(19) TZZ¥_¥ _T (11) EP 3 491 932 A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC (43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 05.06.2019 Bulletin 2019/23 A23K 10/20 (2016.01) A23K 10/30 (2016.01) A23K 50/80 (2016.01) (21) Application number: 17752492.3 (86) International application number: (22) Date of filing: 24.07.2017 PCT/IB2017/054470 (87) International publication number: WO 2018/020395 (01.02.2018 Gazette 2018/05) (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB • MAXIMINO ROJÃO SOBREIRO CATARINO, GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO Mafalda PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR 2690-309 Sta. Iria da Azóia (PT) Designated Extension States: • CORREIA GONÇALVES FERNANDES, Sílvia BA ME 2411-901 Leiria (PT) Designated Validation States: • DE FREITAS FERREIRA, Susana Margarida MA MD 2411-901 Leiria (PT) (30) Priority: 26.07.2016 PT 2016109547 (74) Representative: Pereira da Cruz, Joao J. Pereira da Cruz, S.A. (71) Applicant: Instituto Politécnico De Leiria Rua Victor Cordon, 10-A 2411-901 Leiria (PT) 1249-103 Lisboa (PT) (54) FEED FOR REARING OMNIVOROUS FISH (57) This invention falls within the scope of foods for tein comes exclusively from blowfly larvae. The feed’s aquaculture and aquarium fishes. It relates to a feed for ingredients are blowfly larvae (Asticot) (76,8%), micro- omnivorous fishes, in particular fishes with nutritional de- algae (17,7%), carrot (4,4%) and a vitamin supplement ficiencies (such as the fishes used in ichthyotherapy), (1,1%). which allows them to healthily grow and develop, with a The invention further relates to a method for the prep- diet comprised of nutritious, innovative and low-cost in- aration of the said feed, which includes the steps of freez- gredients. ing, lyophilisation, mixing the ingredients, moulding, dry- A feed comprising ingredients from animal and plant ing and cutting. origin is the object of this invention, in which animal pro- EP 3 491 932 A1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 3 491 932 A1 2 Description Calliphora vomitoria), nor does it mention a composition which is specifically adequate to satisfy the nutritional FIELD OF THE INVENTION needs of omnivorous species. [0009] The patent document published under the [0001] This invention falls within the scope of foods for 5 number US5618574 relates to a feed intended for aqua- aquaculture and aquarium fishes. It relates to a feed for culture fishes, comprising soldier fly (species: Hermetia omnivorous ornamental fishes, comprising fly larvae. illucens) and house fly (species: Musca domestica) lar- [0002] This invention discloses a low-cost and innova- vae and pupae, as a supplement to commercial pellets tive feed, which is similar to the natural diet of omnivorous containing fishmeal. The aforementioned patent applica- ornamental fishes, such as the ones used in ichthyother- 10 tion does not relate to food compositions having fly larvae apy. With this feed it is possible to overcome nutritional as their only source of animal protein, and which are suit- deficiencies, since it provides a healthy growing and de- able to specifically address the nutritional requirements velopment, through a balanced combination of nutritious, of omnivorous fishes used in ictiotherapy. innovative and low-cost ingredients. [0010] The patent document under the publication 15 number US2015173400, on its turn, discloses feeds us- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ing house fly larvae or pupae, which are aimed at fully or partially replacing the fishmeal. The Example 10, in par- [0003] The market of ornamental fishes has been ex- ticular, relates to a feed in which the fishmeal is fully re- panding for the last years, generating up to 30illion b placed with the larvae, in an amount of 50% of the total dollars a year worldwide. This hobby is a matter of high 20 dryweight, also including wheat, soya, vitamins and CMC interest from the population in general. in its composition. The effect of these feeds is demon- [0004] However, one major issue associated to fish- strated in terms of growth rate, weight gain, immunity keeping in aquariums is the difficulty in supplying food activation, and ingestion rate by sparidae. The method which is suitable to animal welfare and which provides for the preparation of the said feed includes high temper- them with a healthy life. In case of farming, it is even 25 ature heating, which may negatively affect the quality of more important that the animals are fed with foods allow- the vitamins contained in the feed. This invention (Om- ing them to grow fast, without detriment to their physical nifeed), in addition to not using high temperatures in its condition. Finding a fish feed with those characteristics manufacturing process, includes a vitamin supplement is not an easy task. as one of its components, thus overcoming this kind of [0005] Currently, most of the feeds administrated are 30 nutritional deficiency. The said patent application does fishmeal-based, which implies high costs. This is one of not disclose food compositions which are suitable for the the main obstacles in terms of aquaculture and fishkeep- specific nutritional requirements of omnivorous fishes ing in aquariums. The development of a fish feed with used in ichthyotherapy, nor does it mention the use of high quality and nutritionally balanced ingredients, which blowfly larvae, being prepared by means of freezing and are simultaneously low-cost, is one of the major chal- 35 lyophilisation. lenges in this context. Therefore, the formulation of a fish feed which embraces all these factors will provide a much SOLVED TECHNICAL PROBLEMS higher final yield, while preserving the animal welfare. [0006] On their turn, the existing alternatives to the use [0011] In this invention, the purpose was to create a of fishmeal (using, for instance, soybeans and yeasts), 40 feed for aquaculture and/or fishkeeping in aquariums, in pose a problem in terms of nutritional properties. As a particular, omnivorous fishes with nutritional deficien- consequence, significantly lower results are obtained as cies, as is the case of the fishes used in ichthyotherapy. regards the fishes’ intake and growth rate. So, there is a The feedof this inventionis aimedat solving the problems need for the development of food ingredients which may inherent to the commercial feeds according to the state have an identical or an improved effect, comparatively 45 of the art, which are commonly fishmeal-based feeds, in to the conventional fishmeal products. terms of the economic and environmental impact asso- [0007] On the other hand, insect larvae and pupae ciated to the exploitation of fish stocks for the manufac- have already been used as food for fishes, representing ture of fishmeal products. This invention offers a solution, an alternative source of protein. Therefore, the closest which is replacing the fishmeal with blowfly larvae. This prior art of this invention discloses feeds intended for50 is a sustainable, inexpensive and nutritionally-rich alter- aquaculture, which include fly larvae in their composition native. From the composition of this invention results a as a source of protein. high nutritional balance, with 50% proteins; 18% lipids; [0008] The patent document under the publication 18% carbohydrates; 9% minerals; 3% fibres and 2% vi- number JP 3564457 discloses the use of housefly larvae tamins. (species: Musca domestica), in combination with prod- 55 [0012] Furthermore, the feed according to this inven- ucts from the degradation of vegetable waste, as food tion allows, namely, providing a supplementation to the for farmed fishes. However, the said document does not standard diet while answering to the nutritional needs of make reference to the use of blowfly larvae (species: omnivorous fish used in ichthyotherapy. In their habitat, 2 3 EP 3 491 932 A1 4 these fishes are characterized in that they feed them- es), thus helping to reduce the levels of CO2 in the at- selves from vertebrate’s skin dead cells (which is the rea- mosphere, which are responsible for the so-called global son why they are used in ichthyotherapy), as well as from warming effects (Richmond, 2003). algae, phytoplankton, zooplankton and debris. Their use [0017] On the other hand, the method for the prepara- in ichthyotherapeutic treatments thus leads to a nutrition- 5 tion of the feed, which is based upon drying the compo- al deficiency, comparatively to the natural habitat. The nents by means of lyophilisation, allows the nutritional feed of this invention allows the said deficiency to be and organoleptic properties of its components to be kept. overcome through the combination of natural, nutritious On its turn, lyophilisation of all the components before and low-cost ingredients, which are similar to the natural processing allows for a product with high stability and diet of those fishes. 10 quality to be obtained, which is adequate to the market [0013] Therefore, the feed which is the object of this of fishkeeping in aquariums. inventionhas some advantages overother feeds, namely [0018] It has already been proved that mixed diets, as regards the use of a mix of products from plant and such as the one of this invention, have a better perform- animal origin. ance because they promote higher animal growth rates. [0014] According to Lozano et al. (2007), diets com- 15 The said diets also present a more balanced nutritional prising both animal and plant origin products have a bet- composition than that of the diets which are exclusively ter performance than that of the feeds containing only from animal origin. On its turn, the feed according to this animal-origin protein. In the last decade, the animal origin invention has the advantage of being comprised of a high ingredients in feeds (such as fish oil or fishmeal) have amount of animal protein, which is essential for the de- been increasingly replaced with plant origin products20 velopment and growth of cultivated fishes.