Fish Feed: New PhD Increases Value for Money
Skretting’s David L. Knudsen finds key to soybean-induced enteritis in Atlantic salmon
David L. Knudsen
On Friday 7 September 2007, David L. Knudsen of Skretting presented his PhD thesis with findings that could lead to new and more cost-effective raw materials in fish feed. These advances will bring benefits in sustainability and costs.
Knudsen, International Product Manager Raw Materials in Business Group Skretting Salmon Feed, found the exact chemical answer to the question of why soy meal reduces the intestinal function of salmon. Researchers have been looking into the process for the past 15 years. On 7 September, the thesis Soybean-induced enteritis in Atlantic salmon earned David L. Knudsen his PhD.
Knowing the chemical details of the relationship between soy and salmon opens new opportunities to develop better and more cost-effective soy products for fish feed. Higher inclusion rates of such vegetable raw materials in fish feed is a necessary step for continued and sustainable growth of aquaculture.
In contrast to the limited availability of marine proteins and lipids, soy supplies are plentiful. Knudsen’s new findings may therefore also contribute to reducing pressure on prices of feed raw materials.
The soybean enteritis project was a biochemical “hide and seek” that demanded a c
