Aquaculture feed and method for its production

Abstract

Feed for aquaculture, including at least 50% waste and / or by-products deriving from agriculture, food or agri-food industry and method for its production.

Description

[0001] AQUACULTURE FEED AND METHOD FOR ITS PRODUCTION'

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

[0003] The present invention concerns an aquaculture feed, specifically for fish, consisting of a high percentage of waste products and / or agri-food and / or agricultural by-products and plant fractions, also coming from food and / or agricultural waste and / or by-products, in order to obtain a sustainable and economical nutritional composition.

[0004] In addition, the present invention also concerns a method for obtaining the feed in question.

[0005] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0006] Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production sectors in recent times, providing more than 50% of fish for human consumption.

[0007] In the aquaculture sector, the feed currently marketed generally contains a low percentage of plant components, being mainly formulated with ingredients of animal origin, such as fish meal and oils.

[0008] In fact, the "classic" formulations of feed provide for important percentages of fish derivatives, deriving largely from undersized or uncommercial fish. In particular, it has been calculated that in order to obtain 1 kg of farmed fish for human consumption, well over 1 kg (the point value varies from the species to be produced) of caught fish is needed, with which the fishmeal present in livestock feed is produced. It clearly follows that, under these conditions, livestock farming is not an ecologically sustainable practice.

[0009] Among the plant components used, as can be seen from the Table in Example 1, soy is the most common, although it has numerous anti-nutritional factors (such as, for example, protease inhibitors, lectins, saponins, phytohemagglutinins, phytoestrogens, anti-vitamins) that limit its effectiveness. Furthermore, the use of soy as a feed ingredient is exclusive, in the sense that the seed is used as such, and not its waste, thus resulting in an unsustainable, as well asunhealthy, use.

[0010] In addition, the ingredients currently used in commercial feed, both animal and plant-based, are not considered fully sustainable from a production and environmental point of view, raising concerns about the ecological impact of traditional aquaculture practices.

[0011] In this context, there is a need to develop a feed that overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above and that, using waste materials and / or by-products of agriculture, preferably organic or climate-smart agriculture, or agri -food, has a high added value from a nutritional and health point of view for the fish that feed on it, at the same time constituting an important source of savings for the companies that have to dispose of these waste materials and / or by-products.

[0012] The importance and need for a fish feed based on waste and / or agricultural / agri-food by-products and with significant percentages of plant ingredients responds to the need to make aquaculture and its strong global expansion increasingly sustainable.

[0013] OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The technical task of the present invention is to provide a feed for aquaculture, in particular for fish, characterized by a predominance of waste products and / or by-products, and by a significant vegetable fraction, preferably of biological origin, capable of improving the state of the previous art.

[0015] In particular, one of the main purposes of the present invention is to provide a feed for aquaculture, in particular for fish, capable of using agricultural and / or agri-food waste and / or by-products as resources, in order to promote sustainability and the use of secondary raw materials, with a view to a circular economy.

[0016] An even further purpose of the present invention is to provide an aquaculture feed, particularly for fish, that contains ingredients that improve the health and welfare of the animals kept and fed with it.

[0017] A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a feed for aquaculture, in particular for fish, which is stable, with a high added value in nutritional terms, and which contributes to improving the growth performance andquality of the farmed fish, as well as being healthy for the final consumer.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be further evident from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a feed, illustrated by way of indication, but not limited to, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

[0020] Figure 1 A shows a graph representing the growth in weight (grams, 3-month trial) of trout fed with the feed according to the invention (left column, dark grey), e.g. the third diet or diet C, compared to the commercial diet (right column, light grey),

[0021] Figure IB shows a graph representing the growth in length (cm, 3-month trial) of trout fed with the feed according to the invention (left column, dark grey), e.g. the third diet or diet C, compared to the commercial diet (right column, light grey),

[0022] Figure 2 A shows a graph representing the total phenol content (TPC) in terms of whole trout (mg GAE / g DW, 3-month trial) of trout fed feed according to the invention (right-hand column, dark grey), e.g. the third diet or diet C, compared to the commercial diet (left-hand column, light grey),

[0023] Figure 2B shows a graph representing the total phenol content (TPC) in terms of fillet (mg GAE / g DW, 3-month trial) of trout fed feed according to the invention (right-hand column, dark grey), e.g. the third diet or diet C, compared to the commercial diet (left-hand column, light grey).

[0024] EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention concerns an aquaculture feed, for example in particular for fish. In particular, as will be apparent from this description, aquaculture feed according to the present invention meets the nutritional needs of fish by providing high levels of protein and fat and / or low percentages of carbohydrates and fiber, the latter potentially irritating to the intestines of fish, in at least one version of the present invention. This is particularly true for salmonids or trout.In fact, this feed is formulated taking into account the optimal nutritional composition to promote the growth and well-being of the animals that feed on it, adapting the percentages of the components according to the specific needs of the fish species.

[0026] The feed according to this invention includes, among the ingredients, for the most part or in its entirety, agri-food waste / by-products, mainly of vegetable origin, most of which preferably come from organic farming and / or from waste and / or byproducts of food production and / or from waste and / or by-products of the agri-food or wine industry. The reuse and valorization of these waste and / or by-products have made it possible to obtain an innovative feed formulation, which limits competition on biological resources and reduces agricultural waste, as well as the cost of its disposal.

[0027] In particular, the feed according to the present invention includes at least 50% of its constituents consisting of waste and / or by-products of agriculture and / or the food industry or the agri-food industry, preferably at least 60%, even more preferably at least 65% or at least 80%.

[0028] In addition, according to one version of the present invention, the feed according to the present invention comprises at least 30% or at least 50% of its constituents consisting of waste and / or by-products of plant origin, preferably at least 60%, even more preferably at least 65% or at least 80%.

[0029] The feed obtained in this way, precisely because of its formulation and the origin of the waste / by-products of which it is composed, contains bioactive compounds (in fact present in them) that fortify the immune system of the fish, thus limiting the risk of fish getting sick and the consequent use of antibiotics for the treatment and use of medicated feed. In addition, the high content of bioactive substances in the feed produces a consequent increase in their flesh in fish, giving rise to an improved food for human consumption, in particular naturally functional from the point of view of health and well-being in general.

[0030] The feed according to the present invention is in the form of a solid composition, mainly dry. In particular, that composition may be in the form ofpowder and / or granules and / or pellets, the latter consisting of the agglomeration of its ingredients.

[0031] The feed according to the present invention includes a first portion, or component, protein (or predominantly protein since the components or ingredients that compose it have a mainly but not exclusively protein content) and a second portion, or component, oily.

[0032] A "portion" or "component" is defined as a compound or mixture of different compounds.

[0033] In particular, the oily portion is present in high percentages compared to traditional feeds.

[0034] The first protein portion helps to convey the oily portion, although present in high percentages, in the feed formulation, preventing it from compromising the stability of the feed itself.

[0035] The definition "predominantly protein" or "predominantly carbohydrate" derives from the fact that - as better explained below - the ingredients that make up this component or portion do not have an exclusively protein or exclusively carbohydrate content. In fact, they contain (as is usual for ingredients for agri-food or animal use) both carbohydrate components and protein components and possibly lipid components, but respectively the protein content is higher than the total quantity of its other constituents or the carbohydrate content is higher than the total of its other constituents.

[0036] For this reason, in this specification, the expressions "protein portion" and "predominantly protein portion" or "carbohydrate portion" or "predominantly carbohydrate portion" will be used indiscriminately, understood in the meaning expressed above.

[0037] The predominantly protein component includes at least one of the following ingredients: legumes or legume derivatives, the latter being made up of parts or components of legumes; animals or animal derivatives, the latter being made up of parts or components of animals, e.g. poultry or chicken, mammals in general, cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, fish, etc.Legumes can include at least one of broad (fava) beans, chickpeas, peas, lentils or other legumes.

[0038] In particular, legumes or legume derivatives are preferably obtained from waste / by-products of the processing of the legumes themselves or from waste and / or by-products of agriculture or the agri-food industry, such as waste from legume pastamaking.

[0039] The same applies to animals or animal products, which preferably derive from animal slaughter waste / by-products or from waste and / or by-products from the industrial production of animal-based food, e.g. meal obtained from animal meat or carcass, meal obtained from the feathers and / or feathers of poultry, such as poultry or chicken, etc.

[0040] According to one version of the invention, the predominantly protein component includes pasta making waste from legumes, chicken meal and / or feather meal, e.g. chicken, e.g. obtained from waste and / or by-products of the industrial production of poultry-based food, haemoglobin, e.g. powder, e.g. from waste and / or by-products from mammalian slaughter.

[0041] According to at least one version of the present invention, the feed does not include soya or parts or components derived from soy.

[0042] The feed according to the present invention may also include, depending on the needs of the animals to be fed, a third portion which is predominantly carbohydrate, e.g. including cereals or cereal derivatives, the latter including parts or components of the cereals themselves.

[0043] In particular, cereals or cereal derivatives are preferably obtained from waste and / or by-products of the processing of the cereals themselves or from waste and / or by-products of agriculture or the agri-food industry, such as waste from cereal pasta-making.

[0044] The term "pasta making waste" refers to dough residues that have remained unused in production machines and / or pasta products that are not suitable for marketing due to lack of conformity. These include, for example, the curvatures of spaghetti that form during the drying process, and other similar imperfections.According to one version that is still preferred, cereals include high-protein cereals, such as einkorn wheat, such as the Norberto variety, which has a protein content of 19%, and / or the Hammurabi variety, which has a protein content of 21%.

[0045] Therefore, according to one version of the present invention, the feed includes waste from the pasta-making of cereals, pasta-making waste from legumes, chicken meal and / or feather meal, e.g. chicken, e.g. from waste and / or byproducts of the industrial production of poultry-based food, haemoglobin, e.g. powder, e.g. from waste and / or by-products from the slaughter of mammals.

[0046] The feed according to the present invention also includes grape pomace and grapeseed oil.

[0047] Pomace is "waste", while grape seed oil, to obtain which it is necessary to separate a component of the pomace (grape seeds) and technically treat it (solvent or pressure extraction) to obtain oil, is a by-product.

[0048] The pomace is mainly composed of carbohydrates; however, their value lies mainly in the presence of antioxidants and "noble" fats, which constitute the most relevant elements.

[0049] Carbohydrates, in fact, are not strictly necessary for the nutritional purposes of an aquaculture feed.

[0050] The pomace, on the other hand, turns out to be four times more effective in conveying and supporting the antioxidant action, giving the feed an added value from a functional point of view. Preferably, the pomace and / or grape seed oil are made up of waste / by-products deriving from winemaking.

[0051] The feed is therefore, preferably, mainly made up of waste and / or byproducts of vegetable origin (legumes, pomace and / or grapeseed oil and / or cereals).

[0052] In particular, the presence of pomace among the ingredients of the feed leads to very high levels of bioactive / antioxidant compounds in the feed, which consequently pass into the meat of the fish that feed on the feed itself. This happens thanks to the presence of these bioactive and / or antioxidant compounds present in the pomace itself.

[0053] The oily component, therefore, includes, in addition to grapeseed oil, at least oneof fish oil or vegetable oil.

[0054] The feed according to this invention shall also include vitamins and amino acids, and / or at least one additional component of medicinal herbs, e.g. including allium sativa or at least one of the other medicinal plants of known type, albumin, lactic acid bacteria, e.g. whey-fermented lactobacilli, e.g. from waste and / or byproducts of milk processing, for example goat.

[0055] In particular, according to an example of the present invention, the feed may include (in percentages w / w of the total formulation) at least one of the ingredients indicated according to the percentages reported:

[0056] Cereals or parts or components of cereals (e.g. pasta making waste of cereals with a high protein content): 5-30%,

[0057] - Legumes or parts or components of legumes (e.g. pasta making waste of legumes): 5-50%,

[0058] Animals or animal derivatives: 4-65% (e.g. chicken meal: 3-40% and feather meal, e.g. chicken: 1-25%),

[0059] haemoglobin (e.g. powder): 10-35%,

[0060] pomace: 1-15%,

[0061] oily component: 7-37% (e.g. grapeseed oil: 2.5-25% and / or fish oil: 1- 12%),

[0062] medicinal herbs, such as Allium sativa: 0.05-1%

[0063] - Lactic acid bacteria: 0.05-1%.

[0064] The presence of medicinal herbs, as well as pomace, in the feed is suitable for strengthening the immune system of fish and promoting the accumulation of bioactive compounds in animals fed with the aforementioned feed, with the specific function of keeping them healthy, reducing the need for antibiotic interventions.

[0065] Lactic acid bacteria, which are included in the feed formulation, have a probiotic and normalizing effect on fish fed with the feed, e.g. trout, supporting their intestinal health and general well-being.

[0066] For the production of the feed of the present invention, legumes and pomace have been selected as the main innovative ingredients. In one version of theinvention, cereal pasta waste was avoided due to its high carbohydrate content. The use of legumes may be preferable to cereals because legumes, in addition to fewer carbohydrates and more protein than cereals, contain numerous bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and other nutrients, which improve the nutritional quality of the feed itself. The fat part, consisting of the oily component, consists mainly of grapeseed oil and, if necessary, to a lesser extent, of fish oil.

[0067] Grape seed oil also goes into the share of "waste / by-products" present in the feed, as the grape seeds are the seeds of the grape, present in the pomace, and are discarded during the production of the wine (together with the pomace itself, before or after fermentation depending on the type of wine to be obtained).

[0068] As mentioned above, preferably, the cereals and / or legumes and / or grapes from which the waste and / or by-products indicated above are obtained come from crops grown organically.

[0069] The present invention also concerns a method for making a feed as described above, which includes the steps of providing a predominantly protein component and an oily component.

[0070] The oily component at the high concentrations mentioned above, if added directly to the other solid components of the feed, could compromise its stability (especially the stability of the feed in the form of pellets). In order to avoid this problem, the oily component and / or grapeseed oil is then premixed with proteins with surfactant properties, preferably of vegetable origin, before being added to the final mixture. The proteins with selected surfactant properties are amphiphilic in nature and contain sufficient hydrophobic amino acids and tryptophan, which are necessary to establish stable interactions with grapeseed oil. One of the proteins preferably used is albumin, which is mixed in a ratio of 2:1 to 1:1 by weight with oil, i.e. in quantities between 33% and 50%. This oil-protein mixture causes the protein to adsorption on the surface of the oil droplets, and the protein itself forms a kind of physical surface barrier around the oil droplets, with the hydrophobic amino acids and tryptophan orienting themselves towards the interface with the oil.The resulting oil-albumin mixture has a semi-solid consistency and pasty appearance, which does not exhibit oily characteristics, but is characterized by good deformability and malleability, making it suitable for the pelletizing process of feed. The stability of the mixture was tested both in environmental conditions and in conditions of accelerated stability at 56°C, obtaining results that confirm a stability of the preparation of at least three months under normal storage conditions.

[0071] In this case, therefore, the use of proteins, preferably of vegetable origin, or albumin or natural biopolymers in general, acts as a formulating and stabilizing agent for the oil. Protein and / or albumin can also come from sustainable or waste sources or by-products.

[0072] Albumin or surfactant protein, according to a version of the present invention, is present, with respect to the oily component or grapeseed oil, in percentages ranging from 50% to 100%, that is, as mentioned above, in ratios ranging from 2 (oil): 1 (surfactant protein) to 1:1.

[0073] 5% of the oily component is absorbed by the feed without jeopardizing the stability of the pellets or the feed itself. However, for higher percentages of the oily portion, a surfactant protein must be added. For example, assuming a concentration of 25% oil, 5% of this is absorbed directly, while the remaining 20% requires, in the formulation, the addition of at least 10% albumin, to maintain the minimum ratio of 2:1.

[0074] As a result, the oily component, or grapeseed oil, is present in a percentage between 5% and 10%, or between 5% and 25% w / w of the total weight of the feed in question.

[0075] The method according to the present invention includes, therefore, a step of providing at least one protein with surfactant properties of an amphiphilic nature, e.g. of vegetable origin, e.g. albumin or a protein including hydrophobic amino acids and tryptophan, a step of pre-mixing the oily component with at least one protein with surfactant properties of an amphiphilic nature, obtaining an oilsurfactant protein mixture in which the surfactant protein is adsorbed on the droplet surface of the oily component.The result is a mixture with a paste-like nature, whose main function is to absorb the oil.

[0076] A pre-mixing step of the various components or portions that make up the feed is also carried out according to the present invention, to which the oilsurfactant protein mixture indicated above is then added and mixed.

[0077] The feed is then obtained in the form of powder and / or granules and / or pellets and / or extruded.

[0078] Proteins not only play a crucial role in the stabilization of oil, e.g. grapeseed oil, but also bring significant nutritional value to the feed.

[0079] In addition, pomace, thanks to its antioxidant and bioactive properties, gives a health value to the feed that contains it, contributing to the improvement of the health and well-being of the fish. This action is also carried out by medicinal plants and / or lactic acid bacteria, when present.

[0080] Therefore, pomace, medicinal plants and lactic acid bacteria play a complementary and crucial role, further enriching the formulation with their specific animal health benefits.

[0081] In addition, the use of proteins and the oil / protein interaction, with the consequent formation of a chemical-physical protein barrier around the droplets of grapeseed oil, ensure greater stability of the final product, preventing or slowing down the oxidative rancidity processes that can occur when the oil and / or the final feed is exposed to environmental factors such as light or heat.

[0082] In summary, whether it is animal or plant proteins, molecular properties, in particular the primary structure and conformation of proteins, play a crucial role in the formation and stabilization of oils in dry feed formulations, in particular in pellet form, allowing to obtain more stable and high added value final products in nutritional terms.

[0083] A first formulation example for the production of feed according to the present invention is the following (called "Diet A"):% INGREDIENTS DIETA (kg / lOOkg) Wheat (Norberto) 9

[0084] Broad bean 10

[0085] Poultry by-product meal 22.7

[0086] Poultry feather meal 11

[0087] Grape seed oil 10

[0088] Pomace 5

[0089] Hemoglobin 12

[0090] Fish oil 8

[0091] Albumin * 6.5

[0092] Lysine (L-Lysine) 2

[0093] Methionine (DL-Methionine) 2

[0094] Liquid choline 75 0.3

[0095] Vitamin premix 0.6

[0096] Dicalcium phosphate 0.7

[0097] Medicinal herbs or garlic, powdered

[0098] (Allium sativa) 0.1

[0099] LAB (Lactic Acid Bacteria) 0,1

[0100] TOTAL 100

[0101]

[0102] * As indicated above, the total oil is 18%, the 5% that is absorbed "by itself into the feed mixture is removed, resulting in 13% of "excess" oil. To calculate the minimum percentage of albumin, 50% of the excess oil is calculated, equal to 6.5%.In particular, Diet A above has the following composition: dry matter substantially 93.56%, moisture substantially 6.44%.

[0103] Compared to the dry matter indicated above, the content is as follows: protein 48.35%, lipids 22.62%, fiber 1.63%, ash 4.34%, carbohydrates 23.06%.

[0104] The first protein portion therefore has a percentage of more than 40% of the total feed.

[0105] The percentage of pomace is more than 4% of the feed, in particular 5%. As can be appreciated, diet A therefore has about 80% (80.4%) of waste / by-products among its ingredients, 34% of which are of vegetable origin.

[0106] A second example of the formulation for the production of feed according to the present invention is the following (called "Diet B"):

[0107] DIET B INGREDIENTS % (kg / lOOkg) This 5,3

[0108] Broad bean 40

[0109] Grapeseed oil 10

[0110] Pomace 10

[0111] Hemoglobin 20

[0112] Gluten 10

[0113] Fish oil 3

[0114] Lysine (L-Lysine) 0,3

[0115] Methionine (DL-Methionine) 0,3

[0116] Liquid choline 75 0,3

[0117] Vitamin premix 0,6

[0118]

[0119] Medicinal herbs or garlic 0,1

[0120] powder (Allium sativa)

[0121] LAB (Lactic Acid Bacteria) 0,1

[0122] TOTAL 100

[0123]

[0124] In particular, the above Diet B has the following composition: dry matter substantially 94.41%, moisture substantially 5.59%.

[0125] Compared to the dry matter indicated above, the content is as follows: protein 43.58%, lipids 15.19%, fiber 2.37%, ash 2.23%, carbohydrates 31.04%.

[0126] The first protein portion therefore has a percentage of more than 40% of the total feed.

[0127] The percentage of pomace is more than 4% of the feed, in particular 10%. As can be appreciated, diet B therefore has about 60% or about 65% (65.3%) of vegetable waste and / or vegetable by-products among its ingredients.

[0128] A comparison between Diet A and Diet B shows that Diet A has a lower percentage of carbohydrates, an equal amount of protein and a 7.43% higher amount of lipids than Diet B .

[0129] A third example of the formulation for the production of feed according to the present invention is the following (called "Diet C"):

[0130] INGREDIENTS DIET C % (kg / lOOkg) Fish oil 1,49

[0131] Grapeseed oil 2,67

[0132] Pomace 5,34

[0133] Pasta Norberto 17,80

[0134] Broad bean flour 18,67

[0135] Feather flour 9,79

[0136] Chicken meal 24,0

[0137]

[0138] Hemoglobin 14,82

[0139] Garlic (dehydrated) 0,15

[0140] L-Lysine 1,78

[0141] DL-Methionine 1,78

[0142] Choline chloride 0,30

[0143] Vitamin Premix 0,59

[0144] Bicalcium phosphate 0,74

[0145] LAB (lactic acid bacteria) 0,08

[0146] TOTAL 100

[0147]

[0148] The first protein portion therefore has a percentage of more than 40% of the total feed, indeed in this case more than 46%.

[0149] The percentage of pomace is more than 4% of the feed, in particular more than 5%.

[0150] The innovative feed according to this invention is designed specifically for aquaculture, i.e. for fish, e.g. preferably for salmon and salmonoids, but also other species as specified below.

[0151] However, it is possible to prepare according to the present invention an adapted feed, to meet the nutritional needs of other fish species, both freshwater and seawater, by modifying the percentages of the components, so as to obtain an optimal balance of macronutrients according to the specific nutritional needs of the different target species.

[0152] A spectrophotometric analysis of the total phenol content (TPC), performed on trout fed the second proposed diet and on a control group fed the commercial diet, showed that trout fed the second diet (Diet B) had a TPC value 31% higher than those of the control group, confirming the high antioxidant properties and health benefits deriving from the feed covered by the present invention.Example 1: Typical composition of a traditional plant-based salmon and salmonoid feed

[0153] Feed Total used Inclusion % ingredients quantity (t) (of the total dirt) Soy protein 346,730 21,3 concentrate

[0154] Sunflower oil 97,354 6 pressing

[0155] residue

[0156] Protein

[0157] Wheat gluten 97,137 5,8 sources

[0158] Broad beans 30,753 1,9 Vegetal

[0159] Pea protein 12,936 0,8 ingredients

[0160] Com gluten 12,509 0,8 Horse broad 4442 0,3 beans

[0161] Oil sources Rapeseed oil 298,991 18,3

[0162] Wheat 161,432 9,9 Starch

[0163] Pea 16,466 1 sources

[0164] Tapioca 3396 0,2 Protein Fish meal 317,241 19,5 Fish

[0165] sources

[0166] ingredients

[0167] Oil Fish oil 182,579 H,2 MicroPigments, 50,715 3,1 ingredients vitamins,

[0168] minerals,

[0169]

[0170] amino acids

[0171] As you can see, the protein content derived from soy reaches more than 20% (21.3%) of the total composition, the protein component derived from fish reaches almost 20% (19.5%) and the oily component, always derived from fish, exceeds 10% (11.2%). Thus, more than 50% (52%) of that feed of a known type consists of these three ingredients, two of which are derived from fish.

[0172] Example 2: Results of the TPC analysis on trout fed with the diet "B", in comparison with the control dietThe spectrophotometric analysis TPC (Total Phenolic Content), carried out on trout fed with feed according to the present invention, e.g. with diet "A" or diet "B" (reported above, according to the present invention) and on control animals, fed with a commercial plant diet, for example marketed by Skretting, showed that trout fed with diet "B" had a total antioxidant power value or TPC as much as 31% higher than to trout fed with the control diet. The results are presented in Table 1 below.

[0173] Table 1 : Total Antioxidant Power Value or TPC

[0174] TROUT TPC (MEDIA) STANDARD Difference FEEDING DEVIATION

[0175] Feed according to 23,35 0,01 +31,3%

[0176] the present

[0177] invention

[0178] (DIET B)

[0179] CONTROL 17,78 0,25

[0180]

[0181] Analyses of the antioxidant power of the feed ingredients were then carried out according to the present invention (grape seeds, cereal pasta-making waste, broad bean pasta-making waste, feather flour, chicken flour) which differentiate it from the standard one, from which it is evident that pomace / grape seeds have a polyphenol content of a few hundred units, the other components have a value of this index around one unit and the feed according to the present invention shows a few tens of units. Clearly, from this it can be deduced that the ingredient that raises the value of the polyphenol content can only be the one made up of pomace / grape seeds. In particular, 4% of the pomace / grape seed content is important to give a significant supply of polyphenols to the entire feed.Table 2 below presents both values found in the scientific literature and analyses carried out by the applicant and reports the total polyphenols of all ingredients present in appreciable quantities (greater than 5%).

[0182] For example, garlic powder is also a very important source of polyphenols, but, being present in a low percentage (e.g. 0.15% in diet C), in the final formulation its contribution would be irrelevant (e.g. the contribution in polyphenols is diluted 667 times in diet C).

[0183] With pomace and grape seeds, which have average TPC values of a few hundred, the contribution of 5%, which is therefore diluted 20 times in the feed, is a few dozen, and we find these values in the analyses carried out on trout.

[0184] The other ingredients provide polyphenols in concentrations at least 100 times lower, therefore, their final contribution is very low, compared to pomace.

[0185] Table 2. TPC of the main feed ingredients according to the present invention

[0186] TPC (mg

[0187] Component Scientific Reference

[0188] GAE / g)

[0189] Analysis laboratory

[0190] Krasteva D, Ivanov Y, Chengolova Z, Godjevargova T. Antimicrobial Potential, Grape 79.06 Antioxidant Activity, and Phenolic Content of seeds / Pomace 720 Grape Seed Extracts from Four Grape Varieties.

[0191] Microorganisms. 2023 Feb 3; 11(2):395. doi: 10.3390 / microorganisms 11020395. PMID : 36838361; PMCID: PMC9963647.

[0192] Kosma, I. S., Michalaki, A., Geraris Kartelias, I., & Norberto Karantonis, H. C. (2023). Comparative Evaluation 0,51- 0,95

[0193] flour of Antioxidant Activities of Flours from Dumm Wheat Varieties. Biology and Life Sciences

[0194]

[0195] TPC (mg

[0196] Component Scientific Reference GAE / g)

[0197] Forum, 26(1), 7.

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[0199] Nicolau, Alessandra & Salvador Reyes, Rebeca & Clerici, Maria & Dala-Paula, Bruno. (2025). Functional potential of Peruvian fava bean flours in bread: antioxidant activity and phenolic Broad Bean bioaccessibility. 10.21203 / rs.3.rs-8059987 / vl.

[0200] 1.61-3,06

[0201] Flour Asmaa Benayad, Mona Taghouti, Aouatif Benali,

[0202] Youssef Aboussaleh, Nadia Benbrahim, Nutritional and technological assessment of durum wheat-faba bean enriched flours, and sensory quality of developed composite bread, Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, Volume 28, Issue 1, 2021, Pages 635-642, ISSN 1319-562X,

[0203] Yu L, Nanguet AL, Beta T. Comparison of Antioxidant Properties of Refined and Whole Wheat Flour and Bread. Antioxidants (Basel). 2013 Nov 26; 2(4):370-83. doi: 10.3390 / antiox2040370. PMID: 26784470; PMCID: PMC4665520

[0204]

[0205] TPC (mg

[0206] Component Scientific Reference

[0207] GAE / g)

[0208] Nestor Ibarz-Blanch, Juan Maria Alcaide-Hidalgo, Antonio J. Cortes-Espinar, Joana Albi-Puig, Manuel Suarez, Miquel Mulero, Diego Morales, Francisca Isabel Bravo.

[0209] NonChicken slaughterhouse by-products: A source of Feather flour

[0210] polyphenol protein hydrolysates to manage non-communicable diseases,

[0211] Trends in Food Science & Technology, Volume 139, 2023, 104125, ISSN 0924-2244,

[0212] Kumar, Deepak & Mishra, Aishwarya & Tarafdar, Ayon & Anwar, Abdullah & Salagram, Athiya & Alam, Siraz & Sahoo, Ashish & Raveendran, NonSindhu & Badgujar, Prarabdh. (2021). Protease Chicken meal

[0213] polyphenol Catalyzed Production of Spent Hen Meat Hydrolysate Powder for Health Food Applications. Journal of Food Quality. 2021.

[0214] 10.1155 / 2021 / 9247998.

[0215]

[0216] In addition, the data deriving from tank experiments on trout (Brown and Rainbow) show that the feed is effective for their growth and healthiness.

[0217] For example, the results of a 3-month trial, which compared diet C with the commercial diet, show that the "experimental" trout, fed with the feed according to the present invention and, for example, called Diet C, grew on average by just over 100% (i.e. they doubled their weight), while the others grew by about 50% (see figure 1A).

[0218] Furthermore, as can be seen from the graphs in figures 2A and 2B, the "experimental" trout, fed with the feed according to the present invention and, forexample, called Diet C, have a significantly higher content of polyphenols in their tissues than trout fed with commercial feed, and the even more interesting fact is that the greatest difference is in the edible part, i.e. in the thread (figure 2B).

[0219] It has thus been seen how the invention fully achieves the proposed purposes. Modifications and variants of the invention are possible within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Feed for aquaculture, e.g. for fish feed, comprising a first protein portion and a second oily portion, wherein said first protein portion includes at least one of the following ingredients: legumes or legume derivatives, the latter consisting of parts or components of legumes, animals or animal derivatives, the latter consisting of parts or components of animals, for example, poultry or chicken, mammals in general, bovine, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, fish, wherein said first protein portion constitutes at least 35% by weight or preferably at least 40% by weight of the weight of said feed, characterized by the fact that said feed includes pomace and said oily portion includes grapeseed oil, wherein the percentage of that said is more than 4% by weight of the total weight of said feed, and by the fact that said feed consists of at least 50% waste and / or byproducts of agriculture, the food industry or the agri-food industry.

2. Feed according to claim 1, wherein said legumes or legume derivatives consist of waste and / or by-products from the processing of said legumes and / or such waste and / or by-products from agriculture, the food industry or the agri-food industry, e.g. pasta making waste from legumes and / or wherein said animals or animal derivatives consist of waste and / or by-products from the slaughter of said animals or from said waste and / or by-products of the food industry or the agri-food industry, e.g. the industrial production of animal-based foods, e.g. meal obtained from the meat or carcass of said animal, meal obtained from the feathers or feathers of poultry, such as poultry or chicken, haemoglobin, haemoglobin powder.

3. Feed according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second oily portion includes said grapeseed oil and / or at least one of fish oil or vegetable oil.

4. Feed according to any of the above claims, wherein said feed includes a third carbohydrate portion, including cereals or cereal derivatives, the latter including parts or components of said cereals, for example consisting of waste and / or byproducts of the processing of said cereals and / or said waste and / or by-products of agriculture, the food industry or the agri-food industry, such as cereal pasta-making waste, for example wherein said cereals include cereals with a high protein content, such as einkorn wheat, e.g. of the Norberto variety, which has a protein content of 19%, and / or the Hammurabi variety, which has a protein content of 21%.

5. Feed according to any of the above claims, where said first protein portion includes pasta making waste from legumes, chicken meal and / or feather meal, e.g. of chicken, hemoglobin powder.

6. Feed according to any of the above claims, comprising vitamins and amino acids, and at least one additional component among medicinal herbs, e.g. including allium sativa or garlic powder or at least one medicinal plant of known type, albumin, lactic acid bacteria, e.g. whey fermented lactobacilli.

7. Feed according to any of the above claims, wherein said feed does not include soy or soy-derived parts or soy-derived components.

8. Feed according to any of the above claims, in wherein said feed comprises, in percentages w / w of the total of said feed, said legumes or parts or components of legumes: 5-50%, and / or said pomace: 4-15%, and / or said second oily portion: 7-37%.

9. Feed according to any of the above claims, wherein said feed comprises, as percentages w / w of the total of said feed, at least one of:- said cereals or parts or components of cereals: 5-30%,- said animals or animal derivatives: 4-65%, e.g. chicken meal: 3-40% and feather meal: 1-25%,- hemoglobin: 10-35%,- said grapeseed oil: 2.5-25% and fish oil: 1-12%,- said medicinal herbs or said allium sativa: 0.05-1%,- said lactic acid bacteria: 0.05-1%.

10. Feed according to any of the above claims, wherein said feed is in the form of solid, dry composition, and / or in the form of powder, granules, pellets, or extruded.

11. Feed according to any of the above claims, comprising Norberto variety cereals 9%, broad bean 10%, poultry by-product meal 23.2%, poultry feathermeal / feathers 11%, grapeseed oil 10%, pomace 5%, haemoglobin 12%, fish oil 8%, albumin 6%, lysine 2%, methionine 2%, liquid choline 75 0.3%, vitamin premix 0.6%, dicalcium phosphate 0.7%, garlic 0.1%, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) 0.1%.

12. Feed according to any of the above claims 1 to 10, comprising chickpeas 5.3%, broad bean 40%, grapeseed oil 10%, pomace 10%, hemoglobin 20%, gluten 10%, fish oil 3%, lysine 0.3%, methionine 0.3%, liquid choline 75 0.3%, vitamin premix 0.6%, garlic and 0.1%, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) 0.1%.

13. Feed according to any of the above claims 1 to 10, including fish oil 1.49%, grapeseed oil 2.67%, pomace 5.34%, Norberto pasta 17.80%, broad bean meal 18.67%, feather meal 9.79%, chicken meal 24.0%, haemoglobin 14.82%, garlic (dehydrated) 0.15%, L-Lysine 1.78%, DL-Methionine 1.78%, choline chloride 0.30%, vitamin premix 0.59%, dicalcium phosphate 0.74%, LAB (lactic acid bacteria) 0.08%.

14. Method for making an aquaculture feed, e.g. for fish feed, according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, comprising the following steps:providing a first protein portion, wherein said first protein portion includes at least one of the following ingredients: legumes or legume derivatives, the latter being made up of parts or components of legumes, animals or animal derivatives, the latter being made up of parts or components of animals, e.g. poultry or chicken, mammals in general, cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, fish, wherein said first protein portion constitutes at least 35% by weight or preferably at least 40% by weight of the weight of said feed,providing pomace, wherein the percentage of said pomace is more than 4% by weight of the total weight of said feed, andproviding a second oily portion, wherein said second oily portion comprises grapeseed oil,mixing said first protein portion, said pomace and at least part of said second oily portion,obtaining a premix of said feed in the form of powder, pellet granules, or extruded, wherein said feed consists of at least 50% waste and / or by-products of agriculture, the food industry or the agri-food industry.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein, for percentages of said oily portion greater than 5%, the following steps are provided:providing at least one protein with surfactant properties of an amphiphilic nature, e.g. of plant origin, e.g. albumin or a protein comprising hydrophobic amino acids and tryptophan,pre-mixing said oily component with said protein with surfactant properties of an amphiphilic nature, obtaining an oil-surfactant protein mixture wherein said surfactant protein is adsorbed on droplet surface of said second oily portion, mixng said oil-surfactant protein mixture with said premix of said feed.

16. Method according to claim 14 or 15, comprising at least one of the following steps:providing a third carbohydrate portion, cmprising cereals or cereal derivatives, the latter including parts or components of said cereals, for example consisting of waste and / or by-products from the processing of those cereals or from waste and / or by-products of agriculture or the agri-food industry, such as waste from cereal pasta-making, e.g. wherein said cereals comprise cereals with a high protein content, such as einkom wheat, e.g. the Norberto variety, which has a protein content of 19%, and / or the Hammurabi variety, which has a protein content of 21%,providing vitamins and amino acids and / or an additional component comprising at least one of: medicinal herbs, e.g. including Allium sativa or at least one medicinal plant of a known type, albumin, lactic acid bacteria, e.g. whey fermented lactobacilli.

17. Use of waste and / or by-products from agriculture, the food industry or the agri- food industry for the production of a feed according to one or more of claims 1to 13.

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