Page 17 - World Aquaculture Magazine - March 2011

World Aquaculture 15
Table 1. Brazilian Animal Feed Production.
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Avian 19234 20178 21756 23145 22674 24453 26771 27015 29704 32263 32640 33390
Broilers 16140 16866 17047 19195 19153 20842 22856 23392 25568 27638 27820 28380
Laying Hens 3097 3312 3709 3950 3520 3612 3915 3623 4136 4625 4820 5010
Swine 9425 10085 12050 12590 12416 11553 12393 13136 14195 15374 15330 15940
Cattle 2070 2469 2982 3620 4346 5165 5375 5320 6458 7321 6780 7280
Beef 471 470 478 574 1129 1381 1570 1510 2039 2547 2360 2550
Dairy 1599 1999 2503 3046 3217 3784 3805 3810 4419 4774 4420 4730
Pet Food 950 1000 1172 1234 1295 1430 1562 1681 1849 1990 1930 2010
Horses 282 320 340 360 300 300 300 360 441 567 563 580
Aquafeed 99 127 162 202 254 250 227 227 225 324 380 429
Fish 110 130 161 160 168 240 300 345
Shrimp 144 120 66 67 57 84 80 84
Others 441 280 350 443 250 300 580 624 682 891 740 750
Total 32507 34458 38812 41594 41534 43452 47209 48364 53554 58730 58363 60379
Source:www.sindiracoes.org.br
brought difficulties from the large variations of salinity in
the ponds that led to poor brood stock maturation, repro-
duction and survival. In 1985, farmers and researchers gave
up the species. But, there was infrastructure (hatcheries,
farms) and experienced people available to develop culture
of the native species, Farfantepenaeus subtilis, F. paulensis
and Litopenaeus schmitti. Shrimp were stocked at 4-6 post
larvae/m2, water exchange rate varied from 3-7 percent daily,
fed artificial feed and yield was 400-600 kg/ha, which again
led farmers to losses (Alves 2009).
In the 1990s, L.vannamei was introduced and productiv-
ity increased, as was profitability. The species became the
most important, if not the only shrimp farmed in Brazil.
In 2003, average shrimp productivity was over 6,000 kg/yr,
the largest in the world at that time. Shrimp were raised in
intensive pond systems with stocking densities ranging from
30-80 postlarvae/m2, fed with complete rations and the use
of mechanical aeration. Shrimp were harvested at 11-12g
and production cycles were around 100 days, three cycles per
year. Some farmers harvested more than 5,000 kg/ha/yr and
feed was offered in trays.
Dramatic decrease in shrimp production started in 2003
from Infectious Mionecrosis in the Northeastern Region
and White Spot Virus in Santa Catarina State, anti dumping
fees, the dollar exchange rate and low international shrimp
prices.
But recovering is on the way. There are many opportuni-
ties through selective breeding, production system optimiza-
tion, improved feed formulations and further development
of effective management strategies that include experienced
farmers and technicians, specialty feeds, immunity enhanc-
ers, probiotics, prebiotics and genetic improvements.
Actually, farmers are stocking from 10 to 40 PL/m2 and
some farms have one or two ponds with up to 90 PL/ m2,
survival rates vary from 65 to 80 percent during the dry sea-
son and from 50-75 percent during the rainy season when
salinity varies rapidly leading to Vibriosis. Stocking densi-
ties, feed conversion ratio and shrimp harvest size are shown
in Table 2. Cycles vary from 120 days in the rainy season to
150 days during the dry season.
There were about 15 feed mills producing shrimp feed,
thought the number decreased to no more than 10 with con-
stant production, but is increasing again thanks to the re-
covering sector.
Both pelleted and extruded feeds are produced. Extruded
feed is 100 percent sinking, more stable in the water and nu-
trient leaching is low. For most shrimp farmers the primary
production cost is the feed. Hence, increases in feed costs
affect production costs, reducing the return on their invest-
ments. According to Tacon2, in the future shrimp feed will
be extruded to provide higher nutrient digestibility, specialty
carbohydrates, better FCR, lower pollution and losses to the
environment, flexibility on ingredient during feed formula-
tion, lowering or eliminating binders, the possibility to for-
mulate high energy diets through top coating with oils and
higher biosecurity as a result of the elimination of pathogens
during feed processing (high temperature and pressure).
In the future, it will be mandatory to reduce water ex-
change, improve feed nutrients usage, SPF and or SPR ani-
TABLE 2. Stocking Density, FCR and shrimp weight
at harvest
FCR Shrimp Weight (g/shrimp)
15 1.2 12
30 2.2 18
30 1.7 14
40 1.7 11