What are we really putting into our fish?

[Aquanero]

My interest was piqued by some recent discussions revolving around some of the ingredients used in the manufacturing of fish food, in particular the use of Feather Meal. So I decided to do some research on the subject and what I found was surprising. While after reading several reports and studies on the subject, I have come to two conclusions. Feather meal is a viable source of protein but can not be the sole source as it is deficient in some amino acids, so it’s inclusion is not necessarily a bad thing from that perspective if used correctly at the appropreate inclusion rate. The second thing I found which had not occurred to me and never heard mentioned by anyone before, is the levels and diversity of antibiotics and other drugs found in feather meal as a by product of poultry farming.
I found this most interesting, due to my interest in fish health issues and how the things we feed fish (all things not just this) affect their immune systems, certain vitamin deficiencies and or lead directly to pathogenic infestations among other things.

I would encourage others to research and draw their own conclusions on the subject. Of course educated and civil discussion is always welcome. I found the subject interesting and a little controversial within the industry. below is some interesting information I found while looking into this.

http://www.undercurrentnews.com/2013/01/31/feather-meal-hinging-on-consumer-acceptance-not-legality/

https://d10k7k7mywg42z.cloudfront.net/assets/4d90dcdcdabe9d7a9b000044/feathermeal.pdf

http://www.tufts.edu/med/apua/news/news-newsletter-vol-30-no-1-8_9_431125369.pdf

 

[xraycer]

This is interesting Tom. I have always paid attention to fitness and nutrition in regards to humans, and one thing I find is that its research and opinions are always changing. Remember when eggs and salmon were deemed no better than a spoonful of lard? I always rolled my eyes and snicker a little when people chime in with "black and white ", "be all, end all", hard, absolute facts. They want to shove these definite, undeniable truths down everybody's throats. Fact is, we will probably never get it "all" figured out. We can only go by the best information we have available given our technology at the time.

 

[Aquanero]

Agreed, I thought it was too.

So while its use might be somewhat influanced by consumer acceptance it is a relativly low cost alternative to some other ingredients which will keep manufacturing cost down, which in turn would increase profitabilty. Weather or not this "cost saving" is passed to the consumer is up to the manufacturer. However having said this the more important aspect is sourcing uncontaminated, certafied and tested feather meal which in itself might negate any cost savings and make it unattractive to the manufacturer to persue. So there lies the canundrum. Cheap imported meal that contains who knows what or localy sourced and independantly tested and certified "organic" meal free of contaminants. Feather meal in and of itself isn't bad what's in it could be.

 

[stingray keeper]

Wow Tom. Thanks. I had been meaning to research this and hadn't yet got around to it.