The secret behind the Zero-Waste Loop
There’s an old saying: You are what you eat. But in the feed industry, it’s more like You are what you eat… eats. This is where freshness matters.
At Prochaete, we don’t just turn waste into value — we make sure that value is at its peak. The secret? Timing. If you process ingredients at their freshest, you don’t just retain nutrients — you create functional feed that improves growth, digestion, and efficiency.
We capture residual raw material at their freshest and transform them into high-quality proteins — OddGeir Oddsen, managing director of Prochaete.
Shrimp residual raw material: a race against time
Residual raw material break down quickly, losing their nutritional value. Shrimp, for example, deteriorates fast, especially in hot climates. Fermentation and rot start almost immediately, leading to nutrient loss. But if you capture the heads and shells while they’re still super fresh, you transform what would be waste into a valuable, versatile resource for feed manufacturers.
That’s exactly what we do with Gain PRO and Boost PRO. By preserving shrimp residual raw material at their freshest, we ensure they retain their protein value, rich taste, antioxidants, and natural pigments — all of which improve feed efficiency and animal health.
The science of freshness
SGR is the Specific Growth Rate, this is % weight gain per day from the start of the trial to end of trial, the higher the number indicates better performance.
Feed conversion ratio is the amount fed in grams weight gained, the lower the number the more efficient feed is utilised.
And then: High quality fish makes high quality shrimp feed
When fish residual raw material are at their freshest, they’re not just leftovers—they’re a valuable resource. With CEP PRO, we capture this quality at its peak, combining it with polychaete to create a high-performance feed ingredient.
This unique patented mix brings out the best of both worlds: the rich nutritional benefits of fish and the enhanced seafood flavor from polychaete’s long-chain fatty acids, prostaglandins, and bromophenols. The result? A feed ingredient that supports better growth, digestion, and overall efficiency.
The numbers speak for themselves
When polychaete is included in feed, studies show:
9%
Specific Growth Rate with use of 2% Polychaete
12%
Protein Efficiency with use of 2% Polychaete
21%
Final Weight increased with use of 2% Polychaete
So why does this matter for the Zero-Waste Loop? Because keeping residual raw material fresh and using them wisely isn’t just about efficiency — it is about creating better, more functional feed ingredients. Reducing waste ends up being an added bonus. And we are only just getting started.
We encourage you to rethink your waste steams and explore Zero-Waste Loop solutions. If you are curious about how to set up your own loop — or how our functional proteins can be part of your feed production — do not hesitate to reach out.
In our next article, we’ll explore how our Zero-Waste Loop reduces costs and drive efficiency in your operations.
