Aquafeed formulation is a fast growing business, yet relatively new. Growing world population, pressure on the use of marine ingredients, price volatility of raw materials, better availability of nutritional knowledge and difficulties in the production of aqua diet make aqua diet formulation a challenging business. A professional and state of the art least cost formulation software, like BESTMIX® (a product by software specialist Adifo) is essential to develop sustainable, cost effective and nutritionally complete feeds.

1. January | February 2010
Feature title: Least cost formulation in aquafeed
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The International magazine for the aquaculture feed industry

2. Least-cost
formulation in
aquafeeds
by Peter De Letter, Consultant BESTMIX® feed formulation software email: peter.deletter@adifo.be, Adifo NV, Belgium
and Jean Broers, Product Manager BESTMIX® feed formulation software email: jean.broers@adifo.be
A
quafeed formulation is a in agrifeed. The nutritionist manages his availability per plant, the software creates a
fast growing business, yet set of ingredients by setting the measured least cost formula that fulfils the ingredient
relatively new. Growing and calculated nutrient values. Then, taking and nutritional requirements of the diet.
world population, pressure into account the ingredient prices and the However, the quality and ‘real world’ cost
on the use of marine ingredients,
price volatility of raw materials, better
availability of nutritional knowledge Figure 1: Data integration of formulation data
and difficulties in the production of
aqua diet make aqua diet formulation
a challenging business. A professional
and state of the art least cost for-
mulation software, like BESTMIX®
Dry with 20-50% less energy
(a product by software specialist
Adifo) is essential to develop sustain-
able, cost effective and nutritionally
complete feeds.
Data management
and integration Geelen Counterflow / T +31-475-592315
The general principles of least cost Geelen Counterflow USA Inc. / T +1-772-559-4338
formulation for aquafeed are the same as
Geelen Counterflow América Latina / T +54-9-2362-418899
E info@geelencounterflow.com / I www.geelencounterflow.com
14 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | January-February 2011

3. seminar has been a huge success Email: sales@meriden-ah.com
and we look forward to working toxic potency of
significant increase of the and above can affect fish performance and dis- group, and yellowing of the tilapia surface was
Website: www.meriden-ah.com
AFB1 (Centoducati et al., 2009). ease resistance
F: Feed formulation The hapatoxicity of AFB1 was also con-
firmed by Spahdari et al. (2010) in a study
which confirms
previous obser-
Are you sure
I N S E R T Iat levels of 0, 25,V50, 75, and vation2004) who
looking at the impacts of AFB1 on Beluga
(Huso huso)
NTO DRI E et al.,
by (Phuoc
I‘m not missing
100ppb AFB1/kg of diet during a three- reported that a key essential
effectiveness of the months period. F O R A D D E D M A R G Icontaining
diet N nutrient?
aqua diet stands or In this case, results showed that the vari- 60 – 300 ppb l Large range and inventory
falls with the quality ous levels of AFB1 did not significantly affect AFB1 can signifi- of many sizes
Figure 2: use lot optimization to cope with
of the available data. changing ingredient qualities assuring a stable the specific growth ratio (SGR) (P<0.05) of cantly reduced l Higher capacity for existing
Import wizards and end product quality fish in different treatments. performance of elevators
special data manage- However, weight gain and food conver- tra catfish 16.59 l Durable, long life designs
ment tools help the sion ratio (FCR) varied significantly (P<0.05) ± 0.2 g after 10 l Free elevator design service
nutritionist to gain between control and treatments with diets or 22 weeks of
time and have a reli- contaminated with 75 and 100ppb AFB1/kg feeding.
able database where after 90 days. These findings Watchdog Elite
prices, stock data,
nutritional data and
Histopathological studies showed that dif- seem to suggest VANNAGEN ®
Complete Hazard Monitoring System for Bucket
ferent level of AFB1 can cause broad range that Pangasius Elevators and Conveyors!
quality constraints of change in liver tissue, including progressive catfish is more l Bearing Temperature, Belt Misalignment,
are up to date. naturally supports…Belt Slippage, Blockage Detection
Underspeed,
fat deposition, hepatocyte degeneration and sensitive to
BESTMIX® feed for- … Per formance
l Fully programmable to optimize elevator operation
necrosis, particularly at concentration of 75 AFB1 than other
mulation software and 100ppb AFB1/kg of diets after Format’s
60 days catfish species
… Health l LED displays for speed and set-up
powerful l Simple, reliable, consistent
offers the possibility to exchange informa- sources combined with additives like assure this quality. BESTMIX® contains (Spahdari et al., 2010). such as channel … Stress management
tion with ERP and production systems and lysine, methionine, enzymes to increase a lot optimization module to take the
formulation and resource Elevator Bolts
catfish (Ictalurus
to import nutritional data and calculation essential nutrient availability from these real-time ingredient quality in account at optimization software Cold Forged for Highest Quality!
Recent studies in Vietnam punctatus) and l Euro Bolts (DIN15237), Original
sources and phosphate additives taking moves feed businessescatfish
www.chemoforma.com
rules from external ingredient suppliers or production time. Each lot of an ingredi- In a recent study in Vietnam, Tu (2010) walking Ref 70, Fang Bolts & Easifit Bolts
into account antinutritional factors of
research institutes. In addition, the software ent has a specific quality. This quality forward to improved margins.batra-
conducted a comprehensive study on the sen- (Clarias l Available in steel / stainless / zinc
is able to use online data coming from phytic acids for example. can be registered and controlled online plated
sitivity of Tra catfish (Pangasionadon hypoph- chus). The study l Wide range available from stock
NIR apparatus filtered through a special Gut physiology and development vary upon the intake of each lot by using Format International Limited, the
thalmus) to AFB1, analyzing the impacts of also evaluated
lab module called BESTMIX® LIMS (see widely between the different aquaculture BESTMIX® LIMS, Adifo’s Lab Management Format House, Poole Road,Woking,
feeding AFB1 contaminated diets on growth application of an We have your per for mance in mind
figure 1). species and life stages. Therefore it is Information System software. BESTMIX® Surrey GU21 6DY, England.
performance, physiological response, histo- Aflatoxin binder
important to be able to set up aqua diets will help the nutritionist and production Tel: +44 1483 726081 Fax: +44 1483 722827
logical changes and disease resistance of Tra (Mycofix®Secure)
Website www.formatinternational.com
www.go4b.com
Fulfilling nutritional and per species and life stage. The nutritionist manager to optimize the usage of each catfish. to counteract
Chemoforma Ltd. CH-4302 Augst Switzerland
Tel +41 61 811 33 55 Fax +41 61 811 28 03 Email: 4b-uk@go4b.com
ingredient constraints can create constraint frameworks and lot, guaranteeing an optimal production
Aqua diets contain a high concentra-| InternatIonalspecific nutrient availability2011
6 calculate AquAFeed | January-February for process and a stable quality (Figure 2). January-February 2011 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | 7
tion of protein and fat. This adds extra larvae and adult animal types. This con-
10 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | January-February 2011 A second control mechanism is the January-February 2011 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | 11
Revised Buckets C2 half page 2.indd 1 21/09/2010 11:37:09
complexity to aqua diet formulation. cept has already proven to maximize cost use of swing values: tolerances are set
Aqua feed nutritionists are challenged by effectiveness in agrifeed. for minimum and maximum deviations on
the need to reduce reliance on marine Developing fish feed is a phased ingredient percentages determined in the
protein and lipid sources offering new research and development project. In the R&D formula.
Adjusting to the market
using multiblend tools
Theoretically, it is possible to create
"Using BESTMIX® multiblend, feed producers can the ideal formula: being both nutrition-
reduce raw material costs by more than 1%. ally fulfilling as well as cost effective at
a certain point in time. Yet, ingredient
This way, the limited and more expensive resources and prices are very volatile
and can change drastically in the short
resources will be divided amongst all aqua diets term. Using multiblend tools, the least
in the most cost effective way" cost formulation program will take into
account ingredient availability and prices
of stock, contracts and the market.
Nutritionists and purchasers can sit
together and create the most economi-
alternative protein sources. BESTMIX® final stage, when the production is defined cal overall solution for the whole plant
helps searching for nutritionally valid and set, the diet should not change too for a certain defined period. The moment
alternatives by getting the most out of drastically in order to guarantee the of stocks and contracts usage can even
the nutritional potential of all ingredients. defined R&D characteristics. Still, the be optimized: it can be cheaper to keep
When setting a maximum constraint on guaranteed nutritional values must be met your current stock for a later period and
marine oil and protein sources, or in case at all times. Small quality changes of these buy an alternative lot of this ingredient
prices and availability are not favourable, ingredients will result in large deviations at current market conditions (Figure
the software will search for a valid and of the quality in the end-product. The 3). Using BESTMIX® multiblend, feed
cost effective alternative formula. Such production formulator must take this producers can reduce raw material costs
an alternative mixture could consist of into account to deliver feed with stable by more than 1%.
vegetable oil and protein (or algae based) quality. Developments are available to This way, the limited and more expen-
16 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | January-February 2011 January-February 2011 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | 17

4. F: Feed formulation
GROWiNG iS
Aqua News
sive resources will be divided amongst all has to consider other production-related Conclusion
Fourth International Feed Regulators Meeting
aqua diets in the most cost effective way. parameters as well. One ingredient can
be dosed on different scales, while each
20" x 10" CC-XD
The different parameters can be chal-
lenging for the team that is responsible
Coping with production of these scales has a certain precision and elevator bucket
for developing and producing aquafeed.
beautiful
challenges in aqua dietsoffer a wide variety dosing capacity. In “It is asituations,event for means that the nutritionist, the feed
T
minimal some This
he International Feed will of topics, event, unique
T
Producing aqua-feed is different from the amount of silos is limited. The formula- engineer, the logistic planner, the produc-
I n d u s t r y F e d e r a t i o n including: industry and global feed regula- apco has
producing compound feed. Most fish feeds tor can set up these parameters in his tion manager and the sales manager must
(IFIF) in cooper ation A presentation on regula- tors to come together to discuss i n t r o -
formulation software tool to optimize the all work together in one formulation
with the Food and Agriculture tor y developments of feed issues of mutual interest.” duced a 20"
formula, taking into account the production system in such a way that the information
Organization of the United labeling; Government feed regulators may x 10" Xtreme Duty
Nations (FAO) will host advanced
"Only the most the The newly reestablished Codex of the plant.event at no fee.isFor (CC-XD) elevator bucket step.
process parameters passed from one step to the next
attend this
Afterwards, the diet information must be
four th I n t e r n a t i o n a l F e e d Feed Task Force, hosted by Swiss industry and trade association repre- to accompany its existing 7" and
formulation software Keep your labels up to date
Regulator s Meeting (IFRM) authorities, - an outlook on the sentatives, the cost is $275 USD.
automatically updated when new informa-
8" projection sizes.
tools such as BESTMIX® The aqua feed world is a highly competi-
January 24-25, 2011 in Atlanta, Task Force plans and a discussion
tive world. Feed manufacturers have to dif-
tion comes up or when new parameters
The IFRM is being held prior The Tapco CC-XD operates at
have been measured. Only the most
USA. The Amer ican Feed of risk assessment methods and to the International Feed Expo/I up to 940 feet per minute. The
guarantee an added value to tools;
Industr y Association (AFIA) is management
from the average Expo advanced formulation software tools such
ferentiate themselvesnternational Poultrylevel. which is
bucket is reinforced with a 5/8"
A good presentationon January 26-28, 2011. For more
of the aqua-feed diets as BESTMIX® guarantee an added value
assisting with the organization of The IFIF Feed Regulator y thick front lip and has 1056.6
aqua diet manufacturers"
the event.
is a must for every producer. Generated
Comparison Repor t for Feed details on the largest annual feed
to aqua diet manufacturers, who focus
cubic inches of capacity. CC-XD
specifications must have a highly commercial on delivering to their customers exactly
Delegates from over 20 coun- Additives will compare and industry tradeshow, visit www. buckets are molded with
value, whilst the information presented must what they ordered.
tries are expected to attend contrast the approval processes in ife11.org or www.ipe11.org. 35-50% more resin than the
are extruded and pelletized.This means that be complete, 100 percent correct, customer
the two-day event, held in the Canada, the USA and the EU; CC-HD. The CC style buckets’
the formulator has to pay extra attention to friendly and fulfilling all legal specifications. So
Georgia World Congress Center, FAO/WHO will provide an More inforMation: distinctive “breaks” on the
controlling the starch content, the humidity, how to keep reports and labels up to date
to discuss topics relevant to the outlook on the possible emer- AFIA More inforMation: bucket provide an
bottom of the
the density and the high fat contents. To be when formulas and ingredients vary in time?
feed and pet food industry. gency notification mecha- 2101 Wilson Boulevard ideal product trajectory. Tapco
Adifo N.V.
able to achieve a certain quality and density And how to keep labels up to date according Industrielaan 11 B is available in polyeth-
IFRM offers a chance for inter- nisms; Suite 916 CC-XD
for optimal pelletizing, the nutritionist or to changing feed policies? Adjusting these Maldegem, B-9990
national regulators to come A report on of the Safe Supply Arlington VA 22201 ylene, nylon and urethane and is
production manager can adjust the dry mat- data one by one would be extremely time- Belgium
together and gain greater under- of Affordable Food Everywhere USA ideal for demanding, super high
ter and density parameters in BESTMIX® consuming. Therefore it is703 5241921 be
Tel: +1 essential to Tel: +32 50 303211
standing of the global issues project. Fax: +1 software in such
703 5241921 Fax: +32 50 711193 applications. For
throughput
as to start the pelletizing process in ideal able to set up labels in the
affecting the feed industr y IFIF chairman of the board, Email: afia@afia.org Website:more information visit www.
www.adifo.com
conditions. a way, that they are ‘refreshed’ automatically
around the world. The meeting Dave Cieslak, Cargill, said of the Website: www.afia.org tapcoinc.com.
When formulating diets, the formulator when needed.
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