Skretting introduces Elevia shrimp feed for hatcheries

Stavanger, Norway-based aquafeed company Skretting has introduced Elevia, a new shrimp feed specifically designed for use in hatcheries and nurseries.

“[Elevia] is engineered to offer superior nutrition and water quality in shrimp hatcheries and nurseries. The precisely produced, stable micro diet improves larval performance while simplifying feed management and ensuring a cleaner system,” Skretting said. “Formulated to mimic the natural feeding approach of shrimp larvae, Elevia is a next-generation solution that surpasses conventional feeding methods and traditional aquafeed ingredients, setting a new standard for hatchery performance.”

The feed incorporates essential long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, algae-derived DHA, and hydrolyzed marine proteins, according to Skretting.

“It enables shrimp to develop into strong and healthy post larvae with increased capacity to thrive in nursery environments,” the company said.

Elevia is being produced in Skretting’s LifeStart facility in Fontaine-lès-Vervins, France, and is available for purchase in Ecuador, with other markets to follow, according to Skretting Global Product Manager Eamonn O’Brien.

“We are very excited about introducing Elevia to the shrimp hatcheries, particularly in Ecuador as our first launch country,” O’Brien said. “Following an extensive development period that spanned the Covid outbreak and throughout in-depth customer validations, we are confident that once again Skretting is paving the way for a new generation of shrimp hatchery production and facilitating improved post-larvae quality.”

O’Brien said through Elevia's ingredient content, physical properties, and color, hatchery and nursery managers can reduce their use of multiple diets, “resulting in simplified operations and feed management.”

“Another key feature that contributes to streamlining operations is the diet's ability to maintain water stability,” he said. “Thanks to its unique composition and encapsulation of omega-3 fatty acids, the leaching of lipids into the production system is prevented, ensuring cleaner and uncompromised water quality. Consequently, intact feed particles remain stable for extended periods, minimizing the necessity for frequent replacements. This not only promotes optimal water conditions but also facilitates essential system maintenance, all while alleviating the strain on bio- and mechanical-filters.”

Skretting Ecuador Technical Director Marita Montserrate said Elevia users in Ecuador have enjoyed higher yields due to better nutritional uptake from the Elevia feed, resulting in improved immune system and overall resilience.

“This enables the shrimp to cope more effectively with stressful environmental changes. As a result, shrimp production becomes more reliable and successful, reducing the risks associated with variations in water conditions and other factors,” Montserrate said. “Elevia reduces the production cycles in hatcheries and provides shrimp with the necessary energetic reserve to improve resilience for the transport to the farm and acclimatation. In addition, Elevia ensures better performance in nursery, reduces the cost of the post-larvae and promotes increased survival and growth throughout the entire production cycle.”

Skretting, a subsidiary of animal nutrition firm Nutreco, operates production facilities in 19 countries on five continents, manufacturing more than 3 million metric tons of aquafeed annually for use from hatching to harvest for more than 60 aquatic species.

Skretting released its annual sustainability report in May.

Photo courtesy of Skretting