Zhejiang NHU Promotes Taurine for Low-Fishmeal Aquafeed Formulations

Zhejiang NHU is promoting feed-grade taurine as a fishmeal replacement support for low-fishmeal aquafeeds, citing a 49-day rainbow trout trial in a recirculating aquaculture system with a 5.24 g initial body weight. In that trial, adding 0.5% taurine to a low-fishmeal feed alleviated growth limitations. The article also points to taurine's roles in palatability, antioxidant and immune defense, osmotic balance, and lipid metabolism and liver health.

Key facts

Market context

Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid widely used as a feed additive, particularly in aquafeeds, where it supports palatability, growth and metabolic function. Demand is driven mainly by aquaculture, with fish and shrimp producers relying on feed formulations that must balance cost against nutritional performance. Fishmeal has long been the principal protein source in these diets, so when fishmeal supply tightens or prices rise, feed makers look to lower-fishmeal recipes and need supplemental nutrients to keep growth on track. Taurine is also used in pharmaceutical and nutritional applications, but feed grade material is the segment most tied to this story. Supply conditions in taurine are shaped by a relatively small number of chemical producers, so announcements of application support can signal how suppliers intend to position product for feed customers. Buyers typically assess such claims against independent trial data and their own formulation costs.

Source: official release on cnhu.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.