ISSUE FOCUS 34 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2024 acids and their derivatives, probiotics, and prebiotics. This comprehensive study enabled the identification of ingredients with the greatest potential to enhance protein utilization in aquafeed from a zootechnical perspective. Palatability and feed consumption were also considered in the ingredient selection process. As the aim is to reduce aquafeed costs, the costs of these ingredients were carefully evaluated. This approach enabled the design of several products, which were subsequently tested to validate the optimal composition for this additive. ECONOMIX: PROVEN RESULTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE TRIALS Improved FCR in a shrimp trial conducted in India This trial, led by Dr. Ambasankar and his team at the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) in India, evaluated the effects of five different formulas on the growth of vannamei shrimp. The formulas labeled Economix and Negative Control contained the same raw materials as the Positive Control, but with a reduction in fish meal from 15.56% to 12% and corn gluten from 4% to 3.5%. These reductions were offset by adding soybean meal, groundnut oil cake, and gingelly oil cake, resulting in a lower protein content of the formulas. The Economix formula included an additional 2 kg/MT of Economix supplement, unlike the Negative Control which did not include any (Table 1). A second set of formulas incorporated rice distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS, 45% protein) at 3% (Table 1). This included a Negative Control + DDGS and an Economix + DDGS formula with an additional 2 kg/MT of Economix. The feed costs for the Economix and Economix + DDGS were reduced by 1.62% and 2.49%, respectively, compared to the control. Each treatment was tested in triplicate. Shrimps (mean body weight of 3.35 g) were stocked at a density of 60 per m² for a period of 8 weeks. The FCR were significantly different (p-value <0.01) (Figure 2B). Overall, the data showed slightly lower growth in the negative control diets. Specifically, the Negative Control and Negative Control + DDGS diets had final weights that were reduced by 0.2 g and 0.23 g, respectively, compared to the Positive Control diet. In contrast, the Economix diets exhibited slightly higher growth (+0.1 g). The results for Economix + DDGS were similar to those of the control diet (Figure 2A). This trial highlights the potential benefits of including Economix to the production of more cost-effective shrimp feeds while maintaining performance compared to a standard shrimp diet. Positive Control Negative Control Economix Economix + DDGS FCR 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 ab 1.37 1.4 1.41 1.37 1.34 b a ab a Shrimp Weight Gain (g) 16 14 12 10 15.9 Positive Control Negative Control Negative Control + DDGS Negative Control + DDGS Economix Economix + DDGS 15.7 16.0 15.7 15.8 Figure 2A. Weight Gain of shrimp raised during trial in Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (India, 2023) Figure 2B. FCR of shrimp raised during trial in Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (India, 2023) Values denoted by different letters are statistically different (p < 0.01)
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