PANAFERD-AX - CLIENT CONTENT
Nature’s solution
The natural carotenoids from Panaferd-AX have benefits for RAS farms. By Dominique Corlay
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olour is the symbol of salmon and a good pigmentation is considered as a major quality parameter in the industry. Meanwhile, demands from the markets all over the world lean towards more products free of any synthetic additives when possible. Natural pigment sources such as Panaferd®-AX have grown significantly over the past 10 years, becoming the standard in the Scottish salmon industry. Panaferd®-AX is a unique natural source of carotenoids. It contains not only astaxanthin but also other carotenoids (Fig.1). For RAS farming, the use of natural pigment also brings several major benefits. Benefits for image: For consumers, land-based farming may appear full of pipes and complex water filtration system far away from their natural environment and the image of fjords and lochs. Among positive claims for salmon RAS farms to strengthen their image and re-connect to nature, a key element is the use of sustainable feed, free of synthetic additives such as pigment. A majority of consumers state that the appearance of the fillet is important and that they are willing to pay more for organic salmon than conventional salmon if the fillet colour is similar (Olesen et al., 2010). Most premium RAS farms well understand this strategy and benefits. To give a few examples: In Poland, RAS Jurassic Salmon farm feed their salmon with natural pigment, giving an extra value to their ASC-certified salmon, delivered daily to the Polish and German markets (www.lososjurajski.pl). In Switzerland, Swiss Lachs RAS salmon farm is using Panaferd and delivers, to customers all over Europe, fresh whole salmon, fillets, steaks or smoked, with a fantastic natural colour (www.swisslachs.ch ). Swiss
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Figure 1: Carotenoid profile in Panaferd®-AX Figure 2: Tissue astaxanthin content comparison in rainbow trout under normoxia (12 weeks) and hyperoxia (1 week) environments. Source adapted from Kalinowski et al.,2019. Opposite below: Salmon fillet from RAS salmon farm Swiss Lachs
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Lachs has recently confirmed the expansion of its production capacity to supply a growing demand. Benefits for fish health: in RAS farms, farming conditions might be challenging for fish through high densities and optimal growth conditions year-round. For salmonids, carotenoids have proven numerous effects such as antioxidants and immune health promoters, vitamin A precursors, reproduction and growth enhancers. A 13-week feeding trial (Kalinovski et al., 2019) was carried out with juvenile rainbow trout to test two diets: a control diet without astaxanthin (CTRL diet), and a diet supplemented with 100 mg/ kg of astaxanthin (ASTA diet). During the last week of the feeding trial, fish were exposed to episodic hyperoxia challenge for eight consecutive hours per day. Episodic hyperoxia induced physiological stress responses expressed by a significant increase in plasma cortisol and hepatic
Salmon colour deserves to be natural
08/08/2022 12:11:18