Philippe Rein's farm in France
A fish farm transformation with Royal Star feed
The customer
Philippe Rein's fish farm is located in the picturesque town of Biesheim in the Haut-Rhin region of France. Thanks to its proximity to the Rhine River, the fish farm is supplied with borehole water directly from the Rhine aquifer. Ninety percent of the farm’s rainbow trout is produced with the intention of restocking rivers and fishing ponds. Each year, 80 to 100 tons of trout are released from this site, using the production method in ponds with aeration
Feed conversion ratio of his farm is between 0.9 and 1.0, which is very good given the production method and fish sizes produced. No vaccines or antibiotics are used, and Philippe closely monitors their rationing to help ensure a healthy environment for the fish.
Well-equipped with transportation and handling equipment, the farm raises trout to sizes of up to 3 kg for the largest specimens, with the majority of sales involving fish weighing around 400 g. As a customer of Alltech Coppens solutions for 20 years, we have established a relationship based on trust. Our experts encourage the farm to report any challenges to us, allowing for quick and proper improvements to be made.
The challenge
One of the major challenges Philippe faced was suboptimal water quality and dirty water. This affected the farm’s maintenance efforts, resulting in more demand for the time-consuming process of cleaning of the farming system. More importantly, this issue also impacted the overall health of the fish.
Naturally, salmonids live in rivers and streams, which offer prime water quality conditions - and set the bar for farming conditions. Alternatively, suboptimal conditions can lead to several unwanted consequences, including a lower feed intake, reduced growth, problems with the gills and a higher susceptibility to pathogens. These issues can all compromise production and fish welfare.
Philippe was in need of a solution that would improve his water quality while also ensuring the best possible conditions for his fish.
The solution
Having been a loyal customer of Alltech Coppens since 2012, Philippe turned to Stéphane Bénetière, sales manager at Alltech Coppens, for advice. Their long-standing collaboration gave Philippe the confidence to explore new solutions with Stéphane’s guidance.
A feed trial was conducted to identify the best option, and through the trial, Royal Star emerged as the standout choice. With its superior composition - including high animal protein levels - Royal Star leads to a good growth, high flesh quality and a good gutted weight ratio, offering significant benefits in production.
The results
The impact of switching to Royal Star was truly significant. Almost immediately, Philippe noticed:
- Improved water clarity and cleanliness: The need for extensive cleaning routines was drastically reduced, saving time and effort.
- Healthier and more vibrant fish: The fish thrived in the cleaner environment fostered by Royal Star, demonstrating better health and vitality than ever before.
With Royal Star, Philippe Rein not only made his farm more efficient but also streamlined his operations, making day-to-day management much easier.
Watch the video below:
Want to achieve similar success?
If you’re looking for a trusted partner in aquaculture solutions, let’s talk! Contact us today to explore how Alltech Coppens can help you optimize your fish farm and boost your success.
