SUPPLEMENTAL EFFECTS OF BIOFLOC POWDER ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, INNATE IMMUNITY AND DISEASE RESISTANCE OF PACIFIC WHITE SHRIMP Litopenaeus vannamei

Biofloc technology can minimize water exchange and water usage in shrimp aquaculture systems through maintaining adequate water quality with extra carbon sources within culture units. A 56-day indoor feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of biofloc powder on growth performance, feed utilization, innate immunity and disease resistance of Pacific white shrimp. A fish meal based diet (Con) and four other diets were prepared with dietary inclusion of either biofloc powder at 2.0 and 4.0% (BF2.0 and BF4.0) or immunostimulant (IP2.0 and IP4.0). Triplicate groups of shrimp (initial body weight, 0.92 g) were fed one of the diets at 5~10% of wet body weight per day for 8 weeks. Growth performance was not significantly different among all the dietary treatment. At the end of a challenge test, significantly higher survival rate was found in BF2 group compared to the Con groups (Fig. 1). However, no significant difference was found among other biofloc and immunostimulant supplemented groups. The findings in this study indicates that the use of biofloc in powder-form can be used in feeds for Pacific white shrimp as an immune-stimulant when it is collected and prepared in a proper way. More detailed results will be addressed.