Aquatic Animal Welfare

Farmed Salmon Gut Health and Microbiome

Farmed salmon gut health is increasingly recognised as critical for immune function, welfare and disease resistance across the production cycle.

Key Facts

The salmon gut microbiome changes with diet, temperature and life stage
Soybean meal in salmon diets causes enteritis in some individuals affecting nutrient absorption
Probiotics and prebiotics in salmon diets are being evaluated for microbiome benefits
Gut health indicators including intestinal integrity are emerging welfare assessment tools
Feed formulation that supports gut microbiome health reduces disease incidence

Welfare Considerations

Salmon gut health and welfare are intimately connected through immune function and disease resistance. Diet formulation that optimises gut microbiome composition reduces inflammation, improves nutrient absorption and supports immune health. Welfare-positive feed formulation is a relatively low-cost intervention with significant impact.

What You Can Do

Support certified salmon from operations with documented feed welfare quality standards
Advocate for gut health inclusion in aquaculture welfare assessment protocols
Choose farmed fish from producers investing in feed formulation research