Improving the Cost Effectiveness of Shrimp Feeds

Abstract

Currently aquaculture is supplying almost half of the world’s seafood, making it a primary source of high quality
nutrients for human consumption and an invaluable export item for many countries. Market prices have increased
for many human food sectors; yet, the farm gate value for seafood products have declined or at best had marginal
increases in price. Unfortunately, at the same time feed, fuel and processing costs are rapidly increasing pushing
many of the world’s producers to cut their production costs or go out of business. For those who would like to
remain in the industry we must be willing to adapt to changing markets and adjust production processes to
maximize investment returns. If we are to remain competitive, we must know our cost structures and re-evaluate
production practices. It is time for the industry to review there production practices, confirm production values as
well as costs so they can bet back to the basics of cost effective management and optimized feed formulations.
There are no easy solutions to reducing production costs and there are no-magical solutions (that work) for sale on
e-bay. Producers who know their system costs and inefficiencies can improve and have a chance of being cost
competitive. Starting at the feed mill we must: 1) set nutrient restrictions for our feed formulations using the most
up to date numbers and not rely on fish meal to make a good feed 2) select our ingredients based on cost
effectiveness and quality 3) optimize mill processes to reduce production costs. At the farm, we must look at our
management strategies in the light of economic efficiency and optimize feed inputs to provide the best overall return
on our investment. By systematically improving the management of our systems we should be able to improve feed
conversion, reduce our dependence on water exchanges and improve overall efficiencies.