CA2197137A1 - Method and apparatus for co-drying krill hydrolysate, liquid marine protein and dry carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and apparatus used in producing a feed product or premix and the product made by the method. A predetermined quantity of krill hydrolysate is added to a predetermined quantity of liquid marine protein and a predetermined quantity of dry carrier. A mixture is produced. The mixture is subject to a drying step in which relatively heavier particles are separated from relatively lighter particles. The mixture may be blended, ground and subject to chemical reaction in a balance tank prior to entering the dryer. The dryer utilises a warm air source, a tower and a cyclone to dry the mixture following its entry into the dryer. Temperature sensitive enzyme or other bioactive products may be added to the product produced from the dryer. The product has benefits for dietary uses in aquaculture and animal feeds.

Description

2 1 97 i 3 7 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CO-DRYING KRILL
HYDROLYSATE, LIQUID M~RINE PROTEIN AND DRY CARRIER

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to a method and apparatus used in producing a feed product or premix and the product made by the method. More particularly, the process uses co-drying to dry a mixture of liquid marine protein, krill hydrolysate and dry carrier. The product has particular benefits for dietary uses in aquaculture and ~n; -1 feeds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the advent of increasing activity in aquaculture or fish farming in the early to mid-1980s, research has been ongoing into increasing productivity or growth rate and reducing the mortality rate of fish raised in aquaculture conditions since survival of such fish is important. One such factor relates to enhancing the nutritional value and palatability of feed used in raising such fish. In addition to the nutritional value, it is desirable to reduce the cost of feed to such fish since, typically, the feed totals approximately 40 to 50% of the cost of raising the fish. Such feed should be a high quality feed to meet the objectives of having high nutritional value to maximize growth and to reduce fish mortality.
The requirement for feed products in aquaculture is projected to grow substantially and, as -a result, there is and will be pressure to obtain the necessary ingredients for fish food. The possibility of using zooplankton and, in particular, euphausiids, as a fish feed, appetizer or food product has been investigated and has been found to be possible and desirable, particularly as a feed product. Euphausiids are a natural feed harvested directly from coastal waters and have a high nutritional value but, previously, the cost of harvesting and processing such zooplankton for a feed product has been prohibitively eYronsive.

As well, the questions of the availability of the biomass of such zooplankton, storage of the zooplankton and its harvesting and processing are parameters that must be investigated in order to determine whether the product would be appropriate as a feed product.

Through papers written by Fulton and other authors, the use of zooplankton as a food or feed product has been contemplated for some time. In particular, antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) for human consumption have been investigated, although relatively little work has been investigated related to aquaculture. The use of Euphausia pacifica in the coastal waters of British Columbia, C~n~ has been considered in relation to aquaculture only.

It appears, from those investigations, that the necessary biomass is available in coastal waters.
Previously, euphausiids have been used as a pet food ingredient and some aquaculture operators have used euphausiids as a feed product. The euphausiids were used for such purposes in a frozen form after being harvested and in some cases, the euphausiids were freeze dried following harvesting. This is an p~n sive procedure.

Harvesting euphausiids from coastal waters was previously done utilizing a mid-water trawl. When the trawl net was full of euphausiids, the trawl net would be raised and the euphausiids would be stored on a shipboard location for subsequent freezing. In utilizing the mid-water trawl net, however, severe A~mage was caused to the euphausiids by being bunched in the cod end of the net. The euphausiids would end up being s~cheA and l~ch~ ng action would occur when the net was raised which is believed to reduce the nutritional value of the euphausiids. To reduce this damage, only a certain weight of euphausiids were subsequently taken in each operation when raising the net in an attempt to reduce the handling damage.
Nevertheless, a certain degree of damage still occurred and, of course, the time required to raise the net is a disadvantage because of the reduction of fishing time.
In processing feed products, it has typically been the case that the ingredients used in such feed products are heated to a high tf -~ature around 100~C
when the product is processed and dried. By heating the product to such a high temperature, it is believed that the enzymes and other proteins in the product are denatured. If, however, it is int~nA~A to utilize the 2 1 ~7 1 37 product for early stage or juvenile aquaculture, which young fish have relatively undeveloped digestive systems, it is believed to be desirable that the euphausiids maintain a certain proportion of enzymes which will assist the digestive process in such larvae.
If the theory that enzymes are advantageous in nutrition is correct, such destruction of the enzymes during the aforementioned drying process is disadvantageous.
It is also desirable to have a natural product, where the proteins are not denatured, available for early stage juvenile or larvae feed. In some previous products, exogenous enzymes have been added to the zooplankton mix. However, the addition of such enzymes is difficult to control and can result in a complete hydrolysis of the proteins to amino acids.
The presence of free amino acids in the feed needs to be controlled since they can create an inferior product of substantially reduced value for a feed product.

It has been shown, surprisingly, that the degree of enzyme activity which results in determining the digestibility of a product, reaches a relatively constant value after a certain period of time in a natural product. Recent investigations conducted by the applicant have confirmed this characteristic for Euphausia pacifica. This characteristic was first discovered in relation to Euphausia superba by Kubota and Sakai in a report entitled "Autolysis of Antarctic Krill Protein and Its Inactivation by Combined Effects of Temperature and pH", Transactions of the Tokyo University of Fisheries, number 2, page 53-63, March 1978. However, the antarctic krill study done by Messrs. Kubota and Sakai had the objective of limiting enzyme activity which was deleterious to obtA;ning a food as opposed to a feed product. Messrs. Kubota and Sakai wished to inhibit the enzymatic activity by certain processing techniques which they considered desirable when the product was intenAeA as a food product.
When a degree of stabilization in enzymatic activity has been obtA;n~A during the digestive process in the euphausiids, further processing may take place in order to make a useful product for commercial feed.
Such processes may include AAA~ng acid to obtain an acid stabilized product or drying the product using a variety of drying techn;ques such as freeze drying, spray drying, or vacuum and air drying. Spray drying, as well as other drying processes, however, are done at temperatures that will permanently inactivate the enzymes in the euphausiids which, as earlier mentioned, is considered to be undesirable for aquaculture purposes although it is acceptable for purposes where the product is int~nAeA to be used as a carotenoid biopigment for coloring purposes in both feed and food products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a feed product comprising the steps of adding a predete ~n~A quantity 2~ 97137 of krill hydrolysate to a quantity of liquid marine protein and a quantity of dry carrier to produce a mixture and co-drying said mixture to obtain an end product.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a product produced by A~A; ng a predetermined quantity of krill hydrolysate to a quantity of liquid marine protein and a quantity of dry carrier to produce a mixture and co-drying said mixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:

Figure lA is a diagrammatic isometric view of a fishing vessel with an attA~he~ net which utilizes the euphausiid harvesting te~hn;que according to the invention;

Figure lB is a diagrammatic front view of a net in an alternative harvesting techn;que according to the invention;

Figure 2A is a diagrammatic side view of a cage which is used to maintain the cod end of the fishing net illustrated in Figure 1 in an open position and which is further used to transport the harvested euphausiids to the harvesting vessel;

2197i31 Figures 2B and 2C are side and rear views, respectively, of the dewatering trough used to remove water from the harvested euphausiids;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic process chart illustrating the processing of the euphausiids subsequent to the dewatering steps illustrated in Figure 2 and prior to the drying step;

Figures 4A and 4B are end and side sectional views of the heat ~Yrh~nger used to raise the temperature of the harvested euphausiids prior to the digester process;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of the digester used to create the desired enzyme level within the euphausiids;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of a ball drier used to dry the euphausiids following removal of the euphausiids from the surge tank located downstream from the digester;

Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating the process of co-drying the product according to the invention; and Figure 8 is a diayr -tic view of the dehydrator used in the co-drying process according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

21 971 ~7 Referring now to the drawings, a towing vessel 10 is illustrated in Figure 1. A plurality of towing ropes 11, 12, 13 are connected to the towing vessel 10 in order to tow a barge 14 and a net 20. A
plurality of ropes 21 (only one of which is shown) are connected to the net 20 and extend downwardly from the barge 14. Weights 22 are connected to the bottom of the open forward facing portion of the net 20 in order to maintain the net 20 at a desired and predetermined depth where the concentration of zooplankton is satisfactory.

The cod or rearward end 23 of the net 20 is maintA; n~A in an open condition by the use of a cage generally illustrated at 24 in Figure 2. Cage 24 is of cylindrical configuration and is positioned within the cod end of net 20. It is made from aluminum and is preferably corrosion resistant. A fitting 30 is welded to the downstream end of the cage 24 and one end of a swivel connection 31 is joined to the fitting 30 to prevent fouling the net in the event components become unstable under adverse harvesting conditions. A hose 32 is connected to the other end of the co~nection 31.

Referring again to Figure 1, hose 32 extends upwardly from the cod end of the net 20 to the barge 14. A pump of a variety of configurations but, conveniently, a ~;Aphragm sump pump 33, is located at the other end of the hose 32 on barge 14. A dewatering trough is generally shown at 34 and is illustrated in Figures 2B and 2C. Dewatering trough 34 has a lengthwise generally rectangular configuration and is 21 97~ 37 also located on barge 14. Dewatering trough conveniently takes the configuration of a "lazy L". A
set of screens 40 positioned at obtuse angles are utilised to allow water to drain from the pumped euphausiids and exit the trough 34 through drain pipes 41 while the euphausiids accumulate within the dewatering trough 34.

A blast freezer 42 was also located on the barge 14 to stabilize the harvested euphausiids. The blast freezer 42 subjects the euphausiids to a temperature of approximately +9~ to -17~C and is used to freeze the dewatered euphausiids and stabilize the product for further processing. The euphausiids accumulate within the dewatering trough 34 and which are periodically removed from the trough 34 from time to time for freezing. Thereafter, the frozen euphausiids are transported to a processing location and processed as described hereafter.
In prototype demonstrations, the net 20 utilised for the harvesting operation was a specially designed 13 ft. by 21 ft. plankton net suspended from a 46 ft. aluminum barge. The pumping action was by a three inch ~;~phragm pump located on the barge 14 and the freezing action occurred within a minus seventeen (-17~C) degree centigrade blast freezer 42.

As earlier described, the frozen euphausiids are transported to a processing location in order to transform the euphausiids into the desired feed product. Reference is now made to the flow chart of Figure 3.

A pump 43 is connected to a hopper 44 which receives the euphausiids which are now in a thawed condition. Pump 43 is connected to a heat exchanger generally illustrated at 50 and diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3. The heat ~Yrh~nger 50 is intenA~A to raise the temperature of the euphausiids to a temperature of approximately 40~C to 60~C which will more closely approximate the temperature maint~neA in the digester which is generally lower than 70~C and which digester is generally illustrated at 51.
Digester 51 is located downstream of the heat exchanger 50 in the process illustrated in Figure 3.

Although several different types of heat gers may be used, heat exchanger 50 conveniently comprises a plurality of pipes 52 (Figure 4A) in which the euphausiids are conveyed through the heat exchanger. Heated water enters the inlet 54 of the heat exchanger 50 and is circulated through the heat exchanger 50 generally following the flow path seen in Figure 4B which utilizes a plurality of baffles 53.
The heated water exits the heat ~Ych~nger at outlet 61.
Following the increase of temperature created in the euphausiids by the heat exchanger 50, the euphausiids pass to the digester 51.

Digester 51 is seen is greater detail in Figure 5. It comprises a product inlet 61 and a product outlet 62. A water inlet 63 and a water outlet 64 are provided. A water jacket 70 through which the heated water circulates surrounds the cylindrical cavity area 71 of the digester 51 which contains the euphausiids. A plurality of stirring discs 72 are located vertically within the cavity area 71 of the digester 51 and are used to stir the euphausiids when they are positioned within the digester 51. A valve 73 is used to close the product outlet 62 so as to maintain the euphausiids within the digester 51 until the proper temperature and time for the desired enzyme formation within the euphausiids has taken place. The time period has conveniently exten~ between thirty (30) minutes and two (2) hours.

Although it is presently thought that a degree of digestibility will enhance the feed product only for certain fish such as early stage larvae or juveniles, it is contemplated by the applicant that such digestibility may enhance the feed product for virtually all fish. In utilising the digester 51 illustrated in Figure 5, a batch process is currently being used with a volume of euphausiids of 250 lb./hr being used.

The valve 62 is then opened and the quantity of euphausiids within the digester 51 pass through the valve 62 and are transported through valve 74 to the surge tank or heated batch storage vessel 80 where they await treatment in the dryer, conveniently a ball dryer generally illustrated at 81 (Figure 6) where relatively low and controlled temperatures can be applied to the euphausiids such that any enzymes existing within the 2~ ~7 1 37 euphausiids are not inactivated as would otherwise be the case in a normal drying process.

The euphausiids pass from the storage vessel 80 to the ball dryer 81 through product inlet 83 and, thence, about the periphery of the dryer 81 initially through the application zones 91 where the balls initially contact the euphausiids and begin the drying process. The ball dryer 81 performs a "soft" drying process which reduces damage to the euphausiids because of its gentle action. The ball drying process utilises a continuous feed into the ball dryer 81 and a product flow of 15 lb./hr. is available.

As the balls and euphausiids move downwardly through the drying zones 92, they meet a counter-current flow of controlled-temperature drying air at less than 50~C which air enters the ball dryer 81 through air inlet 82. Air flow, temperature and dwell time are precisely controlled and monitored within this zone. All of these are variable factors which depend upon whether the product is wet or dryer and what period of time the product is inten~ to stay in the dryer 81.
In the separation zone 93 at the bottom of the dryer 81, the ball and euphausiids meet a co-current flow of controlled temperature air for final drying and separation. The dried euphausiids leave the ball dryer 81 through the product outlet 84 and pass to the pArkAging step. The drying balls are elevated by rotating helix 94 and recycled to the application zone 91 and the process continues.

While one of many commercial ball dryers may be used for the air drying of the euphausiids, an ECAL
Pilot Drier Type 25F has been found satisfactory for the prototype purposes outlined in this application.
This ball drier is produced by ECAL PDS America, Inc.
of Princeton, N.Y.
It is contemplated that although the processing of the euphausiids has been described as tAk; ng place at a land location, such processing steps may take place at the harvesting location on board either the harvesting vessel or another vessel conveniently located nearby. This results in advantages in that the euphausiids need not be frozen following harvesting and need not be transported to a land based processing plant thereby resulting in considerable cost savings and quality improvement. In addition, the euphausiids may be introduced directly to the ball dryer 81 following harvesting. The dried euphausiids, after being subjected to the digester and/or the drying processes, may then be stored on the vessel until a substantial quantity have been obtA;ne~ at which time they may be transferred to another vessel for transport to the processing vessel itself which, when full, will transport the euphausiids to the shore.

Likewise and while it is desirable for the digester and drying steps to take place concurrently and sequentially in the event the euphausiids are inten~ to be used as a feed product for juvenile and early stage larvae, it is further contemplated that the euphausiids may be dried directly following harvesting in the event the digester step is not required as would be the case, for example, if the harvested euphausiids are int~n~eA to be used as a food product such as for use as an additive or as an ~n; -1 feed where pre-digestion is not required such as, for example, when use as a cat food, for example, or as an appetizer is contemplated.

A further harvesting t~chn;que is contemplated in Figure lB. In this te~hn;que/ weights 101 are connected to the mouth end of the net generally illustrated at 114 at the ends of the lower horizontal beam 103. Floats 100 are connected to the top horizontal beam 102 of the mouth end of the net 114.
D~p~n~;ng on the size of the net 114, lines are connected on one end to attachment points 104, in the first instance or, alternatively, to points 110, 111, 112, 113 and, on the other end, to the towing vessel.
The net 114 is pulled through the water gathering the zooplankton which enter the net 114 through the mouth.

Other applications for the hydrolysed krill product are also contemplated. Fish under stress, which is common with cultivated species raised with aquacultural techniques, are reluctant to eat and, accordingly, therapeutic drug delivery and special diets used for such marine species are difficult to use because the fish do not find such products palatable.
The hydrolysed krill and other zooplankton product 21 q7~ 37 according to the invention may be used with such Sp~C; Al diets and drug delivery by creating an enhanced flavour when the medicinal product such as a pellet is coated or mixed with the hydrolysed zooplankton product in a liquid or paste form. Likewise, while other such products may include specially added amino acids and other compounds to ~nh~nre the flavour of the product, the hydrolysed krill according to the present invention preserves and enhances the level of certain free amino acids and other flavourants thereby allowing flavour enhancement with a natural product and without the addition of amino acids or other flavourants.
Likewise, the krill retain the original pigments and fatty acids. The activity of the enzymes, which are cont~n~ in the krill, is also ret~ne~ in the hydrolysed natural product according to the invention.
Such enzymes allow for enhanced digestion by cultivated marine species by increasing the availability of peptides and free amino acids without creating additional harmful stress on such species.

Yet a further application contemplated by the present invention is the use of hydrolysed krill in association with plant or vegetable protein such as soymeal and canola in fish feed mixtures. Such an application would increase the digestibility of the plant protein which inherently and by itself has relatively low digestibility and palatability. This is so because the enzymes in the hydrolysed krill products according to the invention are preserved by the hydrolysis and act on the plant proteins. The enhanced digestibility of a product combination of plant protein and hydrolysed krill is also contemplated to reduce the fecal load in the environment by fish fed with such combination. This can be an important feature with cultivated marine and freshwater species. Likewise, the palatability of such non-fish meal proteins, in particular, plant proteins such as canola or soy meal, iS ~nh~nre~l.

Experiments conducted to date utilize the enzymes in krill to carry out a limited hydrolysis of canola and other plant proteins. For example, one part of dry canola or soy meal which has added ten percent (10%) wheat bran is blended with five (5) parts of hydrolysed krill. The hydrolysate is pumped from the digester to the feed stock hopper and the dry blend is added. The mixture is brought to the desired temperature and agitated in the digester for approximately one (l) hour. Measurements of phytic acid and the levels of the amino acids and ammonia are then taken. For example, 250 lbs. of krill is hydrolysed by bringing the krill to approximately 45~
Celsius. The temperature is held for one (1) hour and is then blended with 5 lbs. of wheat bran with 45 lbs.
of canola concentrate. The use of wheat bran is necessary to provide phytose, an enzyme which is absent in canola meal and krill. The phytic acid is dephosphoiyloted by phytose from the wheat bran. The phytic acid is acted on by the enzymes. It is noted that the blend may be ret~ne~ in the digester for an exten~ period, up to a period of four (4) hours or even longer.

~1 91l ~7 In yet a further embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the wet krill hydrolysate product is co-dryed with other wet and dry products.
Various predetermined ratios of wet krill hydrolysate, liquid marine products and dry marine protein meals or other dry carrier conveniently in the form of dried krill products, dried vegetable protein and/or dried fish product are used in combination or singly and are combined into a mixture. The resulting mixture is subject to processing and co-drying in a dehydrator. A
dehydrator manufactured by AKT of Nambour, Australia and Alfa Laval Fish and Meat Engineering A/S of Denmark and known as the StAn~Ard KIX (Trademark) dehydrator has been found to work well although other commercial dehydrators or dryers may also conveniently be used.

Co-drying the mixture of the krill hydrolysate, liquid marine product and the dry carrier product mixture has been found to be relatively economical at relatively low temperatures. Under such conditions, the krill constituents and krill pigments are substantially preserved. Thus produced, the product has benefits for dietary uses in aquaculture and animal feeds.
D~p n~; ng on the moisture content of the dry carrier, liquid marine protein, and the krill hydrolysate, and the proportion of each in the mixture to be co-dried, the removal of moisture can be accomplished by a gentle drying process at relatively low temperatures thereby to preserve the temperature and oxidation sensitive constituents including the 2 1 9~ ~ 37 krill constitutents and the krill pigments. Particles of the dry carrier are coated with the wet hydrolysate thereby facilitating the drying process by exposing a greater surface area of wet hydrolysate and/or liquid fish product for heated air to act upon. The mixture may then be ground into uniform particles which further increases the available surface area to expedite the drying process. The mixture may be placed in a reactor cell balance tank to permit chemical interactions between components of the mixture, such reactions including enzymatic activity of a wide range of enzymes including poteolytic, lipolytic and carbohydrate splitting enzyme prior to drying. A well-mixed, homogeneous mixture is prepared to reduce and to eliminate high moisture pockets. Water is then removed from this mixture by the dryer, conveniently a dehydrator such as is described above and the endproduct is a dried krill premix or feedstuff blended with the aforementioned carrier. Temperature sensitive enzymes or other active products may be added to the cooled endproduct after the drying step.
Alternatively, the krill hydrolysate may be combined with wet fish product and other carriers such as dry fish meal, corn meal, canola meal, oil seed meal, or other vegetable meals, used in combination or taken singly.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 7 illustrates the steps of the co-drying process in its entirety according to the present invention. A
predetermined quantity of wet krill hydrolysate product 210 is ~Ye~ with a predetermined quantity of liquid 2i 971 37 marine protein 212 and a predetermined amount of dry carrier 211, conveniently dried krill product, dried fish product and/or dried vegetable protein used in combination or taken singly. The resulting mixture is placed in a mixing blender 215, where the various ratios of hydrolysate, marine protein and dry carrier are thoroughly blended. The bl~n~;ng required will vary with the constitution of the mixture. The blended mixture is then ground within a grinder 217 where the mixture is r~ r~A to particles of substantially uniform size. The ground mixture is then transferred to reactor cell balance tank 216 where the continuously stirred blended mixture is allowed to chemically react and/or undergo enzymatic action prior to the drying process. After the int~n~e~ reaction has taken place in the tank 216, the mixture is conveyed to the dehydrator 220 for drying.

The dehydrator 220 is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 8 and with reference thereto, the mixture enters the agitator bowl 224 of the dehydrator 220 through inlet 219 where the mixture is agitated into smaller particles which is inten~A to prevent clumping of the mixture. A continuous feed of mixture into the dehydrator 220 is inten~ through inlet 219.

Heated air from the burner 221 is directed to the agitator bowl 224 of the dehydrator 220 by way of fans (not illustrated) where the air mixes with particles of the mixture in the bowl 224. The particles are carried up the drying tower 230 by the column of hot air. The classifier 231 sorts the particles at the top of tower 230. Drier mixture consists of lighter, individual particles which proceed along the column of hot air into a cyclone 232. The classifier 231 redirects larger and heavier masses of more damp mixture back to the agitator bowl 224 for further agitation and drying.

The particles are drawn downwards along a spiralling column of heated air in cyclone 232 and centrifugal action removes further moisture from the particles. At the bottom of the cyclone 232, the particles are isolated from the air column by airlock 233 and are sorted by a rotary screen 234. Smaller, lighter particles of dried product pass through the rotary screen 234 and exit the dehydrator 220 at outlet 240 for further processing. Larger, heavier particles of damp mixture are redirected to the agitator bowl 224 from outlet 241 for further agitation and drying.

With reference again to Figure 7, heated product 241 exiting the dehydrator 220 from outlet 240 may then be permitted to cool. Some of this dried product 245 may be used in the co-drying process as a quantity of the dry carrier 211. Temperature sensitive enzyme active products 242, which might be denatured by the drying process, may be introduced to the dried product 241 after the product has passed through the dehydrator 220 as illustrated. The dried product 241 then undergoes further mixing and blen~;ng at mixing step 250 to ensure the homogenous addition of the temperature sensitive enzyme active products 242. The final product 243 may then proceed to a pA~kAging step 21 971 ~1 such as a bagger 244 or to a storage bin 245 prior to further use in aquaculture or ~n; ' 1 feeds.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, such description should be taken as illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting its scope as defined in accordance with the accompanying claims.

Claims (28)

WE CLAIM:

1. Method of producing a feed product comprising the steps of adding a predetermined quantity of krill hydrolysate to a quantity of liquid marine protein and a quantity of dry carrier to produce a mixture and co-drying said mixture to obtain an end product.

2. Method as in claim 1 wherein said mixture is mixed prior to co-drying said mixture.

3. Method as in claim 2 wherein said mixture is subjected to chemical and/or enzymatic reaction for a predetermined time period prior to co-drying said mixture.

4. Method as in claim 3 wherein said mixture is co-dryed in a dryer or other dehydrator.

5. Method as in claim 4 wherein said mixture is ground prior to being subject to said chemical reaction.

6. Method as in claim 5 wherein said mixture is cooled following drying of said mixture in said dryer.

7. Method as in claim 6 wherein said dry carrier may be one or a combination of dry marine protein meals, dried krill products, dried vegetable and dried fish product.

8. Method as in claim 7 wherein said liquid marine protein may be liquid fish product.

9. Method as in claim 8 wherein temperature sensitive enzyme active or other bioactive products are added to said mixture following said drying of said mixture.

10. Method as in claim 9 and further comprising mixing said temperature sensitive enzyme active products with said mixture.

11. Method as in claim 1 wherein said mixture is co-dryed in a dryer or other dehydrator.

12. Method as in claim 11 wherein said dryer includes an agitator to agitate said mixture entering said dryer.

13. Method as in claim 12 wherein said dryer further includes a drying tower downstream from said agitator and a heat source to provide heat to said tower.

14. Method as in claim 13 and further comprising a classifier downstream of said tower for separating said mixture, said mixture comprising relatively lighter and relatively heavier particles, said classifier separating said lighter from said heavier particles.

15. Method as in claim 14 wherein said relatively heavier particles are returned to said agitator.

16. Method as in claim 14 and further comprising a cyclone downstream from said classifier.

17. Method as in claim 16 wherein said cyclone removes further moisture from said relatively lighter particles.

18. Method as in claim 17 wherein said relatively lighter particles are separated into relatively smaller and relatively larger particles.

19. Method as in claim 18 wherein said relatively larger particles are returned to said agitator.

20. A feed product or additive produced by the method as in any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. Co-drying apparatus for drying a mixture of krill hydrolysate, liquid marine product and a dry carrier comprising a dryer for agitating, heating and separating particles of said mixture.

22. Co-drying apparatus as in claim 21 and further comprising a mixer for blending said mixture prior to said mixture entering said dryer.

23. Co-drying apparatus as in claim 22 and further comprising a reactor cell for treating said mixture prior to said mixture entering said dryer.

24. Co-drying apparatus as in claim 23 and further comprising a grinder for grinding said mixture prior to said mixture entering said reactor cell.

25. Co-drying apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said dryer produces a product.

26. Co-drying apparatus as in claim 25 and further comprising a mixer for mixing said product following said product exiting said dryer.

27. Co-drying apparatus as in claim 21 wherein said dryer comprises a source of warm air, an agitator for agitating said mixture following entry of said mixture into said dryer, a tower to expose said mixture to said warm air, a first classifier to separate the relatively lighter particles of said mixture from the relatively heavier particles of said mixture, a cyclone for drying said relatively lighter particles separated from said relatively heavier particles, and a second classifier to separate relatively lighter particles and relatively heavier particles constituting said relatively lighter particles in said cyclone.

28. Co-dryer as in claim 27 and further comprising a fan to move said warm air within said dryer.