Eficiencia del alimento predigerido en el crecimiento y composición nutricional del (litopenaeus vannamei) cultivados en estanques.

Abstract

Shrimp production in Ecuador has been technified, moving from extensive to semi-intensive systems, and intensive systems are also being explored, although to a lesser extent. Intensification leads to an increase in feed consumption, which represents between 50% and 60% of the total cost of production. This feed plays a fundamental role in any aquaculture process, since it must provide the necessary amount of proteins and other essential components to allow the cultured species to reach commercial size in the shortest possible time. For this reason, in the culture of Litopenaeus vannamei it is crucial to use an adequate feed to achieve a final product of superior quality and at the same time, reduce production costs. Therefore, it would be feasible to use an artificial feed that is of good quality and at the same time economical. In this context, the use of a predigested feed is proposed to demonstrate its efficacy in growth and nutritional composition of L. vannamei shrimp. This study was carried out in Arenillas Canton, which belongs to the province of El Oro, in a shrimp farm for intensive culture of L. vannamei where 9 cages of 1 m2 were randomly placed inside a pond of 4000 m2 to provide homogeneity in the culture parameters in the experimental units (cages). Three diets were provided with three replicates considered T1, T2, T3; of which T1 and T2 are pre-digested feeds elaborated by the authors with a protein percentage of 28% and 18% respectively, while T3 is a commercial feed at 28% protein implemented as a control within the study, which lasted seven weeks. The results indicate that T1, T2 and T3 had final weights of 15.67 g, 15.06 g and 17.82 g, respectively. Comparison between treatments showed that T3 was higher than T1 and T2. On the other hand, survival, biomass and feed conversion factor did not show significant differences, although the numerical result was better in T3. When extrapolating the production costs in one hectare by calculating the return on investment (ROI), it was observed that T1 and T2 have a better rate of return on investment with 78% while T3 only had 31%. Based on the present results, it can be concluded that it is more efficient to produce with pre-digested feed since higher profits are obtained in spite of a lower growth rate.