ARTICLE 56 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2023 INTRODUCTION Globally, aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing sector with an annual growth rate of 5.8% and provides about half of the global fish supply. It is diversifying, expanding and intensifying in almost all regions of the world. Rapid growing of human population has led to increasing demand of aquaculture production. Sustaining fish supplies from capture fisheries will, therefore, not be able to meet the growing global demand for aquatic food. Aquaculture can bridge the supply and demand gap of aquatic food in most regions of the world. Aquaculture production is heavily reliant on artificial feeds, which account for 50-60% of overall production costs, making it the most expensive variable in the industry. It's due to the rising cost of protein components in feed formulations like fish meal and fish oil. The most efficient use of nutrients from feed by the fish for increased development is the primary purpose of feed formulation, which can lower production costs. Fish bodies contain 70% protein by dry weight basis, making protein the most significant and expensive portion of the fish diet. The entire utilisation of protein for tissue building is prioritised over its use for energy. The feed with inadequate protein level or low protein: energy ratio does not contribute to optimum growth performance of fish. The ALPHA KETOGLUTARATE – A PROMISING SUPPLEMENT IN AQUAFEED “Replacing fish meal in aquafeed is one of the biggest challenges in aquaculture. Till now no feed ingredients was able to effectively replace fish meal especially in terms of its amino acid profile and its unknown growth factors. Alpha ketoglutarate (AKG) is known for its nutritional modulation, where a low protein and inadequate amino acid profile feeds supplemented with AKG showing promising growth & immune performances.” Phibi Philip Naduvathu Assistant Professor Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University Dr. Chiranjiv Pradhan Assistant Professor Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies Gokulnath S R Assistant Professor Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University
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