Improved methodology for determination of digestibility in diets for cultured penaeid shrimp

Author(s)

Gabriela Faria Oliveira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Oceanográfico (IO/DIDC)
• Defense date: 2008-04-29

Examining board members

Daniel Eduardo Lavanholi de Lemos; Dalton José Carneiro; Vicente Gomes

• Advisor: Daniel Eduardo Lavanholi de Lemos

Abstract

Aquaculture have developed quickly in the last years, being the shrimp culture the more profitable and increasing sector. Feed comprise the highest variable costs of production and a major pollution source from shrimp farms. Hence is the search for quality feeds and new ingredients. Thus, the present work aimed to improve the in vivo method of feed protein digestibility, developing culture systems (aquariums: 14,3L and tanks: 160L) with seawater recirculation and biological filters. Commercial feeds (growth phase) and experimental diets with different soy products (soybean meal, texturized soybean meal and micronized soybean meal) with chromic oxide as marker (digestibility test) in Litopenaeus vannamei shrimps. Systems and maintenance procedures were efficient in the conservation of abiotic parameters (nitrogen products, temperature, salinity and pH). Shrimps showed higher weight gain (P<0,05) with low variation coefficient in the tanks compared to aquaria. No difference (P>0,05) was observed between the diets tested in the aquaria. But the digestibility was major to higher processed soybean meal (tanks). The results suggest the better adequacy to nutritional tests. (AU)