Production of pacific white shrimp in biofloc system with different food management strategies

Abstract

In the present work, different models for adjustments in feeding rates to produce Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in a biofloc system were analyzed. Shrimps were stocked with an initial weight of 4.21 ± 0.09 g at a density of 250 shrimp m-3 and fed following different methodologies for 60 days. The first method was according to the Van-Wyk table, considering the minimum (MIN) and maximum (MAX) feed rates. The second was according to two estimated values from the feed conversion ratio (FCR; FCR of 1.1 and 1.5), based on the methodology determined by Garzade Yta. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted, consisting of four treatments (MAX, MIN, FCR 1.1, and FCR 1.5) with 4 independent replicates. Zootechnical performance, the physical and chemical water quality parameters, and the production of solids in the system were evaluated. The treatment that used minimum amounts of feed determined by the table showed a better feed conversion, survival, using a lower amount of feed and, thus, generating less waste. Although the feeding strategy using the minimum values in the table has shown better results, it is still necessary to improve these strategies, as the Biofloc system is a system that has variations and their adjustments must be made according to the interactions of the system.