Optimal Levels of Fish Meal and Methionine in Diets for Juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei to Support Maximum Growth Performance with Economic Efficiency

Abstract

This work investigated the optimal levels of fish meal (FML) and dietary methionine (Met) required for maximum growth performance of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei with economic efficiency. Four sets of diets were prepared to contain 0.00, 6.00, 12.00 and 18.00% FML. Each set was supplemented with DL-methionyl-DL-methionine (DL-Met-Met) to result in a total dietary Met (Met + Cys) content of 0.58 (1.05), 0.69 (1.16), and 0.82% (1.29%), on a fed basis. Shrimp of 1.00 ± 0.08 g were stocked in 60 outdoor tanks of 1 m3 with 100 shrimp/m2, allowing five replications per dietary group. Shrimp in all the groups were fed 10 times daily for 70 days. In a subsequent trial, dietary protein and amino acid digestibility of four FML groups, but only at high dietary Met levels (~0.82%), were evaluated in 40 60 L indoor tanks (11 replicates per diet) for 93 days with 70 shrimp/m2. Final shrimp survival (92.85 ± 4.82%, mean ± standard deviation), weekly weight gain (1.17 ± 0.08 g), apparent feed intake (13.3 ± 0.5 g of feed per stocked shrimp), and feed conversion ratio (1.18 ± 0.06) were unaffected by dietary FML level and Met content. Gained yield was adversely affected when FML was reduced from 18 and 12% (1156 and 1167 g/m2, respectively) to 0 (1090 g/m2), but no change was observed at 6% (1121 g/m2). A significant interaction was detected between FML level and dietary Met. Under 0 and 6% FML conditions, higher levels of total dietary Met, 0.69 and 0.82%, respectively, were required to maximize shrimp BW. In comparison, at 12 and 18% FML, a dietary Met content of only 0.58% was sufficient. Overall, results indicated the use of FML can be minimized or completely eliminated without major detrimental effects on feed digestibility or shrimp growth performance, as long as proper supplementation of Met is carried out. Diets with 0 FML or with only 6% delivered the highest profit and return on investment compared to diets with higher levels.

Nature of property rights and motivation for blue growth: An empirical evidence from the fisheries industry

“…This supports the growth theory for the panel of nations that produce fisheries. This result confirms the critical finding of McKinley ( 2023), Nunes andMasagounder (2023), andStarkweather et al (2023), who discovered a favorable and inelastic influence of economic expansion on the development of the fisheries sector. The EU region's fisheries sector may achieve sustained growth by creating the right circumstances for an economically viable and competitive market (Magazzino, 2016a).…”

“…This finding supports the efficacy of fisheries policy in promoting economic expansion in higher‐producing nations. The efficiency of the economic performance, according to McKinley (2023), Nunes and Masagounder (2023), and Starkweather et al (2023), is what drives the fisheries sector to seek sustainable growth.…”

“…Studies by McKinley (2023), Nunes and Masagounder (2023), Starkweather et al (2023), Karimi et al (2022), Alharthi and Hanif (2020), among others, have estimated that unsustainable fisheries result in a loss of over 20% of the value of the global fisheries industry. By creating a sustainable fisheries sector, there is a more significant potential for development in the long run on the economic, social, and environmental fronts.…”

Retrospect of fish meal substitution in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) feed: Alternatives, limitations and future prospects

“…The development of the feed industry, especially the widespread use of fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO), has provided shrimp farming with feeds of consistent quality and convenient availability, which is one of the factors contributing to large‐scale shrimp farming and significant increase in production 5 . As the most costly component of shrimp feed, high‐quality protein sources such as FM provide the shrimp with required nutrients for fast and healthy growth 6 . The average FM level in shrimp feed is relatively high, for example, it was nearly 27% in China in 2018 and a recent study reported that it could be decreased to 12% or less in global aquaculture 7,8 .…”

“…5 As the most costly component of shrimp feed, high-quality protein sources such as FM provide the shrimp with required nutrients for fast and healthy growth. 6 The average FM level in shrimp feed is relatively high, for example, it was nearly 27% in China in 2018 and a recent study reported that it could be decreased to 12% or less in global aquaculture. 7,8 Besides, the FM supply has been affected by climate change (El Nino phenomenon), overexploitation of fish stocks, and competitive use in other markets and shipping.…”