ASTAXANTHIN
(as' t zan' thin)
Astaxanthin in Fish Feeds
Astaxanthin in Livestock Feeds
ASTAXANTHIN IN FISH FEEDS
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid (intensely-colored compound) that occurs in the
natural diets of many aquatic species (including salmon, trout, shrimp, red
sea bream, ornamental fish and many crustaceans). This compound is what
makes salmon pink. In nature, astaxanthin, like other pigments, is
synthesized only by microalgae and then passed up the food chain. Salmon
and other marine animals cannot make the compound themselves and must get
it in their food.
Astaxanthin is a nutritional requirement with important pro-biotic effects
that are beneficial to growth and health (i.e. it is "pro-biotic"). In
salmon and trout, astaxanthin protects the eggs from damage by UV radiation
and improves survival and growth rate of juveniles. Astaxanthin also plays
important roles in respiration, vision, and acts as a vitamin A precursor.
It may also enhance the effectiveness of the immune system.
Aquasearch's product compares favorably with synthetic astaxanthin in
feeding trials conducted by Cultor.
Market size
Currently $125 million per year. Historical growth: 15% per year.
The Market
Astaxanthin is used in aquaculture as an additive in pelletized feeds for
farmed salmon and trout. As salmon fisheries have declined, salmon farming
has increased to more than 35% of the entire world supply, up from less
than 5% ten years ago. Salmonids (salmon, trout, etc.) are the fastest
growing commodity in global aquaculture, with increases in production of
15% per year over the past ten years. Astaxanthin is an absolute necessity
for aquaculture feeds - for both the health of the fish, and for consumer
acceptance. Aquasearch's corporate partner, Cultor, is a Finnish
conglomerate that now consumes approximately one-third of the world supply
of astaxanthin.
Astaxanthin may also be sold in the near future into the markets for shrimp
feed and sea bream. The tonnage of farmed shrimp production is
approximately equal to that of farmed salmon and trout, while sea bream
production is growing.
ASTAXANTHIN IN LIVESTOCK FEEDS
Astaxanthin has similar effects on poultry to its effects on fishes and
crustaceans: it increases fertility of layer hens, reduces mortality of
chicks by 50%, and reduces vibrio infections in eggs. Astaxanthin results
in eggs with a markedly deeper color in the yolk, a characteristic that is
preferred by consumers in northern Europe. Initial studies in other
livestock, notably pork, demonstrate significant increases in fertility.
Market size
Projected potential to grow to over $125 million within 5-10 years.
The Market
For many years, poultry producers have added synthetic canthaxanthin
(another deeply colored compound that can be produced by microalgae) to
poultry feeds in order to satisfy consumer preferences for deeply colored
egg yolks. Recent legislation in Sweden, however, requires all colorants
added to animal feeds be derived from natural sources. This legislation
prompted Svenska Fder, the largest poultry producer in Sweden (and, until
1997, a Cultor subsidiary), to seek out Aquasearch to provide natural
astaxanthin as an alternative colorant for poultry feed. Initial
commercial-scale quantities of Aquasearch's microalgae-based astaxanthin
product performed favorably when used by Svenska Fder. Cultor has recently
introduced Aquasearch's natural astaxanthin product into the poultry market.
Copyright 1997 by Aquasearch Inc.