Free Amino-Acids Mix Made of Poultry Keratin as a New Functional Ingredient for White Shrimp (Litopeaneus vannamei) Feed

Abstract

In a context of marine products substitution, mixes of free amino acids (MFAA) obtained from poultry keratin extensive hydrolysis are candidates for aquaculture feeds. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of MFAA on white shrimp, Litopeaneus vannamei. In the first trial 432 shrimps (IBW 5.1g) were placed in 24 tanks. Animals were fed three diets (control; control+0.5% MFAA; control+1% MFAA) for 35 days. MFAA addition was made by coating. Growth was higher in the group fed with 0.5% MFAA. Daily feed intake (DFI) was higher in both groups fed MFAA. Survival and FCR were not influenced by the treatment. In the second trial 2560 shrimps (IBW 5.8g) were equally divided between 16 cages placed in a brackish water pond. Cages were fed a control feed or a feed containing 0.5% MFAA for 38 days. MFAA was added before pelleting. Growth and FCR were significantly improved in cages fed 0.5% MFAA. Survival and DFI were not influenced. Those results show the potential of MFAA and its mode of application as part of shrimp feeding ingredients with functional benefits on animal performance in farm settings. Such results also underline the influence of the application mode on its functional benefits.