Technical and economic viability of culture prawns fed with feed containing a co-product from the manufacture of genipap liquor (Genipa americana L.)
Shrimp farming. Macrobrachium. Alternativeingredients.Agro-industrial waste.
Aquaculture production has been growing annually around the world and shrimp farming is following this growth. However, some difficulties are encountered in the sector, such as the high cost of feed. Seeking to reduce the cost of conventional feed, research is often being carried out on good quality alternative ingredients that provide good performance and have a lower cost. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the technical and economic viability of cultivating freshwater prawn fed with feed containing a co-product from the manufacture of genipap (Genipa americana) liquor. The study is being carried out at the Science Laboratory II of the Jorge Amado Campus of the Federal University of Southern Bahia located in Ilhéus, Bahia and was divided into three stages. The first consisted of an acute toxicity test of the 0%, 30% and 90% portions of the coproduct on Macrobrachium olfersii and a test of the cultivation of M. olfersii fed with feed containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% of inclusion of the co-product from the production of genipap liquor. The second stage will consist of an acute toxicity test of the 0%, 30%, 60% and 90% portions of the coproduct on Macrobrachium acanthurus and a test of the cultivation of M. acanthurus fed with feed containing 0%, 10%, 20 % and 30% inclusion of the co-product from the production of genipap liquor. In the third stage, the Macrobrachium rosenbergii species will be distributed in a water recirculation system composed of six treatments with four replications each and fed with commercial feed (Control) and with feed containing 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50 % inclusion of the co-product from the production of genipap liquor. During all stages, the zootechnical indexes of the prawns will be evaluated and the physical-chemical characteristics of the water will be monitored daily. The results of the first stage showed that the co-product of genipap liquor can be used as a feed ingredient for M. olfersii without causing harm to its survival and growth. However, further studies evaluating the inclusion of this ingredient in prawns feeds, at levels higher than those tested, are pertinent in the search for replacing traditional energy sources with alternative sources that promote good productive performance of these animals.