Chicken Enhances Heart and Skin Health in Salmon and Trout

by Bjørg M Nordskar.

Pictured is Sturle Skeidsvoll from Aller Aqua, Norway, teaching a master's student at NMBU about welfare assessment in salmon.

Extensive studies from Aller Aqua's R&D license compare the use of chicken meal with chicken hydrolysate in feed for salmon and trout.

Chicken in fish feed delivers impressive results for both salmon and trout. Studies by Aller Aqua and NMBU reveal that poultry by-products can reduce scale loss, promote larger hearts, and improve fish health—a win-win for sustainability and quality in aquaculture.

The results show that chicken hydrolysate outperforms traditional chicken meal.

Two types of chicken in Feed

The study compared chicken hydrolysate and chicken meal as protein sources in feed for farmed salmon and rainbow trout throughout the entire seawater phase. Both ingredients are sustainable alternatives made from poultry production by-products, reducing food waste and contributing to local value creation. Chicken hydrolysate delivered superior results for fish health, quality, and production efficiency—key factors in promoting circularity and sustainability in the industry.

Key findings from the study show that chicken hydrolysate outperforms chicken meal as a feed ingredient for salmon and trout:

For Salmon:

Fewer wounds
Larger and more pointed hearts with less fat
Reduced gaping
Fewer dark spots
Improved eye health
Fewer jaw deformities
Redder color after freezing

For Rainbow Trout:

More pointed heart shape
Less visceral fat
Higher slaughter yield (+5%)

Sustainable Feed for the Future

Aller Aqua is committed to developing cost-effective and sustainable feed solutions that support healthy growth and efficient feed utilization.

- Our mission is to support fish farmers in running profitable and sustainable operations, and the use of animal by-products in feed plays a key role in this solution. While we have extensive experience with chicken meal, recent research shows that chicken hydrolysate addresses common health and quality challenges in aquaculture even more effectively. The results have far exceeded our expectations,” says Lars Rohold from Aller Aqua, Sales Director for Nordics.

Extensive Research from Norwegian University of Life Sciences

The study from Aller Aqua's R&D license, conducted by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) from 2022 to 2023, combined freshwater and seawater trials. In seawater, farmed salmon and rainbow trout were studied in 12 cages across three different locations. The research has a solid scientific foundation, involving five master's theses at NMBU, one bachelor's thesis at Wageningen University, and two scientific articles in progress.

Master's students at NMBU examine rainbow trout fed with chicken hydrolysate.

Professor Turid Mørkøre examines salmon at the Fish Research Center at Norwegian University of Life Sciences. She is the academic lead for the chicken feed trials and sees potential in chicken as a feed ingredient in aquaculture.

The Future of Sustainable Salmon Feed

"Chicken, especially chicken hydrolysate, appears to be a promising animal-based feed ingredient in Norwegian aquaculture. It is both sustainable and offers health and quality benefits. But we've only seen the beginning. More research on poultry ingredients is essential, both on its own, in combination with other feed materials and processing methods," says Professor Turid Mørkøre at NMBU.

What is the difference between chicken hydrolysate and chicken meal?

Both chicken meal and chicken hydrolysate are protein products made from chicken carcasses that would otherwise be discarded after the most valuable parts—such as fillets, thighs, and wings—have been removed. According to Nortura, around 25,000–30,000 tons of food-grade chicken by-products are produced annually in Norway. This feed ingredient can therefore reduce food waste and contribute to circularity.

Through a process called enzymatic hydrolysis, chicken by-products can be converted into a protein powder known as chicken hydrolysate.

Contact us for inquiries:

Roar Tomassen, Sales Manager Aller Aqua Norway: rto@aller-aqua.no