May | June 2011

Feature title: Maturation diets for shrimp – Is there alternative to natural food?

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 F: Maturation diets F: Maturation diets
Table 1: Comparison between traditional (control) fresh/frozen food and formulated semi-moist diet
Nauplii/
Treatment Days %Mort/day Avg. SR/day Total spawns Egg/Female Female % Hatch Total Nauplii

Control 124 0.09 3.34% 602 179,364 154,364 86 92,860,000

NutraFeed 124 0.05 4.74 849 186,266 160,188 86 136,000,000

Maturation diets for shrimp

Difference 44.4% 29.5% 29.1% 3.7% 3.7% 0% 46.5%

the biggest shrimp producers in the world. References performance of reciprocally crossed wild-caught
The results (see Table 1) showed signifi- and tank reared Penaeus monodon broodstock.

– Is there alternative to natural food?

cant performance improvements when the
broodstock fed on NutraFeed® semi-moist
diet.
Moreover, using the semi-moist diet also
Anh, N. T. N., Hoa, N. V., Van Stappen, G., and
Sorgeloos, P. 2008. Effect of different supplemental
feeds on proximate composition and Artemia
biomass production in salt ponds. Aquaculture,
286, 217-225.
Aquaculture 252, 372–384.
Gandy, R. L., Samocha, T. M., Masser, M. P., Fox, J. M.,
Ali, S. A. M., Gatlin III, D. M., and Speed, M. 2007.
The effect of unilateral eyestalk ablation and diet

I
n recent years, shrimp culture
has become one of the most
important aquaculture industries
in the world. Current production
levels reach over three million tonnes
per year, corresponding to a market
volume of over US$10 billion (FAO
2008).
However, even with this expansion in the
production there are some unknowns.
One of the problems with shrimp (and
other crustacean) culture is broodstock
diets and nutrition.
Currently, most, if not all, hatcheries
around the world are using fresh or frozen,
unprocessed marine organisms as food
items. These include squid, various mollusks
(mussels, oysters or clams), marine poly-
chates, crustaceans such as shrimp (Peixoto
et al., 2004; Preston et al., 2004, Coman et
al., 2006) and Artemia biomass (Anh et al.,
2008, Gandy et al., 2007). These feeds are
usually topped up with nutritional additives
such as vitamins, minerals and fatty acids
(Hoa et al., 2009).
Maturation diets based on combina-
tion of fresh and frozen marine organisms
usually results in high reproductive perfor-
mances for both domesticated and wild
transfer. Similarly, in many countries the
use of shrimp heads or shrimp meal in
maturation diets was banned. It is not known
if none-crustacean organisms can transmit
shrimp viruses such as white spot syndrome
virus (WSSV) and yellow head virus (YHV)
or others but due to their origin, post har-
vest methods and storage, they are all prone
to become a vector for other pathogens.
Nutritional profile: Due to the fact
that fresh/frozen food organisms are been
caught in the wild, their nutritional profile
varied. Season, location, life cycle, pre and
post harvesting methods can and will affect
their nutritional profile. This inconsistency
in the quality and nutritional profile makes
it hard to standardize protocols even within
the same company. Different countries
and even regions within a country will
have different access to fresh/frozen food
organisms and will used them differently
resulting in high fluctuation in FCR’s and
performances between farmers, regions and
countries culturing the same species.
Water quality: In many cases high water
flow is needed following feeding of fresh
/ frozen food organisms. In many cases
daily (or even few times during the day)
siphoning is essential to keep good water
quality and tank hygiene. This is obviously
Until now, shrimp broodstock fed matu-
ration-formulated diet, pelleted or extruded
did not match the performances of animals
fed on fresh/frozen food (Wouters et al.,
2002. Braga et al., 2010). Formulated diets
tend to break down due to the unique feed-
ing behavior of the animals, resulting in pol-
luted water and very high FCR. Moreover,
palatability and ingestion rates are usually
low. Even using the same food organisms as
dry meals in formulated diets didn’t result in
similar performances as when fresh/frozen
organisms were given.
Recently, new maturation diet
(NutraFeed®) for crustacean that can
completely replace the use of fresh/frozen
feed was developed. The diet is semi-moist
(around 30-35% moist) and manufactured
as short pellets at any length and diameter
needed. The diet is stable in the water for
24 hours and will not break down when the
shrimp is holding and chewing it.
NutraFeed® diets are based solely on
dry meals without any fresh or frozen
products. They are certified as pathogen
free (all ingredients pass Gamma radiation)
with a shelf life of six months (refrigerated)
or 12 months (frozen). To boost the hor-
monal cycle, herbal extracts (NutraGreen®
products) are incorporated into the diets.
proved to be cost effective compared to on the reproductive performance of wild-caught
Braga, A. L., Nakayama, C. L., Martins, J. G., Colares,
traditional diets. 200 white shrimp L. vanna- Farfantepenaeus aztecus (Ives, 1891) using a
E. P., and Wasielesky, W. Jr. 2010. Spermatophore
mei were fed control diet (squid, polychates closed recirculating maturation system. Aquac. Res.
quality of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis
38, 580–587.
and nutritional booster) or NutraFeed® SM (Decapoda, Dendrobranchiata) broodstock fed with
diet. The broodstock were kept in identical different maturation diets. Aquaculture, 307, 44-48. Hoa, N. D., Wouters, R., Wille, R., Thanh,
tanks and under the same environmental V., Dong, T. K., Hao, N. V., and Sorgeloos, P.
Coman, G. J., Arnold, S. J., Callaghan, T. R., and
conditions. Growth, mortalities, spawning 2009. A fresh-food maturation diet with an
Preston, N. P. 2006. Effect of two maturation diet
events, fecundity, hatching rates and number adequate HUFA composition for broodstock
combinations on reproductive performance of
of nauplii were determined over 124 days. nutrition studies in black tiger shrimp Penaeus
domesticated Penaeus monodon. Aquaculture,
monodon (Fabricius, 1798). Aquaculture, 297,
The diet was also used with domesti- 263, 75-83.
116-121.
cated P. monodon broodstock in Australia
Coman, G.J., Arnold, S.J., Peixoto, S., Coman, F.E.,
with remarkable results. This is a significant Peixoto, S., Coman, G.J., Arnold, S.J., Crocos, P.J.,
Crocos, P.J., Preston, N.P., 2006. Reproductive
achievement since it is known that P. mon- Preston, N.P., 2005. Histological examination of final
odon are particularly oocyte maturation
and atresia in wild and
picky with their diet
and feeding them
Authors & Company domesticated Penaeus
Dr Sagiv Kolkovski is the Principal scientist, marine aquaculture, at the Department monodon broodstock.
solely on formu-
of Fisheries, western Australia. He is also the R&D director at Nutrakol Pty Ltd. Judith Aquac. Res. 36,
lated diet used to 666–673.
Kolkovski, ND is a nutritionist and herbalist and the general manager of Nutrakol Pty
be challenging, not
Ltd. Nutrakol Pty Ltd is specialized in developing and manufacturing nutritional and natural Preston, N.P., Crocos,
to mention, achiev-
health solutions for aquaculture. P.J., Keys, S.J, Coman,
ing similar or better
G.J., Koenig, R., 2004.
performances.
Comparative growth
Currently the Company products of selected and non-
diet is been used Nutrakol specialized in nutritional and health solutions for aquaculture. ‘Tailor-made’ selected Kuruma
in several commer- diets and additives for broodstock and enrichments for larvae. These products can be shrimp Penaeus
cial hatcheries in manufacture to specific requirements or species. Crustacean broodstock semi-moist diets (Marsupenaeus)
Thailand, India and for complete replacement of fresh/frozen food. NutraGreen natural health solutions solely japonicus in
Malaysia and the based on herbal extracts and specifically design to support gonadal development, immune commercial farm
company is up-scal- system and digestive system. ponds. Aquaculture
ing the production. 231, 73–82.
NutraFeed®
Crustacean semi-moist maturation diet

labor-intensive task that might also affect N

caught broodstock shrimp. These are 100% natural additives aimed at One of the problems with shrimp (and other
NO MORE!
t
crustacean) culture is broodstock diets and nutrition.
Recently, NutrKol developed maturation diet

Aq
Currently, most hatcheries around the world are using

However, this practice is far from ideal, the brood animals.

(NutraFeed® diet range) for crustacea that can

improving broodstock performances includ-

fresh or frozen squid, worms (polychaetes), fish and

ua
completely replace the use of fresh/frozen feed. The
other marine organisms, topped up with nutritional

K
diet is semi-moist and manufactured as short pellets

cu Me
p
additives. This practice is far

Semi-moist maturation diet for Shrimp

at any length and diameter needed. The diet is stable
from ideal, exposing the

ltr et
in the water for 24 hours and will not break down

exposing the cultured animals to several Domestication: It is commonly accepted ing; enhancing egg and larvae quality, sperm
cultured animals to

e,
when the shrimp or lobster is holding and chewing it.
pote
potential pathogens

Na us a
and diseases, NutraFeed® diets were tested with several
n
nutritional crustaceans including; white shrimp L. vannamei,
i
inconsistency tiger prawn P. monodon (wild and domesticated),
ta t W
major issues - that wild broodstock shrimp needs fresh / mortality, vitellogenesis, as well as immune Completely replace the need for fresh/frozen feed with even better results
and is
dependent on
wild fisheries.
bugs (T. orientalis) and tropical lobster (Panulirus
ornatus). The diet can be designed and manufactured
to any crustaceans.
lB o
ra rld
Considering
zil Th
frozen food organisms. For example, Conan ,B
NutraFeed® diets are based solely on dry meals

Biosecurity: Fresh and frozen food organ- system and digestive system support.
t cost of
the
without any fresh or frozen products. They are

oo
b
broodstock

Avoid potential pathogens and diseases

(es
(especially pathogen free (all ingredients pass Gamma radiation)

t of
with a shelf life of six months

h6
‘SPF these are
‘SPF’),
serious risks and (refrigerated) or

isms can, potentially, become transferring et al., 2006 raised the hypotheseis wether Initially these natural herbal additives
12 months (frozen).n).
6
ca
in many cases result in
an
high mortality and/or reduced Herbal extracts

Nutra-Kol Pty Ltd

productivity, leading to significant financial loss. (NutraGreen®

Ideal for SPF (specific pathogen free) broodstock

products) are

vector for different pathogens and diseases. the removal of crustacean component from were developed as natural hormonal
Until now, broodstock fed maturation formulated
incorporated into o
dry diet, pelleted or extruded did not match the

col
the diets. These
performances of animals fed on fresh/frozen

Western Australia, Australia

100% natural
food. The dry diets tend to break down due to the
additives aimed
unique feeding behaviour of the animals, resulting

This is more so when crustaceans are the maturations diet for domesticated P. replacements for woman during IVF treat-
at improving

Better performance
in polluted water and very high FCR. Moreover,
broodstock

Tel: +61 8 9403 2287

palatability and ingestion rates are usually low.
performances
including;

been used (Coman et al., 2006). Although, monodon broodstock has contributed to the
enhancing egg and nd

ments and during menopause period. Fax: +61 8 9403 2287

per
perm
larvae quality, sperm
enesis,
sis
motility, vitellogenesis,

Nutrafeed - Improved bio-security, better performances, great palatability and no contamination of the water T
as well as immune ne system
st m and
digestive system support.

recognized for their contribution to the broodstock low performances. Email: info@nutrakol.com
Currently, three different maturation diets are
manufactured according to species: NutraFeed® SM
for shrimps and prawns, NutraFeed® LM for lobsters

Large experiment
and bugs and, NutraFeed® CM for crabs.

maturation process through supplementing Considering the cost of broodstock

maturation hormones and other nutrients,
the importation of crustaceans such as
Artemia was banned in several countries
in an attempt to reduce the risk of disease
(especially ‘SPF’), these are serious risks
and in many cases resulting in high mortal-
ity and/or reduced productivity, leading to
significant financial loss.
To compare the performances of the ‘Tailor--made’ Nutrition and natural health solutions for aquaculture
maturation diet against traditional fresh/
frozen food organism, a large experiment
was conducted independently by one of
NutroKol_2_190x58mm.indd 1 07/04/2011 11:22

14 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | May-June 2011 May-June 2011 | InternatIonal AquAFeed | 15

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