Foodstuff for and method of feeding aquatic life

A particulate foodstuff which is effective for feeding aquatic life, the particulate foodstuff comprising:

• an enrobed particulate foodstuff in an antimicrobial environment,
• the enrobed particulate foodstuff comprising a particulate nutrient feed which has from about 20 to about 70 weight percent water, based on the weight of the particulate foodstuff, an inner oil coating comprising from about 3 to about 30 weight percent, based on the weight of the particulate foodstuff, of an edible unsaturated oil having a melting point of below about 29 degrees C. coating the particulate nutrient feed, an outer coating enrobing the inner oil coating, the outer coating comprising from about 0.5 to about 8 weight percent, based on the weight of the particulate foodstuff, of a gel which is complexed or crosslinked to an extent which is effective to contain the oil-coated feed in an aqueous environment,
• the antimicrobial environment comprising an antimicrobial agent in an amount which is effective for providing a shelf life for the foodstuff of at least about 6 months, but which does not make the foodstuff a flowable liquid, the antimicrobial comprising an antimicrobial selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerol, propionic acid, an ammonium salt of propionic acid, a calcium salt of propionic acid, a sodium salt of propionic acid, acetic acid, a calcium salt of acetic acid, a sodium salt of acetic acid, citric acid, a calcium salt of citric acid, a sodium salt of citric acid, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, calcium benzoate, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and mixtures thereof.

A foodstuff which is effective for feeding aquatic life, the foodstuff comprising:

• an enrobed particulate comprising a particulate nutrient feed which has at least about 20 weight percent water, an inner oil coating comprising an edible unsaturated oil having a melting point of below about 29 degrees C. coating the particulate nutrient feed;
• an outer coating enrobing the inner oil coating;
• and
• a liquid antimicrobial agent,
• the outer coating comprising a gel which is complexed or crosslinked to an extent which is effective to contain the oil-coated feed in an aqueous environment, the liquid antimicrobial agent being in an amount which is effective for providing a foodstuff with an aerobic total plate count of less than about 107 total microbes per gram of foodstuff after about 6 months, but which does not make the foodstuff a flowable liquid.

A foodstuff which is effective for feeding aquatic life, the foodstuff comprising:

• from about 15 weight percent to about 70 weight percent, based on the weight of the foodstuff, of a particulate nutrient feed;
• from about 3 weight percent to about 30 weight percent, based on the weight of the foodstuff, oil;
• from about 0.5 weight percent to about 8 weight percent, based on the weight of the foodstuff, gel;
• from about 2 weight percent to about 16 weight percent, based on the weight of the foodstuff, crosslinking salt;
• from about 0.5 weight percent to about 4 weight percent, based on the weight of the foodstuff, antimicrobial;
• from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent, based on the weight of the foodstuff, endo-probiotic bacteria;
• and
• from about 20 weight percent to about 70 weight percent, based on the weight of the foodstuff, water.

A method of making a foodstuff which is effective for feeding aquatic life, the method comprising:

• blending a dry nutrient particulate powder feed having a particle size of less than about 1000 microns with an oil to form an oil enrobed nutrient particulate;
• blending the oil enrobed nutrient particulate with a gel to form a nutrient gel;
• injected an inert gas into the nutrient gel;
• extruding the nutrient gel into a crosslinking salt solution to form a feed particulate;
• separating the feed particulate form the crosslinking salt solution;
• contacting the feed particulate with an anitmicrobial agent;
• and draining excess antimicrobial agent from the particulate.

A method of making a foodstuff which is effective for feeding aquatic life, the method comprising:

• blending a dry nutrient particulate powder feed having a particle size of less than about 1000 microns with an oil to form an oil enrobed nutrient particulate;
• blending the oil enrobed nutrient particulate with a gel to form a nutrient gel;
• extruding the nutrient gel into a crosslinking salt solution to form a feed particulate;
• separating the feed particulate form the crosslinking salt solution;
• contacting the feed particulate with an anitmicrobial agent;
• and draining excess antimicrobial agent from the particulate.

A method for feeding aquatic life comprising adding a foodstuff to an aquatic environment, the foodstuff including an enrobed particulate comprising a particulate nutrient feed which has at least about 20 weight percent water, an inner oil coating comprising an edible unsaturated oil having a melting point of below about 29 degrees C. coating the particulate nutrient feed;

• an outer coating enrobing the inner oil coating;
• and
• a liquid antimicrobial agent,
• the outer coating comprising a gel which is complexed or crosslinked to an extent which is effective to contain the oil-coated feed in an aqueous environment, the liquid antimicrobial agent being in an amount which is effective for providing a shelf life for the foodstuff of at least about 6 months, but which does not make the foodstuff a flowable liquid.