishmeal’s lipid composition is a great source of PUFAs, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They have a role in the development of the fish body’s cell membrane, which shields and cushions aquatic organisms from significant pressure fluctuations that occur at different water column depths.