Pacific White Shrimp Farming Adopts Sustainable Feeding Practices

Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), also known as Pacific white shrimp, is native to the Pacific coast of Latin America. Due to its rapid growth rate, strong disease resistance, wide adaptability, and short farming cycle, it has become one of the most important farmed shrimp species globally. Since its introduction to China in the 1990s, whiteleg shrimp farming has developed rapidly, becoming a significant component of aquaculture worldwide.

However, with the expansion of farming scale, producers face numerous challenges, with high feed costs and unsatisfactory shrimp growth rates being two prominent issues. This article examines the nutritional requirements of whiteleg shrimp and provides precision feeding management strategies to help farmers ensure healthy shrimp growth while minimizing feed costs and improving farming efficiency.

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Crustacea
• Order: Decapoda
• Family: Penaeidae
• Genus: Litopenaeus
• Species: Litopenaeus vannamei

Whiteleg shrimp have a long cylindrical body, slightly flattened, with thin, smooth, transparent shells. Adults can reach 23 cm in length, typically 15-20 cm.

• Head: Covered by the carapace, with compound eyes, two pairs of antennae, and six pairs of appendages.
• Thorax: Fused with the head to form the cephalothorax, bearing five pairs of walking legs.
• Abdomen: Consists of six segments with swimming appendages and a tail fan for propulsion.
• Coloration: Varies from light gray to brown or blue depending on environment and diet.

• Environment: Euryhaline species thriving in 5-45‰ salinity and 25-32°C water temperatures.
• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on benthic algae, detritus, small invertebrates, and formulated feed.
• Growth: Rapid growth reaching market size in 3-4 months under optimal conditions.
• Reproduction: Marine spawners with larvae undergoing multiple developmental stages.

Native to the Pacific coast from Mexico to northern South America, now farmed globally including China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Essential for growth, requiring 10 essential amino acids. Juvenile shrimp need higher protein levels (30-55% in feed) from sources like fishmeal and soybean meal.

Key energy source providing essential fatty acids (EPA, DHA) from fish oil and vegetable oils. Recommended fat content: 6-7.5%.

Secondary energy source with better utilization of starch than simple sugars. Common sources include corn starch and wheat flour.

Required for metabolic functions. Vitamin C supplementation (50-150 ppm) is critical. Phosphorus (0.9% in feed) and calcium (≤2.3%) ratios must be balanced.

• Natural food: Plankton and detritus (unpredictable availability)
• Formulated feed: Nutritionally balanced pellets for intensive farming

Adjust based on shrimp biomass (3-5% of body weight daily), feeding tray observations, and water quality monitoring.

• Post-larvae: 4-6 feedings/day
• Adults: 2-4 feedings/day
• 70% of daily ration at night (nocturnal feeders)

Use feeding trays or automated feeders for even distribution. Avoid feeding during extreme weather.

Implement sensor technology and growth modeling for optimized feeding schedules.

• Enzymes: Improve digestibility
• Probiotics: Enhance gut health
• Alternative proteins: Insect/ algal meals

Adopt polyculture systems (shrimp-rice/ crab) and biological disease control to reduce environmental impact.

Successful whiteleg shrimp farming requires high-quality feed combined with precision management to achieve optimal FCRs. As technology advances, the industry will increasingly adopt intelligent, ecological approaches for sustainable production.