Houdek’s Back40 R&D facility

Whether we’re innovating with partners or on our own, R&D is the root of our nature!

Houdek’s Back40 aquaculture lab

    • 12 recirculating aqua systems (RAS) w/combined total of 225 tanks

    • Fresh and salt water systems

    • Diet/feed/ingredient trials

    • Growth, FCR trials

    • Water quality, waste trials

    • Biosecure hatchery facility

    • Histology and necropsy capabilities

    • Species: salmonids (Atlantic, Coho, Rainbow), bass, tilapia, catfish, shrimp

Houdek’s pilot-scale fermentation lab

    • Axenic, aerobic, and anaerobic fermentation

      • Shake flask to 150L fermentation

    • Analytical capabilities

      • HPLC

      • UV-VIS

      • PCR

      • Automated fluorescence microscopy

      • Bright field microscopy

Houdek’s pilot-scale feed mill

    • FDA regulated, HACCP certified

    • Network of certified, raw-material vendors

    • Batching/mixing (multiple mixers from research to commercial scale)

    • Hammermilling (multiple hammermills from research to commercial scale)

    • Complete extrusion line

      • Extrutech E-325 (up to 6,000lb/day)

      • 0.75mm - 13mm pellets

      • Drying, cooling, sifting

    • Lipid application

      • Top-coating or vacuum-coating

    • 50lb bags

    • Extrusion records/feed characteristics

      • Diameter

      • Density

      • Moisture

      • Aw

    • 3rd party analysis and testing