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Natural source of carotenoids for salmonids and shrimps Dominique Corlay, Aquaculture Natural Solutions
Color intensity for salmon and shrimp represent major quality criteria affecting consumer preferences (Parisenti et al., 2011) and giving a significant added value to the products. Carotenoids such as astaxanthin are also key nutrients in various physiological functions such as reproduction and can help to sustain the animal health status. On the other side, demands from customers lean towards more natural and sustainable products, free of any synthetic additives. Natural carotenoids such as Panaferd-AX are available on the aquafeed market and provide efficient nutritional solutions for both farmed salmonids and shrimps.
Sources of carotenoids In nature, wild salmon and shrimp get carotenoids from various primary producers such as microalgae, bacteria or yeast and then by live food. In aquaculture, dry feed is by far the only source. For shrimps, in some low-density production systems (<15 PL/m²) with good environmental conditions, farmed shrimp may find in the benthos sufficient quantities of carotenoids (Fig. 1). But in most intensive farming cases for shrimp, salmon and trout, the addition of carotenoids in the feed is fully needed. Various feed additives containing carotenoids such as astaxanthin are available from two major origins. Synthetic astaxanthin is chemically engineered through complex reactions from crude oil-based components. But this synthetic form only contains astaxanthin under various isomeric forms, not existing in nature. Considered as a “chemical dye” by some, it tends to be less used by premium farms in the salmon and trout industry and even ban by some food stores. Natural carotenoids can be extracted from various organisms and have the advantage to contain various carotenoids such as astaxanthin, adonirubin,
Credit: Kvarøy Artic, Norway
canthaxanthin and adonixanthin. These sources also have a nutritional value (protein content) when not synthetically formed. Three major sources of natural astaxanthin are available on the market: the microalgae Haematococcus pluviatilis, the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma and the bacterial micro-organism Paracoccus carotinifaciens, better known under the brand name Panaferd-AX®. Table 1 compares the main specifications between Panaferd-AX and synthetic astaxanthin.
Benefits for salmon: Color and health Natural carotenoid source is well known and used by part of the salmon industry for many years. In a study conducted in Scotland (ENEOS Corporation data), the efficacy of Panaferd pigment at different standard pigment rates (40 and 70 ppm) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was compared to synthetic astaxanthin. A stability study was also performed to evaluate the carotenoid stability of salmon fillets under freezing
Aquafeed: Advances in Processing & Formulation Vol 13 Issue 3 2021
