Fishmeal prices have doubled over the past year — reaching £700 per tonne on farm. They are likely to increase still further, due to increased use by China, demand from the growing fish-farming market and reduced fishing quotas, according to a feed specialist. Grain prices are also predicted to increase by £12 per tonne.

But savings of £300-£400 per tonne — £8.50-£26.00 in the finished diet — can be achieved by making simple adjustments to diet formulation, without sacrificing nutritional value, says Robert Jones, managing director of Newmarket-based supplement manufacturer, UFAC-UK.

“Fishmeal has a reputation for possessing unique qualities for enhancing animal performance but now the use of selected marine and vegetable oils, high in omega 3 fatty acids, supplemented with synthetic amino acids and the correct minerals can duplicate these qualities at about half the cost,” he says.

Indeed, on-farm trials with piglets using his company’s product, Monomega, actually showed a significant increase in growth compared with the controls on a fishmeal-based diet.

Robert Jones therefore believes that pork, broiler and egg producers who are home-mixing should take a fresh look at their diet costs.

“Soya protein has limitations. Our products are designed to replace fishmeal on a kg-for-kg basis, so there is no need for complicated reformulations,” he said.

ThePoultrySite News Desk