As aquaculture expands and develops, an increase in problems and challenges arises including a widespread occurrence of diseases, such as parasitic infestations, bacterial and viral infections.
This can cause heavy losses to the industry. Different strategies have been implemented to counteract bacterial and viral threats; chemotherapy being the most used approach, uses large amounts of antibiotics and chemical products.
Development of drug resistance in bacteria, accumulation of such chemicals in the environment and carry-over in shrimp and fish tissues has led to strict regulations that limit use of antibiotics and other chemicals in aquaculture.
Thus, the industry has been looking for safe and effective approaches that help improve aquaculture production. Biomin® P.E.P. is one of the few phytogenic feed additives of which the mode of action is well described for terrestrial animals (Kroismayr et al., 2008a,b). A series of research trials was carried out to gain more insight into the application of this product in aquatic species.
These trials showed that addition of Biomin® P.E.P. to fish diets improved growth performance in different species.
1. Trials at the Aquaculture Centre of Applied Animal Nutrition (ACAN)
In order to evaluate phytogenics application possibility, several trials were carried out in BIOMIN’s Aquaculture Centre of Applied Animal Nutrition (ACAN). The ACAN is a state-of-the-art research facility in Bangkok, Thailand, which allows for testing feeding strategies and feed additives in standardised conditions with different aquatic species.
1.1 Trial design:
In this trial facility, Biomin® P.E.P. 125 was tested in Tra catfish (Pangasius hypothalamus) according to the following complete randomised block design with three replications per treatment.
Table 1: Effect of organic acids on performance parameters of cat fish
| Treatment | Supplementation with Biomin® P.E.P. 125 (g/t) |
| Control |
0
|
| Trial Group 1 |
125
|
| Trial Group 2 |
250
|
Thirty juvenile catfish averaging 150 g were stocked in each of the 12, 500-L tanks of system 3. The fish were fed pellet diets to near satiety three times daily for a period of eight weeks.
To continue reading this article click here
