Evaluation of stocking density and dietary fish meal inclusion for intensive tank production of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultured in low salinity waters of west Alabama

Authors: ROY, LUKE - Auburn University; TEICHERT-CODDINGTON, DAVID - Greene Prairie Aquafarm; Beck, Benjamin; DAHL, SUNNI - Auburn University; JAMES, JESSE - Auburn University; GUO, JINGPING - Auburn University; DAVIS, ALLEN - Auburn University

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2020
Publication Date: 5/25/2020
Citation: Roy, L., Teichert-Coddington, D., Beck, B.H., Dahl, S., James, J., Guo, J., Davis, A. 2020. Evaluation of stocking density and dietary fish meal inclusion for intensive tank production of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultured in low salinity waters of west Alabama. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 82:345–353. https://doi.org/10.1002/naaq.10150.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/naaq.10150

Interpretive Summary: Shrimp farmers in Alabama are seeking to increase efficiency and intensify production. Semi-intensive earthen ponds are the traditional production system used by Alabama shrimp farmers, however, there is interest to evaluate intensive pond-based production systems such as split ponds. These alternative systems are more intensive and require higher stocking densities to offset capital investments costs required for initial construction and maintenance. Two trials were carried out using on-levee flow-through systems at an Alabama shrimp farm to evaluate stocking densities of 29, 88, 176, 264 shrimp/m2 (Trial 1) and higher levels of fish meal (5, 10, 20%) at a high density of 264 shrimp/m2 (Trial 2). Results from Trial 1 revealed that as stocking density was increased shrimp final weight decreased while shrimp biomass and feed conversion ratio increased. Survival of shrimp at the two highest densities (176, 264 shrimp/m2) was lower than the two lowest densities (29, 88 shrimp shrimp/m2). There were no differences in shrimp performance offered diets with varying levels of fish meal in Trial 2, however, overall survival in Trial 2 which was carried out at a high density (264 shrimp/m2) ranged between 47.9-65.5%.

Technical Abstract: Shrimp farmers in Alabama are seeking to increase efficiency and intensify production. Semi-intensive earthen ponds are the traditional production system used by Alabama shrimp farmers, however, there is interest to evaluate intensive pond-based production systems such as split ponds. These alternative systems are more intensive and require higher stocking densities to offset capital investments costs required for initial construction and maintenance. Two trials were carried out using on-levee flow-through systems (twelve 800 L tanks per system) at an Alabama shrimp farm to evaluate stocking densities of 29, 88, 176, 264 shrimp/m2 (Trial 1) and higher levels of fish meal (5, 10, 20%) at a high density of 264 shrimp/m2 (Trial 2). Results from Trial 1 revealed that as stocking density was increased shrimp final weight decreased while shrimp biomass and feed conversion ratio increased (P < 0.05). Survival of shrimp at the two highest densities (176, 264 shrimp/m2) was lower than the two lowest densities (29, 88 shrimp shrimp/m2). There were no differences (P > 0.05) in shrimp performance offered diets with varying levels of fish meal in Trial 2, however, overall survival in Trial 2 which was carried out at a high density (264 shrimp/m2) ranged between 47.9-65.5%.