Fishmeal (FM) is the primary protein source in aquaculture feeds, but its price has risen due to overfishing and climate change reducing supply. Alternatives like plant-based proteins, insect meals, and single-cell proteins are being explored, but their lower digestibility can hinder growth and feed efficiency. Enhancing their digestibility is key to meeting the nutritional needs of farmed species.
ECONOMIX is a plant-based feed additive produced by TECHNA (Couëron, France) that aims at enhancing protein digestibility. It offers a promising solution for reducing FM use and substituting it with more affordable plant proteins.
A growth trial was held at CIBA facilities, Chennai, India, to evaluate the effect of ECONOMIX on growth and FCR of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The trial comprised five experimental diets, to evaluate the effect of feed formulation with or without ECONOMIX:
The ECONOMIX diets had lower fishmeal compared to the control diets (12% and 15.56% respectively) which was replaced by soybean meal, broken rice, and rice DDGS in test formulas. Crude protein content was also reduced by 1 and 1.5%. The diets allowed a formula cost reduction of 1.62 and 2.49% respectively, compared to the Control diet.
Negative control diets have the same composition as the ECONOMIX diets but the product ECONOMIX was replaced by wheat grain (0.2%).
Each diet was tested in triplicate groups of 15 shrimp (mean initial weight: 3.35 ± 0.4g), maintained in 250 L tanks at a temperature between 27.0 to 28.3°C.
The results showed no statistical differences in terms of growth, although numerically better final weight for the ECONOMIX diet, and the lowest values for both negative control when compared to the control. FCR showed significant differences with the ECONOMIX diet having a lower FCR compared to both negative controls.
To conclude, ECONOMIX, with its ability to lower fishmeal and protein, offers a viable solution reduce feed costs by increasing the use of cheaper, more sustainable protein sources, while maintaining optimal performance in fish and shrimp.