Use of pig by-products (bristles and hooves) as alternative protein raw material in fish feed: A feasibility study

Increasing growth in the aquaculture industry calls for employment of innovative technologies that will ensure sustainability in the sector, given the rising competition for feed raw material. A technology that can convert low quality biological waste resources such as pig bristles and hooves into high quality aqua feed raw material (keratin to protein product) is being investigated in Denmark. The success of this novel approach is however highly dependent on the acceptability of the resultant raw material resource among fish feed producers as well as the acceptance of fish feed produced from this raw material among fish farmers. The study applies a contingent valuation method to investigate the potential market. The study finds a general acceptability of these resources by the sampled fish feed producers, and fish farmers. A willingness to buy the resources at existing market price is also observed among the players in the two fish value chain levels of feed and fish production.