In many areas of the USA, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) aquaculture is characterized by having summer season reduced water flows and elevated water temperatures (up to 20º C). Feeding rates and growth rates have been managed using liquid oxygen additions to the rearing units; however, disease outbreaks due to the prevalence of opportunistic pathogens are common during the summer season. These disease outbreaks are commonly treated with chemical therapeutants, including antibiotics, but have had limited efficacy due to the mixed pathogen etiology of the disease events.
There have been many scientific studies describing the efficacy of feeding natural, immune-stimulating compounds as part of a daily ration under laboratory conditions. To that effect, there are numerous feed additive suppliers offering commercial versions of these immune-stimulating compounds. This report outlines the development and commercialization processes utilized to construct an efficacious feed additive blend that resulted in successful commercial application of an improved integrated pathogen management program on one commercial farm in North Carolina, USA.