The inclusion of fish silage in Litopenaeus vannamei diets and rearing systems (biofloc and clear-water) could affect the shrimp quality during subsequent storage on ice?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate if the inclusion of tilapia silage (TS) in diets for Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles and the rearing systems (clear-water and biofloc) could affect the shrimp quality when stored on ice for 15 days post-harvest. The experiment was performed in two experimental systems: biofloc (BF) and clear-water (CW) systems at a shrimp stocking density of 63 shrimp m−2. The treatments were based on the percentage of silage inclusion (control or 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0% of inclusion) in each system, totalizing ten treatments and four replicates. Survival was above 80% in all treatments regardless of system or diet. Shrimp final weight and specific growth rate (7.17 g and 2.01% day−1 – BF; 6.35 g and 1.82% day−1 – CW) were statistically influenced by the system but not by the diet. Shrimp quality index and shelf life were not affected by the inclusion of TS in L. vannamei diets rather than rearing system with better results for BF. The results suggest that the substitution of fish meal by fish silage in L. vannamei diet in the presence of biofloc conditions increase the sustainability of intensive shrimp culture and the overall shrimp quality and shelf life.