Production of soybean meal-based feed and its effect on growth performance of western white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in earthen pond

The effects of two diets, a control diet (commercial feed with ۳۹% crude protein) and an experimental diet (prepared based on ۴۲% soybean meal with ۳۸% crude protein), on growth performance of western white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in six ۰.۴-ha-earthen ponds (three replications per treatment) with ۲۵ per m۲ density, were investigated. There was no significant difference in final weight (mean final weights were ۱۵.۷±۰.۸۸ and ۱۵.۶±۰.۵۲ g for the experimental and control treatments, respectively) between the treatments during the ۱۱۵ days rearing period. There were no difference in FCR: ۱.۸۰±۰.۰۸ and ۱.۷۶±۰.۰۶, protein efficiency: ۱.۴۶±۰.۰۱ and ۱.۴۵±۰.۰۵, SGR: ۲.۳۸±۰.۰۴ and ۲.۳۸±۰.۰۳, final production: ۲۸۵۳.۵۸±۶۴.۱۴ and ۲۸۶۴.۸۳±۱۶۸.۵۷ kg/ha and survival rate: ۹۱±۱.۷۸, ۹۲±۲.۴۱% between experimental and control treatments, respectively (p>۰.۰۵) but net protein utilization in experimental treatment (۱۷.۰۵±۰.۳۸ g) and in the control (۱۱.۸۰±۰.۲۶ g) revealed significant differences (p<۰.۰۵). It is concluded that the experimental feed with ۴۲% soybean meal was more efficient than the commercial feed on some growth parameters of western white shrimp. 

Keywords:

Plant protein , Western white shrimp , Earthen pond , Growth performance