Targeted feed additives in aquaculture play a crucial role beyond growth by enhancing quality, resilience, and sustainability. Faced with complex challenges like disease and environmental stressors, producers seek smarter nutrition solutions that promote health, improve feed efficiency, and reduce antibiotic use. But what exactly makes these innovations so promising for the future of aquaculture?

The measure of success in today’s aquaculture industry is no longer determined solely by growth, but also by the quality, resilience and sustainability of production. The increasing demand for seafood and the intensification of farming practices have exposed aquatic species to more complex challenges. From disease outbreaks and environmental stressors to the pressing need to reduce antibiotic use, producers are searching for smarter, safer and more sustainable solutions. At the heart of this transformation lies nutrition.

Far beyond simply meeting supplying energy and protein requirements, nutrition has become a vital tool in managing health, boosting performance and balancing profitability with sustainability. In this context, functional feed additives—such as phytogenics, acidifiers, and endotoxin adsorbents—are proving to be pivotal. These feed additives go beyond basic nutrition by promoting health, improving feed efficiency, reducing reliance on antibiotics and supporting waste management. As a result, they empower producers to raise fish and shrimp more responsibly, profitably and sustainably.

At Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition, scientific rigour and a deep understanding of industry challenges shape the development of our entire product portfolio. For aquaculture, this expertise is reflected in three dedicated solutions: Anta®Ox Aqua, CaPlus ME and Anta®Catch. Each has been carefully designed to address the sector’s most urgent needs—offering distinct benefits, yet united by a shared goal: To empower farmers to produce healthier animals, reduce environmental impact, and operate more efficiently in a competitive global market.

PHYTOGENICS: NATURE’S MULTIFUNCTIONAL SOLUTION

Phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) are among the most promising solutions in sustainable aquaculture nutrition. This diverse group of plant-derived compounds extracted from herbs, spices and functional botanicals offers a rich toolkit of bioactive properties that naturally enhance health and performance.

Anta®Ox Aqua represents the next generation of these natural enhancers. It is a carefully formulated blend rich in flavonoids, selected for their synergistic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. What sets Anta®Ox Aqua apart is not just its natural origin, but its targeted mode of action and multi-level benefits that span immunity, antioxidant protection and overall resilience.

Anta®Ox Aqua works on multiple fronts, and its contribution to sustainability begins with the ability to reduce antibiotic dependency. Its special phytogenic combination acts as natural disease resistance enhancer by preventing pathogen colonisation and stimulating the immune system, thereby helping to control harmful gut bacteria such as Vibrio spp and allowing producers to avoid or reduce chemical and antibiotic inputs.

Additionally, Anta®Ox Aqua provides potent antioxidant activity. In high-density and high-stress farming conditions, oxidative stress can undermine immune function and growth. The flavonoids in Anta®Ox Aqua help neutralise free radicals, reduce inflammation, and maintain the structural integrity of cells and tissues. This not only enhances performance under stressful conditions but also improves post-harvest product quality, such as muscle texture and shelf life.

By improving feed conversion and survival rates, Anta®Ox Aqua helps producers use resources more efficiently—maximising growth from every unit of feed while minimising waste and mortality. This not only reduces the environmental footprint of aquaculture operations but also enhances long-term productivity. Combined with its plant-based formulation, Anta®Ox Aqua offers a natural, eco-friendly solution that supports both performance and responsible farming.

Another dimension of Anta®Ox Aqua’s value lies in its alignment with circular and sustainable production models. Many of the botanicals used in phytogenic feed additives can be sustainably sourced from agricultural by-products, making them low-impact, renewable alternatives to synthetic growth promoters. As the market shifts toward natural and eco-conscious aquafeeds, phytogenics like Anta®Ox Aqua are perfectly positioned to deliver both performance and peace of mind.

ACIDIFIERS: PRECISION MODULATORS OF DIGESTION AND DEFENSE

Alongside phytogenics, acidifiers are carving out a critical role in aquafeed strategies. While phytogenics like Anta®Ox Aqua strengthen immune defenses and oxidative resilience, acidifiers provide a complementary mode of action focused on digestion and microbial control. CaPlus ME, Dr. Eckel’s advanced acidifier for aquaculture, reflects this evolution with its unique combination of buffered organic acid salts and microencapsulated phytogenic compounds.

The primary function of CaPlus ME is to lower the pH in the gastrointestinal tract. This acidification has two powerful effects. First, it creates an environment that favours digestive enzyme activity, particularly proteases and lipases, which are essential for breaking down protein and fat. Improved digestion leads to better nutrient absorption and reduced feed waste—benefits that not only boost feed conversion ratios but also support cleaner pond ecosystems. Less undigested material in the water means lower organic loading, reduced ammonia accumulation, and ultimately better water quality.

Second, the acidic environment in the gut helps suppress the proliferation of acid-sensitive pathogens such as Aeromonas, Edwardsiella, and certain strains of Vibrio. By lowering the pH, CaPlus ME inhibits the colonisation and replication of these harmful microbes, reducing the risk of disease and the need for medical treatments. This mode of action is especially important in early growth stages or under stress conditions, when animals are more vulnerable to infections.

Unlike earlier-generation acidifiers, the CaPlus ME formulation goes further by incorporating essential oils in microencapsulated form. This provides targeted release in the lower gut, where pathogenic bacteria often reside. This dual mechanism—broad-spectrum microbial suppression and improved digestion—makes CaPlus ME a versatile tool across multiple species and production systems.

Field trials with fish and shrimp have demonstrated the value of CaPlus ME in improving growth rates, feed efficiency and survival. Whether used as a routine supplement or during critical production phases, CaPlus ME offers a smart, dual-function solution that supports both health and environmental sustainability. Its role in optimising digestion and controlling microbial threats makes it a natural complement to Anta®Ox Aqua in a holistic feed strategy.

ENDOTOXIN ADSORBENTS: THE HIDDEN LINE OF DEFENSE

Not all threats to aquaculture productivity are visible. While phytogenics and acidifiers focus on promoting a healthy and balanced gastrointestinal environment, endotoxin adsorbents play a defensive role, protecting aquatic animals from one of the most insidious threats in intensive farming: Lipopolysaccharides or LPS. These endotoxins, derived from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, can trigger intense immune responses even at low concentrations. Chronic exposure can lead to inflammation, reduced growth, immunosuppression and increased mortality.

In high-density, intensive systems, endotoxins are a common and often underestimated problem. When fish or shrimp ingest feed contaminated with LPS, or when gut bacteria die off and release endotoxins internally, the immune system is activated, diverting energy away from growth and towards inflammatory responses. Over time, this can reduce feed efficiency, impair health and increase the risk of secondary infections.

Anta®Catch, Dr. Eckel’s defense against endotoxins, is designed to neutralise this hidden threat by adsorbing LPS molecules in the gut, preventing their absorption into the bloodstream and detoxifying their presence in the liver. This not only reduces the inflammatory burden but also frees up metabolic energy for growth and immune function. In shrimp and fish exposed to pathogenic bacteria, the inclusion of endotoxin binders has been linked to improved survival rates, better feed conversion and enhanced resistance to secondary infections.

By including endotoxin adsorbents in feed, producers can maintain animal performance and welfare even under subclinical challenges. Trials in shrimp and tilapia have demonstrated lower immune burden by preventing LPS-triggered responses and lower risk of endotoxin-induced mortality when Anta®Catch was included—particularly when animals are simultaneously exposed to stressors like poor water quality or pathogenic bacteria.

The final piece of the puzzle, Anta®Catch completes the picture of gut health management. While Anta®Ox Aqua enhances immunity and microbial balance, CaPlus ME improves digestion and pathogen control, and Anta®Catch shields the system from internal toxins. Together, these products form a powerful trio that helps aquatic animals to thrive even in the most challenging environments.

TOWARDS SMARTER, MORE SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE

The integration of Anta®Ox Aqua, CaPlus, and Anta®Catch into aquafeed programs marks a decisive step forward for producers who are looking to future-proof their operations. These additives are not experimental or niche—they are science-backed, field-tested tools that deliver measurable results. More importantly, they align with the broader trends shaping global aquaculture: Reduced antibiotic use, improved animal welfare, lower environmental impact and greater transparency in food production.

From a commercial perspective, the benefits are clear. Healthier animals mean fewer losses and more consistent harvests. Improved feed conversion means lower feed costs per kilogram of biomass produced. And better water quality translates into less need for maintenance, treatment, or emergency interventions. For feed manufacturers and farmers alike, these advantages add up to a stronger return on investment and a more stable business model.

But perhaps the most compelling reason to embrace these solutions is the role they play in building trust. Consumers today want to know not only where their food comes from, but how it was produced. They are looking for guarantees that seafood is safe, natural, and responsibly farmed. By incorporating natural, high-performing additives like Anta®Ox Aqua, CaPlus and Anta®Catch, producers can meet these expectations and position themselves as leaders in responsible aquaculture.

SUSTAINABILITY BEGINS IN THE GUT

Sustainable aquaculture doesn’t begin with a certification or end with a harvest—it begins in the gut. A healthy gut leads to healthier animals, cleaner water, and a more efficient production system overall. Dr. Eckel’s aquaculture solutions are designed to support this vision. They represent a new way of thinking about aquafeeds: not just as a source of nutrition, but as a foundation for performance, health and environmental stewardship.

By feeding for resilience and responsibility, producers are not only safeguarding their operations but also contributing to a more sustainable future for aquaculture—and for the planet. The time to act is now. Because when it comes to feeding the world, how we feed matters. Not just for growth, not just for profit, but for the future.