Factors affecting the Shrimp Feeding
The nature and amount of food the shrimp take during feeding depend on various environmental factors based of feeding. The food, feeding and assimilation of shrimps are of fundamental importance in culture for the rate of growth, population concentration, gonadial maturation and other metabolic activities. The feeding response, feed intake (expressed as per cent shrimp body weight), feed utilization efficiency and growth of shrimp vary with numerous biological, environmental and human factors, including:
Shrimp body weight
Compound feed intake decreases with increasing body weight and decreasing metabolic rate throughout the culture cycle
Water temperature
Compound feed intake and growth gradually increase with the water temperature up to an optimal level Typically between 29 and 31C for L.Vennamei and P. monodon
Natural food availability
Compound feed intake increases with decreasing natural food availability within the culture system.
Compound feed formulation and nutrient density
Feed intake and growth are dependent upon the water stability, palatability and nutrient composition of the diet fed.
Shrimp feed application method
The frequency and timing of feed application are the main factors in shrimp feed management with feed consumption monitoring methods. The optimum feeding frequency and timing of application depend upon the size of the shrimp, and the nutrient density of the diet fed.
Technical knowledge and expertise of the feeding technician
Feeds are usually administered within larger farms by workers who receive the lowest or minimum salary, usually with little or no incentives for increased worker incomes through achieving improved feed performance and shrimp growth given by farm owners.
Shrimp moult cycle, lunar cycle phase and feeding behaviour
Feed intake and growth are dependent upon the physiological state and condition of the shrimp, with feed intake usually decreasing immediately before and during the moulting cycle and natural feeding activity being highest during non-daylight hours.
Shrimp health and wellbeing, including ecosystem health: Feed intake and growth are generally lowest for stressed and diseased shrimp, including those in polluted and environmentally stressed pond ecosystems.
CONCLUSIONS
Shrimp feed management aims at making available to the animals the best quality formulated feed in the proper amounts at the right times and locations. Feeding practices must be adapted for natural changes in feeding activity with growth and environmental conditions change. Hence further studies are required and improve the knowledge of shrimp feed management such as.
- The physiological processes that affect shrimp feed intake and digestion
- Maximizing the use of natural productivity & nutrient recycling
- Optimizing overall management of production systems from stocking to harvest.