A group of Russian scientists has claimed they have developed a new feeding strategy that allows for substantially improved sturgeon growth.
A team of scientists from the Kuban State Agrarian University have confirmed the effectiveness of using salmon milt and flavourings from shrimp flour in feeding sturgeon, the press office of the university has revealed in a statement.
Under the developed technology, salmon milt is soaked in glycerin at room temperature for 2 days.
During the research, salmon milt comprised 3% of the sturgeon feed composition.
Shrimp meal boosts appetite
Additionally, the feed included 2% of shrimp meal, which served as a natural flavouring agent that stimulates the fish’s appetite.
Most effective for maturing females
“As experimental data show, the new feed formula demonstrates the greatest efficiency when introduced into the diet of female sturgeons at stage II–III maturity, which was confirmed by ultrasound diagnostics,” the researchers claimed.
Turning salmon by-products into value
In Russia, salmon is traditionally used for the production of red caviar, so salmon milt is a widely available by-product of local aquaculture, the scientists noted.
Rich source of nutrients and antibacterial compounds
Salmon milt is rich in nucleic acids, which provide building blocks for cell growth and are used in various pharmaceutical applications. It also contains protamine, a protein rich in basic amino acids like arginine and lysine, which has antibacterial properties and medical uses. Additionally, it is a source of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
Multiple benefits
As the studies showed, the use of the feeding formula not only allowed for the reduction of the time of sturgeon cultivation, but also significantly improved their commercial qualities.
“This is especially relevant for enterprises focused on the production of black caviar,” the scientists emphasised.
However, the scientists have not provided concrete figures.
The researchers said that their findings have already sparked interest among fish farmers, who see great potential in the soon-to-be commercialised technology.
Improving business profitability
In 2023, a similar study demonstrated that salmon milt can be an efficient food source for trout. During the experiment, it was calculated that replacing 2% of the feed with salmon milt soaked in glycerin can improve yield by 2.8% and help trout reach the IV maturity stage 4% faster compared with the controls.
As a result, the scientists estimated that the developed strategy could lead to a 4.4% to 7.1% improvement in the profitability of red caviar production.
