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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411306
Research Project: Integrated Research to Improve Aquatic Animal Health in Warmwater Aquaculture

Location: Aquatic Animal Health Research

Title: Evaluation of various concentrations of a protease complex feed additive in low-salinity culture of Litopenaeus vannamei

Author
item TUTTLE, JAMES - Auburn University
item BRUCE, TIMOTHY - Auburn University
item ROY, LUKE - Auburn University
item ABDELRAHMAN, HISHAM - Roger Williams University
item Garcia, Julio
item Beck, Benjamin
item KELLY, ANITA - Auburn University

Submitted to: Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/17/2023
Publication Date: 2/18/2024
Citation: Tuttle, J., Bruce, T., Roy, L., Abdelrahman, H., Garcia, J.C., Beck, B.H., Kelly, A. 2024. Evaluation of various concentrations of a protease complex feed additive in low-salinity culture of Litopenaeus vannamei [ABSTRACT]. Aquaculture America 2024. San Antonio, Texas. February 18-21, 2024.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Protease feed additives have been proven to improve digestibility and obtain improved growth while using less protein in aquatic feeds. Some of these protease complexes have been shown to have immunostimulant effects that significantly improve growth performance, survivability, and disease resistance in many commercially important aquaculture species. However, with the variety of available immunostimulants, differing feed preparation methods, and diversity of finfish and invertebrate species grown commercially, there is still the potential to optimize which concentrations of proteases would yield the most efficient, biologically beneficial, and cost-effective growth. One of the most economically important and versatile aquaculture species is the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaus vannamei, known to tolerate salinities between 0.5 and 40 ‰. To evaluate growth, physiological, and immunological parameters of L. vannamei feed a diet containing differing amounts of a protease complex under low salinity culture conditions, 360 shrimp (0.35±0.03 g) were stocked equally into a low salinity recirculating system consisting of 24 (67 L) tanks. Four treatment diets were formulated, each containing 35% protein, 8% lipid, and 27% carbohydrates. Three of the four treatment diets contained 131, 175, and 208 mg/kg of Jefo’s AG-175 Protease Complex. Each treatment diet was fed to shrimp in six replicate tanks for six weeks, four times daily. Final biomass, final individual weight, feed conversion ratios (FCR), and weight gain were compared. Physiological parameters were analyzed, including hemolymph osmolality, hemolymph ion concentrations, whole body proximate analysis, and intestinal histology. Immunological parameters such as hepatopancreas gene expression and intestinal microbiota were analyzed. There were no differences in final individual weight (P = 0.0975) or weight gain (P = 0.2849) between treatments. There were differences in FCR (Figure 1) between treatments. Physiological and immunological results will be presented. The findings of this comprehensive study will determine which concentration of the AG-175 protease will yield the most effective growth in low salinity L. vannamei culture.