New case study: exploring poultry by-products as sustainable salmon feed ingredients

Exploring the adoption of alternative feed raw materials

Global salmon farming relies heavily on soy meal, fishmeal, and land animal proteins, but the industry is under pressure to find sustainable, cost-effective alternatives. One promising option is avian protein products (APPs) - high-protein feed ingredients derived from poultry by-products such as offal. APPs are already used in Chile and Australia, but adoption in the UK has been slow due to consumer perception concerns.

Integrating APPs into salmon diets could reduce dependence on imported soy and fishmeal, lowering environmental impacts and supporting a circular economy by turning waste into valuable resources. APPs also offer nutritional benefits for salmon growth and health, while potentially reducing feed costs.

This project aimed to assess the feasibility of APPs in UK salmon farming. Objectives included understanding consumer attitudes, evaluating APP quality, assessing impacts on fish health and product quality, and conducting a lifecycle analysis (LCA) to compare environmental footprints. Valued at £64k, the partners were BioMar Ltd., the University of Stirling and Sarval UK Ltd. 

Key findings:

• Consumer perceptions: surveys of over 200 participants revealed most were comfortable with APP-fed salmon, though some expressed concerns and wanted more information. Transparency and independent endorsement were identified as critical for building trust.
• Environmental impact: LCA showed poultry by-product meal has a lower footprint than soy and maize gluten, though slightly higher chlorofluorocarbon emissions. Fishmeal remains low-impact in most categories, but APPs offer clear benefits in waste reduction and local sourcing.
• Industry engagement: a sector-wide workshop brought together farmers, feed producers, retailers, and regulators for the first time to discuss alternative feed ingredients, highlighting the importance of proactive communication.

While nutritional trials and fish health assessments are ongoing, early results suggest APPs could play a key role in reducing aquaculture’s environmental footprint and improving resource efficiency. Next steps include further consumer research, feed trials, and clearer guidance for industry adoption.

The full title of this project is ‘Integrating avian protein products into salmon feed practices’.

Read the case study