Guidelines for Modern Aquaculture Feed Additives

Modern fish and shrimp farming faces multiple challenges such as rising feed costs, water quality fluctuations, unstable intestinal health and disease pressure.

Rational useAquaculture feed additives, which can provide support from aspects such as feed quality, digestion and absorption, intestinal microecology and aquaculture management. Among them, acidifiers, probiotics and enzymes are three common solutions in aquatic animal nutrition at present.

It should be noted that feed additives cannot replace biosecurity, disease diagnosis and standardized medication, but should be part of the comprehensive aquaculture management system.

Why does aquaculture need feed additives?

Feed is usually an important cost source in aquaculture. Insufficient stability in water, low digestibility of raw materials or unstable intestinal environment may lead to:

• Increased feed waste;
• Worse feed conversion rate;
• Increased organic load in water;
• Irregular growth of fish and shrimp;
• Increased stress and disease risks;
• Decrease in breeding survival rate.

Scientific selection of feed additives helps improve the utilization efficiency of nutrients in feed and reduces the entry of undigested nutrients into the water body.

1. Acidifiers and organic acids in aquatic feed

Aquatic feed acidifiers usually consist of formic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, butyric acid and their salts or compound formulations.

The main applications of organic acids in aquaculture include:

• Support the hygiene management of feed raw materials and finished feeds;
• Improve the acidity environment of feed;
• Inhibit the growth conditions of some unfavorable microorganisms;
• Support the digestion and utilization of proteins and minerals;
• Help maintain the stability of the intestinal environment of fish and shrimp;
• Cooperate with mildew prevention and feed preservation management.

The functional characteristics of different organic acids are not the same. Propionic acid is more commonly used for feed mildew prevention and preservation, formic acid usually focuses on feed acidification and hygiene management, and butyric acid and its salts are more applied in the direction of intestinal nutrition.

Therefore, aquatic feed acidifiers should be selected according to the breeding species, raw material structure, feed processing technology and actual application goals.

2. Aquatic probiotics

Aquatic probiotics usually include lactic acid bacteria, bacilli, yeasts and other functional microorganisms.

Rational use of probiotics can support fish and shrimp aquaculture in the following aspects:

• Compete with some unfavorable microorganisms for nutrients and living space;
• Produce organic acids, enzymes and other metabolites;
• Support the balance of gut microbiota;
• Help maintain the intestinal barrier;
• Support the adaptability of animals to environmental changes.

The effects of probiotics have obvious strain differences. When purchasing, attention should be paid to strain numbers, viable count, storage resistance, processing stability, and viable count at the end of shelf life, rather than only comparing the total number of bacteria.

3. Aquatic compound enzyme preparations

Shrimp and fish have limited digestive ability for plant proteins, non-starch polysaccharides, and some complex nutrients.

Aquatic enzyme preparations can be selected according to the raw material structure, including:

• Phytase;
• Protease;
• Amylase;
• Xylanase;
• β-glucanase;
• Cellulase.

Enzyme preparations can help release nutrients in raw materials, reduce the impact of anti-nutritional factors, and reduce the proportion of undigested proteins, phosphorus, and carbohydrates entering the water body.

On the premise of reasonable formula, improving digestion efficiency helps support feed conversion rate, fecal quality, and water environment management.

How do acidifiers, probiotics, and enzyme preparations interact synergistically?

The functions of the three types of additives are not completely the same:

In the comprehensive plan, organic acids can improve the feed and digestive environment, enzyme preparations help release nutrients, and probiotics support the stability of the intestinal microecology.

But there may also be compatibility problems between different products. For example, too low environmental pH may affect the activity of some probiotics. Therefore, it is necessary to reasonably arrange the addition position, use time and product combination.

How to improve the survival rate of fish and shrimp and feed conversion rate?

Aquatic feed additives can play a better role only when combined with aquaculture management. It is recommended to pay attention to the following simultaneously:

1. Raw material quality: Control moisture, mycotoxins and raw material fluctuations;
2. Nutritional balance: Match protein, amino acids, fat, minerals and vitamins;
3. Feed processing: Ensure particle stability, buoyancy and water stability time;
4. Intestinal health：Combining organic acids, probiotics and functional nutrients;
5. Water quality management：Continuously monitor dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite and sediment;
6. Precise feeding：Adjust the feeding amount according to water temperature, size, food intake and weather.

Shrimp and fish survival rate and feed conversion rate are affected by many factors, and a single additive cannot be relied upon to solve all problems.

Addeasy Group Organic Acid-based Aquaculture Solutions

Addeasy Group extends the application of aquatic feed additives to multiple links such as feed raw materials, feed quality, digestive nutrition, intestinal health and aquaculture sites around organic acid technology.

According to different fish, shrimp and aquaculture models, the following application directions can be evaluated:

• Aquatic feed acidifiers;
• Compound organic acids and organic acid salts;
• Feed mildew prevention and preservation solutions;
• Combination of digestive nutrition and enzyme preparations;
• Intestinal microecological support solutions;
• Application services in feed mills and aquaculture sites.

According to Addeasy Group's market application information, its relevant animal nutrition and organic acid solutions have served more than 40 countries and regions.

This one-stop system does not simply combine various additives, but matches according to raw materials, animal breeds, feed technology, water quality and aquaculture goals, helping customers establish a more stable aquatic nutrition management system.

Common problems

Which aquatic feed additive is the most effective?

There is no single best product suitable for all fish and shrimp species and farming environments. Selection should be based on feed ingredients, animal stage, intestinal problems, water quality, and main production goals.

Can organic acids improve the survival rate of fish and shrimp?

Organic acids can support feed hygiene, digestive environment, and intestinal health, but survival rate is also affected by factors such as seed quality, water quality, density, pathogens, and farming management.

Can probiotics be used together with organic acids?

Combined use can be evaluated, but attention should be paid to product acid resistance, addition location, and use time to avoid strong acidity reducing probiotic activity.

Can enzyme preparations reduce feed conversion rate?

Enzyme preparations suitable for the raw material structure can help improve nutrient release and digestive utilization, but the final effect depends on enzyme type, activity, addition amount, and basic feed formula.

Conclusion

Modern aquaculture needs to shift from a single product mindset to systematic nutrition management.

Acidifiers can support feed hygiene and digestive environment, probiotics help maintain intestinal microecology, and enzyme preparations help improve nutrient release and utilization efficiency. Combining the three with feed quality, water quality management, and precise feeding is more conducive to improving feed conversion rate, survival rate, and overall health performance of fish and shrimp.