One of the challenges faced by aquaculture today is the feeding of diets containing a high proportion of vegetable ingredients.

1. September | October 2011
Feature title: BIOMET Zn Aqua - A organic zinc source for aquaculture practices
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2. F: Zinc F: Zinc
zinc supplementa- Calcium aggravates phytate blocking of zinc
Table 3: Serum zinc concentration and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity
after zinc supplementation in tilapia diets tion negatively absorption by forming insoluble phytate-
affects the water calcium-zinc complexes (Xu Chien et al.
Basal diet 1 (0.7% Ca - normal) - Treatments 1-4
environment, as it 2006), thus two dietary calcium levels were
T2-Zinc T3-BIOMET T4-Zinc
T1-Control results in greater fed; normal (0.7% Ca) and high (1.4 % Ca)
sulfate Zn Aqua proteinate
zinc excretion. (see Table 2).
Biomet Zn As zinc bioavailability differs between
Serum zinc (µg/dl) 17.5 c 19.4 b 28.3 a 15.4 d Aqua is a soluble organic and inorganic zinc sources, one
ALP Activity (U/L) 16.4 de 18.5 b 20.2 a 17.1 c zinc salt chelated inorganic source (zinc sulphate) and two
Basal diet 2 (1.4% Ca - normal) - Treatments 1-4 to an organic lig- organic sources (Biomet Zn Aqua and zinc
and, methionine, proteinate) were supplement-
T6-Zinc T7-BIOMET T8-Zinc
T5-Control which allows for ed (see Table 2). The overall
sulfate Zn Aqua proteinate
the formation number of treatments was
of a biologically eight, and the total amount
BIOMET Zn Aqua Serum zinc (µg/dl)
ALP* activity (U/L)
10.2 f
12.3 f
12.7 e
16.9 cd
16.8 c
19.0 b
Means within a row with different superscripts differ significantly
11.7 e
15.8 e
stable ring struc-
ture containing
zinc. The whole
of zinc and methionine was
similar for all zinc supplemented treatments.
Groups of 15 fish (average weight 3.36g)
A organic zinc source for aquaculture practices (P<0.05). Analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). structure does
not break apart in
per treatment were stocked into aquari-
ums during twenty-nine weeks. This period
from 0.6-5 and 5-10μg/L, respectively; how- stomach, avoiding the formation of insoluble included a two-week acclimatization proc-
by Waldo G. Nuez-Ortín, DVM, MSc. Aquaculture Technical Manager, NOREL SA, Spain.
ever, even fish maintained in water contain- zinc complexes, and reaches the uptake ess, a twenty-four-week growth assessment
Email: wnuez@norel.es. Website: www.norel.es ing higher concentrations (10-25μg/L) were surfaces in intestine. trial and a three-week digestibility trial.
not able to achieve optimal growth. Besides being easily absorbed across Results from this trial indicated that zinc
Dietary zinc concentration depends on the epithelial surface, this chelate allows bioavailability was enhanced with Biomet
ingredient composition. While zinc content for an easy release of zinc within body Zn Aqua supplementation (see Table 3).
is high in fishmeal (80-100mg/kg), it is low tissues (Glover and Hongstrand 2001). When compared to zinc sulphate,
in cereal grains (15-30mg/kg) or protein Consequently, the supplementation with Biomet Zn Aqua increased (P<0.05) serum
O
concentrates (40-80mg/kg) (Watanabe et BIOMET Zn Aqua results in increased zinc zinc by 46 percent and 32 percent in normal
ne of the challenges Zinc is a specific cofactor of several the profitability of the farm as result of al. 1997). bioavailability, preventing deficiency and pro- and high calcium diets, respectively.
faced by aquaculture enzymes as well as an integral part of growth retardation, poor immune response, In spite of the low zinc content in some moting a bene-
today is the feeding of about 20 metalloenzymes, some of them and reduced reproductive performance. feedstuffs, the low bioavailability resulting ficial effect on
diets containing a high involved with the digestion of proteins and Fish and shrimp can obtain zinc from two when feeding practical diets is mainly attrib- growth, health
proportion of vegetable ingredients. carbohydrates. different sources; water and diet. Seawater uted to the presence of phytate contained and reproduc-
In addition, zinc is associated with and freshwater zinc concentrations range is most vegetable ingredients as well as tion besides
These new diets result in lower efficien- prostaglandin tri-calcium phosphate contained in fish meal reducing water
cies and growth due to reduced digestibility metabolism or animal by-products (Alpines et al. 2001, pollution.
as well as lower availability of minerals. and con- Table 2: Treatments Satoh et al. 1993).
Zinc is a trace mineral involved in sequently Basal diet 1 (0.7% Ca - normal) - Treatments 1-4 These dietary components form insolu- Trial
Providing proficient tools to achieve cost-effective
essential life processes such as growth, i m m u n e T2-Zinc T3-BIOMET T4-Zinc ble complexes with divalent cations of zinc proven
g/ton feed T1-Control and sustainable aquaculture practices
reproduction, vision and immunity. Zinc bio- response and sulfate Zn Aqua* proteinate in stomach, reducing intestinal absorption effects in
availability within the animal decreases due reproduction while increasing zinc excretion. As shown tilapia
to the formation of insoluble complexes ( Wa t a n a b e Zn sulfate - 80 - -
in Table 1, zinc requirements have been A study con-
with dietary components; this leads to a et al. 1997). determined for different aquatic species. ducted at Tanta
BIOMET Zn - - 200 -
deficiency. When confronting this situation Therefore , However, some of these requirements, University
the inclusion of Biomet Zn Aqua in both fish zinc deficien- Zn proteinate - - - 133.3 such as those reported for channel (Egypt) has
and shrimp diets stands out as a solution to cy will nega- Basal diet 2 (1.4% Ca - normal) - Treatments 1-4 catfish, were determined when feeding demonstrated
achieve adequate health and performance. tively affect T6-Zinc T7-BIOMET T8-Zinc purified diets. In a later study using a the positive
g/ton feed T5-Control practical diet containing phytate (Gatlin effect of Biomet
sulfate Zn Aqua* proteinate
Table 1: Zinc fish requirements for different aquatic species.
and Wilson 1984), zinc requirements for Zn Aqua when ECOBIOL Aqua
Zn sulfate - 80 - -
catfish were established at 150 mg/kg supplemented a highly effective single strain probiotic
mg Zn/ instead of 20 mg/kg. Thus, both phytate in the diet of
Species Reference
kg diet BIOMET Zn - - 200 - and tri-calcium phosphate must be con- Nile tilapia. GUSTOR Aqua
Zn proteinate - - - 133.3 sidered by nutritionists when meeting The objec- a natural growth promoter
Rainbow trout 15-30 Ogino and Yang (1987) Supplemented Zn (ppm) - 20 20 20 zinc requirements. tive of this trial
Common carp 15-30 Ogino and Yang (1987) Total Zn (ppm) 48 68 68 68 In order to avoid deficiencies, it is a com- was to evaluate BIOMET Aqua
Channel catfish 20 Gatlin and Wilson (1983) mon practice to supplement inorganic salts the dietary cal- an organic mineral source
Total methionine (%DM) 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
of zinc, such as zinc sulphates or zinc oxides. cium content
Blue tilapia 20 McClain and Gatlin (1988) *BIOMET Zn Aqua: 10% zinc/27.2% methionine
However, the formation of insoluble and effect of
Red drum 20-25 Gatlin et al. (1991) Diets contained 36% soybean meal (44%), 18.5% yellow corn, 17% wheat zinc complexes persists and consequently zinc source on rl
Natuna trition
Atlantic salmon > 67 Maage and Julshamn (1993) flour, 14% fishmeal, herring (72%CP), 5.4% corn oil, 4% corn gluten meal u
a high amount of these salts have to be performance NOREL,S.A. • Jesús Aprendiz, 19, 1º A y B • 28007 Madrid (SPAIN)
(60% CP), 2% carboxymethyl cellulose, 0.15% vitamin premix, 0.05 % zinc-
Shrimp 15 Davis et al. (1993) added in the ration in order to meet parameters Tel. +34 91 501 40 41 • Fax +34 91 501 46 44 • www.norel.es
free micro minerals premix, 0.8% (Basal diet 1) and 2.9% (Basal diet 2)
Abalone 32-35 Tan and Mai (2001) limestone, and 2.1% sand (only for Basal diet 1) animal requirements. In addition, inorganic of Nile tilapia.
22 | InternatIOnal AquAFeed | September-October 2011 September-October 2011 | InternatIOnal AquAFeed | 23
AN. REV. 90X132.indd 1 02/08/11 13:13

3. F: Zinc C L E A N C O N T R O L
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Temperature control | Moisture control | Cleaning in Place
Figure 1: Bi-weekly body weight gain in zinc supplemented tilapia diets
When compared to zinc proteinate, and high calcium diets results in better per- trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, fingerlings. Aquaculture
improvements were even higher (P<0.05). formance and is economically more feasible Nutrition, 7: 221-228.
This was corroborated by increased than zinc sulphate and zinc proteinate. Gatlin, D. M., III, Wilson, R. P. (1984). Zinc
(P<0.05) activity of alkaline phosphatase, supplementation of practical channel catfish diets.
which is a zinc dependent enzyme involved Conclusion Aquaculture, 41: 31-36.
in protein synthesis. As zinc is required The formulation of sustainable diets being Glover, C. N., Hogstrand, C. (2001). Amino acid
for the synthesis and activity of enzymes composed of plant ingredients in high amounts modulation of in vivo intestinal zinc absorption
related to digestion of nutrients the digest- and animal by-products can lead to lower zinc in freshwater rainbow trout. The Journal of
ibility of dry matter, crude protein and fat availability which results in deficiency. Experimental Biology, 205: 151-158.
Table 4: Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter (DM), crude Table 5: Economic efficiency of zinc supplemented tilapia diets
protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) in zinc supplemented tilapia diets
Basal diet 1 (0.7% Ca - normal) - Treatments 1-4 Basal diet 1 (0.7% Ca - normal) - Treatments 1-4
T2-Zinc T3-BIOMET T4-Zinc T2-Zinc T3-BIOMET T4-Zinc
% T1-Control T1-Control
sulfate Zn Aqua proteinate sulfate Zn Aqua proteinate
DM 72.1 cd 77.0 b 82.0 a 75.6 b Feed cost (€/kg) 1.158 1.160 1.163 1.163
CP 79.9 b 86.8 a 89.1 a 80.7 b FCR 1.91 1.92 1.49 1.95
EE 72.0 e 80.2 c 85.4 a 77.2 d Cost/kg fish (€/kg) 2.21 2.23 1.73 2.27
Basal diet 2 (1.4% Ca - normal) - Treatments 1-4
Basal diet 2 (1.4% Ca - normal) - Treatments 1-4
T6-Zinc T7-BIOMET T8-Zinc
% T5-Control
sulfate Zn Aqua proteinate T6-Zinc T7-BIOMET T8-Zinc
T5-Control
sulfate Zn Aqua proteinate
DM 69.5 e 73.0 c 77.0 b 70.1 dc
CP 72.4 d 77.0 c 81.5 b 75.7 c Feed cost (€/kg) 1.160 1.162 1.165 1.165
EE 69.8 f 80.2 c 82.8 b 76.2 d FCR 2.12 2.01 1.77 2.21
Means within a row with different superscripts differ significantly
(P<0.05). Analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Cost/kg fish (€/kg) 2.46 2.34 2.06 2.57 cool and dry
were significantly higher in the Biomet Zn Nutritionists must therefore be cau- Hongstrand, C., Webb, N., Wood, C.M.
(1998). Covariation in regulation of affinity
Aqua supplemented groups (see Table 4). tious when formulating these practical
for branchial zinc and calcium uptake in
The better zinc bioavailability along with diets, as zinc supplementation is likely
the consequent improved nutrient utilization required. While different zinc supple-
freshwater rainbow trout during adaptation
to waterborne zinc. Journal of Experimental clean and lean
led to better animal performance. As shown ments are available in the market, Biomet Biology, 186:55-73
by Figure 1, body weight gain in both normal Zn Aqua has demonstrated to be a
and high calcium diets was higher for Biomet nutritionally functional chelate, which Satoh, S., Porn-Ngam, N., Takeuchi, T., Watanabe, T.
(1993). Effect of various types of phosphates on
Zn Aqua, particularly after 10 weeks. provides a cost-effective solution to
zinc availability to rainbow trout. Nippon Suisan
In terms of economic efficiency (see improve performance parameters, ensure
Gakkaishi, 59: 1395-1400.
Table 5), the cost of the diet includ- adequate health status, and reduce water
ing Biomet Zn Aqua was slightly more pollution. Watanabe, T., Kiron, V., Satoh, S. (1997). Trace
expensive; however, the lower conversion minerals in fish nutrition. Aquaculture, 151: 185-207.
rates achieved resulted in reduced cost of References Xu Chien, X., Zafra-Stone, S., Bagchi, M.,
production. Alpines, M. J., Satoh, S., Kiron, V., Watanabe, T., Nasu, Bagchi, D. (2006). Bioavailability, antioxidant Geelen Counterflow info@geelencounterflow.com
Therefore, the use of Biomet Zn Aqua at a N., Fujita, S. (2001). Bioavailability of aminoacids and immune enhancing proper ties of zinc
methionine. Biofactor s, 27: 231-244. Holland / USA / Argentina / China www.geelencounterflow.com
dose of 200g/tonne feed in tilapia fed normal chelated and glass embedded zinc to rainbow
26 | InternatIOnal AquAFeed | September-October 2011
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BIOMET Zn Aqua:
A organic zinc source for aquaculture practices
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