Sustainable fish feed solutions from Honkajoki with Luke’s support

Research conducted by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) showed that poultry proteins developed by Honkajoki Oy, based on side streams from poultry production, provide high-quality raw material for the fish feed industry. The efficient utilization of livestock production side streams is essential from the perspectives of sustainability, food security, profitability, and ethics.

Honkajoki Oy is Finland’s leading processor and refiner of animal by-products.

– The feed industry needs credible, research-based evidence about feed properties. It is important that Finland has its own research infrastructure, allowing trials to be carried out from a domestic perspective. The expertise and long-term experience of Luke’s staff ensure that projects proceed smoothly and efficiently to completion, says Mika Tuomola, Director of Research and Development at Honkajoki Oy.

Globally, fish production is growing, increasing the aquaculture sector’s need for feed raw materials. Reducing the use of fishmeal and identifying alternative protein sources is crucial to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector. Fishmeal production depends on marine fish catches, which cannot be increased. Processed poultry protein offers a promising alternative for more responsible fish farming, as the use of poultry by-products reduces waste and improves nutrient cycling within food systems.

– People consume slightly less or slightly more than half of the farm animals raised for food, depending on the species. From ethical, sustainable, and economic perspectives, it is important that nothing goes to waste. From the point of view of food security, losses cannot be accepted either, reflects Tuomola.

Excellent palatability was a surprise

In this customer project, Luke studied the utilization of two products developed by Honkajoki from poultry production side streams in rainbow trout feeding. The tested products were hydrolyzed feather protein and a novel poultry protein.

For the trial, Luke prepared three types of feeds:

• A control feed composed of conventional raw materials.
• Two test feeds containing 30% of the tested raw material and 70% of the control feed.

The five-week feeding trial was conducted at Luke’s aquaculture facility in Parainen, using 216 one-year-old female rainbow trout. The results were analyzed in the laboratory.

The new poultry protein showed excellent digestibility, comparable to the high-quality fishmeal or hemoglobin meal currently in use. The digestibility of the hydrolyzed feather protein corresponded to the typical level of high-quality feather meal.

The new poultry protein also surprised with its excellent palatability. Both ingredients had low ash content, meaning that minerals such as phosphorus do not limit their use in feeds.

– Feather protein is already on the market, and we will start producing the new poultry protein at our new Kirkkokallio plant, where we can produce a wide range of protein products, says Tuomola.

Luke’s team is committed to promoting applied knowledge that can support companies in the sector in making safer and innovative decisions.