In this section:
Nutrition and Feed Technology
The Nutrition and Feed Technology subprogram provides scientific and technical advice on the provision of nutritionally complete and cost effective diets for the optimum productivity, health and product quality of fish and shellfish. The subprogram aims to develop and evaluate existing and new technologies related to diet development and/or feeding strategy; provide emerging industries with the necessary diets and established industry with technologies; and address the industry’s diet related productivity, product quality and marketing issues. Click here to download Nutrition and Feed Technology Subprogram capability statement (.pdf)
Overview
The subprogram conducts research on subjects identified as a priority by the industry, government and community, and develops and maintains comprehensive aquatic animal trialling facilities suitable for small, controlled environments (e.g. aquaria and tanks), and pilot-scale commercial facilities on-farm (pontoons and tanks). A well equipped analytical laboratory, extruder and feed mill complement the growth trialling facilities.
The subprogram is building on the achievements of past projects that have focused on the study and development of diets for the finfish industry. These include southern bluefin tuna, snapper, mulloway and yellowtail kingfish, as well as shellfish including abalone, oysters, rock lobster and sea urchins. The program develops and evaluates existing and new technologies related to diets and feeding strategies.
Research Objectives
Current research objectives include:
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Generation of a nutrient requirement database for diet development for new aquaculture species.
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Understanding the relationship between diet formulations, feeding strategies, fish production and product quality (including human health implications) with feed costs, levels of nutrient release into the environment and fish health.
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Development of methodologies and provision of training of extrusion feed technologies and aquatic animal nutrition.
Extruded feed for large scale experimental trials are produced using a custom designed extrusion facility at the SARDI Australasian Experimental Stockfeed Extrusion Centre (.pdf) (AESEC). Experimental feeds of various forms can be manufactured using the latest extrusion technology and the facility can also be used to provide training for extruder operators. Experienced staff with long term work experience in feed formulation and production are available to provide advice on various aspects of feed production technology. The Centre also has established strong links with national and international industry experts in feed technology and diet developments in aquafeed, petfood and livestock feeds.
Research Projects
2008/711 Australian Seafood CRC: Addressing the key aquatic animal health issues limiting the production of Australian yellowtail kingfish and hatchery reared southern bluefin tuna industries.
2008/712 Australian Seafood CRC: Second generation tuna feeds.
2002/200 Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram: preventing summer mortality of abalone in aquaculture systems by understanding interactions between nutrition and water temperature.
2001/249 Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: Development and commercial evaluation of manufactured diets.
2001/221.20 Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: quality and nutritional evaluation of baitfish used for tuna farming.
2001/201 Aquafin CRC - SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: Commercialisation trials for a manufactured tuna feed.
Recent Publications
van Barneveld RJ, Carter CG, Tivey DT and Brooker JD (1998). Development of an In virtro assay for the assessment of alternative protein sources for use in artificial diets for farmed southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii). FRDC Project No. 95/068, 378 pp.
van Barneveld RJ, Carter CG, Glencross BD and Clarke SM (2003). Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) Aquaculture Subprogram. Project 2: Development and optimisation of manufactured feeds for SBT. FRDC Project No. 1997/362, 119 pp.
Vandepeer ME, Hone PW and Havenhand JN (2002). The digestibility of whole and dehulled lupins (Lupinus Angustifolius) fed to juvenile greenlip abalone, Haliotis laevigata. Journal of Shellfish Research, 21(2):799-803.
Vandepeer ME, Hone PW, Havenhand JN and van Barneveld RJ (2002). The effect on non-nutritive fillers on the digestibility of a manufactured abalone diet. Journal of Shellfish Research, 21(2): 793-798.
Staff
Dr David Stone
Subprogram Leader
Mr Raymond Cultura
Extrusion Process Technician
Contact
Dr David Stone, Subprogram Leader
Tel: (08) 8207 5350 Fax: (08) 8207 5481
PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA, 5022
E-mail: David.Stone@sa.gov.au
