Analysis of fish feed alternatives with sustainable ingredients

Brabender develops alternative fish feed by lab scale extrusion and analyses the moisture content with an automized moisture analyzer.

Jessica Wiertz
Manager Applications
Brabender GmbH & Co. KG

Around 30 percent of commercially exploited fish stocks worldwide are considered to be overfished. Besides human consumption, large quantities of fish are destined for processing into fish meal as the main ingredient for fish feed pellets for aquaculture. As a resource-saving alternative to fish meal, protein-rich alternatives like black fly larvae meal are coming into focus.

Brabender tried to make fish feed more sustainable and developed feed pellets, where the fish meal was stepwise replaced by insect meal. In another project in cooperation with Evonik Operations GmbH, Brabender conducted a study “Increasing the fat content of fish feed by addition of silica” and also examined the breaking strength of the pellets, the non-gelatinized starch and the moisture content. The moisture has been analysed with an automized moisture analyzer. This is an electronic moisture meter that works according to the principle of heat drying, i.e. the drying oven method. The weight loss of the sample material resulting from the drying process is determined.

“Our moisture analyzer allows ten samples to be examined at the same time and the samples can be weighed automatically at the end of the examination using the integrated scale. The moisture content is calculated automatically as well”, explains Brabender’s manager applications, Jessica Wiertz.

A drying curve can also be recorded and displayed via integrated software, e.g. if the drying time of a new material is unknown. The automated method incorporates the advantages of the classic drying oven method and at the same time eliminates its disadvantages. By drying several samples at the same time, the customer benefits from the otherwise lengthy drying oven method and saves time and manual steps. In addition, drying via the automated drying oven method minimizes the influence of the operator.

“In terms of future developments, we are focusing on more automized methods on the one hand, driven by our customers’ demands; on the other hand, we will develop further applications, based on new and sustainable raw materials. One project might be the replacement of fish meal by algae. For sure, the quality of the fish feed, e.g. the nutritional value and the moisture content of the feed pellets, will be examined”, says Wiertz.

About Jessica Wiertz
Jessica Wiertz has been with Brabender GmbH & Co. KG since 2016. There, she initially managed the application laboratory for food and feed, and is now responsible for the company’s application technology division. After studying food technology at today‘s Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Ms Wiertz first worked in the quality assurance department of an industrial bakery and then as a laboratory engineer in the laboratory for food technology at Hochschule Osnabrück.