0086-138 3838 9622RICHI MACHINERY is overseeing installation of a 2.5-ton-per-hour salmon feed production line in British Columbia, Canada, supporting sustainable aquaculture with high-performance floating feed pellets for one of the province’s established salmon farmers.
Market Background
Canada’s salmon farming industry is concentrated in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada, with production focused on Atlantic salmon for domestic and export markets. Feed represents the largest operating cost in salmon production, and feed quality directly affects growth rates, feed conversion, and fish health.
Salmon require feed with high protein levels (typically 35-45 percent), significant oil inclusion (20-30 percent for energy), and precise nutrient profiles that vary with life stage. Floating feed allows farmers to monitor consumption directly—critical for managing feed costs and detecting health issues before they become visible through other indicators.
Raw Material and Formulation
The feed formulation reflects salmon requirements at different production stages:
- Fishmeal and soybean meal provide the protein base, with fishmeal inclusion rates higher than in warmwater aquaculture
- Wheat and corn gluten supply energy through digestible carbohydrates
- Fish oil delivers essential omega-3 fatty acids required for salmon health and flesh quality
- Vitamins and mineral premixes ensure complete nutrition for fast growth and disease resistance
- Maintaining nutrient integrity through extrusion, drying, and coating is critical—salmon are sensitive to nutrient degradation and oxidative rancidity in fats.
Process Design and Equipment
The production line features several elements specific to salmon feed requirements:
- Micro-batching system for precise dosing of vitamins, minerals, and specialty additives
- Fine grinding units achieving particle sizes appropriate for juvenile salmon feeds
- Twin-screw extruder with configured screw profiles for salmon diet formulations
- Multi-stage drying system for gentle moisture removal without nutrient degradation
- Vacuum oil coating system for high-fat inclusion without oxidation
- Cooling, screening, and packaging for finished product handling
The extrusion process is optimized for uniform floating pellets with minimal fines—salmon are surface feeders that show reduced consumption when pellets sink before capture.
Installation and Timeline
Mechanical installation at the customer’s site in British Columbia is complete. Electrical integration and automation programming are ongoing, with RICHI technicians working alongside the customer’s engineering staff to ensure control systems meet their specific requirements.
Trial production is scheduled for March 2026, with commercial operation to follow once performance testing confirms throughput, pellet quality, and nutrient retention through the process.
Benefits and Industry Impact
The facility ensures consistent feed quality for the customer’s salmon operations, reducing variability compared to purchased feed and enabling rapid formulation adjustments based on fish performance and ingredient availability.
For RICHI, the project represents entry into the Canadian salmon feed sector, a market with exacting quality requirements and established competition. Success here demonstrates the company’s capability to meet the highest standards in aquaculture feed processing.
