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AQUAGEN

Biogenic performance enhancer

FISH FEED SUPPLEMENT IMPROVING:
- GROWTH RATE
- RESISTANCE AGAINST PATHOGENS
- IMMUNE RESPONSE TO VACCINES

Description and nature of the product:

Aquagen is a feed supplement (50% premix) in dry powdered form.

It is a biogenic performance enhancer. Incorporation in fish diets gives higher daily weight gains, better feed conversion, reduced mortality, improved health and increased protection when used with vaccines. The flesh quality is also better and the immune system is improved. Aquagen combines many beneficial effects because it is a rich source of nucleotides. Nucleotides are a key part of DNA and RNA but they also carry chemical energy, they form coenzymes and are used as chemical signals in the fish body. In all, they have a vital role in cell processes.

Aquagen is a natural product of free distribution within the E.U.

Indications:

• Improves growth performance and flesh quality

Supplementing fish feeds with Aquagen improves both the growth rate as well as the FCR. Experimental data on commercial fish farms proved that supplementing the daily diet with 0.2% Aquagen gives on average 15.3% better growth with a bettering of conversion efficiency (up to 27.9% less feed). In addition flesh quality was improved (firm flesh with less fat content). The overall look and attributes of the finished table fish were indiscriminate from wild caught counterparts.

• Saves metabolic energy

The production of nucleotides by the fish, or any other animal, is a time and energy consuming process hence, supplementation of the diets with these molecules helps to save metabolic energy. What is even more important is that some cells of the body cannot manufacture nucleotides and production in the intestinal cells from other dietary components is too slow to provide a rapid supply when it is needed.

• Enhances disease rsistance

The haematopoietic cells, which produce red-blood cells, and the lymphocytes, both of which are central to the response to disease, cannot produce purines, one of the two types of nucleotides. Aquagen is very rich in these molecules. When the fish is stressed by disease, Aquagen provides these essential building materials in an easily available form at the sites where they are needed. This allows the defence cells to be produced more rapidly with the expenditure of less energy, hence disease resistance is increased and the immune response to pathogens is improved.

Fish fed with Aquagen supplemented diets suffer less aggregate losses due to disease from the stage of fingerlings until harvest. Commercial data show an average of 51% improvement in the survival rate during the production cycle.

• Improves the performance of vaccines

The action of Aquagen is different from the action of immuno-stimulators since Aquagen does not act primarily to stimulate the defence cells to respond. It helps the body to manufacture the cells efficiently once the response has started. It can therefore be used in combination with either vaccines or immuno-potentiators.

Experimental data with tilapia and trout has shown that administering Aquagen prior to vaccination against Aeromonas hydrophila resulted in fourfold elevation of antibody titres (HAU) 70 days post immersion vaccination, while the vaccination efficacy (RPS) was improved by 30,6% in comparison to control fish subsequent to experimental challenge.

Contra-indications:

None. Aquagen is a natural product, which may be used together with any pharmaceutical compound (in case of disease). Since it is not an immuno-stimulant there are no restrictions for its administration. In fact, Aquagen enriched diets may be supplied throughout the production cycle.

Administration:

The activity of Aquagen is not affected when extruded at 120^oC - 140^oC. Even so, heat exposure should be minimised especially if vitamin supplements are added concurrently. Alternatively, Aquagen may be "top-dressed" onto pre-pelleted diets by the addition of 2g Aquagen per Kg of diet (0.2%) and top coated with a suitable oil.

Aquagen supplemented diets may be fed at the standard rate throughout the growth cycle. Alternatively, Aquagen is administered during periods of expected increased hardship (transport, grading, vaccination) or expected exposure to pathogens. In such circumstances, it is recommended to supply Aquagen for at least two weeks prior to the expected critical period.

Storage and packing:

Store under dry conditions. Aquagen 50% premix is available in plastic sealed containers, tubs, or reinforced feed bags.

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