With Progres® to better growth rate, feed efficiency and survivability of Asian seabass and white shrimp

Progres^®, the only resin acid -based feed ingredient in the world, was brought to markets in 2014, and has since proven its efficacy in improving the performance of a variety of farm animals, including poultry, pigs and young ruminants. For a few years, the biggest remaining question has been the potential in Progres^® in aquaculture. Although a preliminary trial had indicated positive effects, the first proper fish and shrimp experiments were conducted only on summer 2021.

The studies took place at the excellent research facilities of Dr. Orapint Jintasataporn and her team at the University of Kasetsart (Bangkok, Thailand). The first results have now been presented at the 73^rd Annual meeting of EAAP, which took took place on September 5–9, 2022 in the International Congress Center of Alfândega do Porto, Portugal.

The presentation by Dr. Hannele Kettunen was co-authored by Hankkija’s R&D Director Juhani Vuorenmaa and Dr. Orapint Jintasataporn. It was titled “Dietary tall oil fatty acids with resin acids improve the performance of seabass and white shrimp.”

Trial with Asian sea bass

Juvenile Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) with an average weight of 50 g were allocated into 20 freshwater cages of 2 m³, with the density of 15 fish per cage. The water was aerated to maintain DO >5 mg/L.

Commercial-type seabass feed was amended with 0%, 0.35%, 0.7%, or 1.0% of Progres^® for treatments T1-T4. Feed was applied to seabass three times a day at 3–5% of body weight for 16 weeks. One hour after feeding, any remaining feed was siphoned out, dried in an oven, and weighed for calculating feed consumption. The fish were weighed at 14-day intervals. Survivability and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were also determined. Data was analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test.

The results showed a dose-dependent, statistically significant improvement in the fish weight gain (Figure 1) and feed conversion ratio (Figure 2) by Progres^®. Feed intake was similar in all dietary treatments. Dietary Progres^® amendment also numerically reduced mortality (Figure 3).

Trial with white shrimp

The shrimp trial was carried out in 30 aquariums with 120 L of 15 ppt saline water. The water was changed 20% every 3 days, and it was kept aerated to maintain DO >5 mg/L. Juvenile white shrimp (~1–1.5 g) were stocked at 200 shrimp/m³, 25 individuals in each aquarium.

Commercial-type shrimp feed was amended with Progres^® at 0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% for dietary treatments T1–T3. Feed was applied three times a day at 3–5% of body weight for 8 weeks. One hour after feeding, any remaining feed was siphoned out, dried in an oven, and weighed for calculating feed consumption. The shrimps were weighed at 14-day intervals. Mortality and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were also determined. Data was analyzed by ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test.

As in the experiment with Asian sea bass, Progres^® dose-dependently and significantly improved the weight gain (Figure 4) and feed conversion ratio (Figure 5) of white shrimp. Feed intake did not differ between the treatments. Reduction of mortality remained numerical (Figure 6).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, dietary Progres^® amendment significantly improved growth performance and feed efficiency of Asian seabass and white shrimp. The experiments indicate that Progres^® has potential to become an efficient performance enhancer for the rapidly expanding aquaculture sector.

Reference:

H. Kettunen, J. Vuorenmaa, O. Jintasataporn (2022) Dietary tall oil fatty acids with resin acids improve the performance of seabass and white shrimp Abstract in: Proceedings of 73rd Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science, September 5–9, 2022, Porto, Portugal, page 430.