Shrimp robustness

Challenges of shrimp farming

Shrimp farming is not easy, but if done correctly it can be extremely profitable. The biggest challenge facing producers is disease, where mortality can be anywhere from 30 - 80%. These unpredictable harvests increase the risk of shrimp farming, and there is also a financial cost. Although difficult to quantify, high mortality rates cost the shrimp industry billions of US dollars every year. Despite extensive research, no silver bullet has been found to address these complex challenges, and it is an unrealistic objective. Therefore, a multifactorial approach is needed across the value and production chain and through collaboration of different stakeholders. 

DSM – THE strategic partner for shrimp robustness

DSM has one of the most diverse product portfolios in the industry today and offers a holistic approach to shrimp robustness, to build disease and stress resistance from the hatchery until harvest. Utilizing cutting edge know-how and technology, DSM has developed solutions which address key challenges in terms of shrimp robustness, focusing on the host, pathogen and environment. With a strong innovation mindset and a willingness to build partnerships, DSM supports the shrimp industry by:

Building a robust host

Building a robust shrimp is key, as it allows the animal not only to fight disease and infection, but also to deal with production stressors such as handling, transfer and environmental fluctuations. Whilst there is not always a disease threat, there is always one, or more, production stressors! A prophylactic health management approach is needed for Improved Lifetime Performance and optimal harvests.

DSM solutions, such as Rovimax®, Levabon® and OVN™ contribute to a building a robust host by:

  • Improving stress and disease resistance
  • Immune modulation
  • Supporting optimal gut health and morphology


     

Pathogen inhibition

Many shrimp pathogens (e.g. Vibrio spp.) are ubiquitous in nature, and their presence in the culture environment is the norm. Unmanaged, their exponential growth can quickly lead to dangerous levels, as well as driving virulence. In addition, certain Vibrio spp. can produce toxins which attack the hepatopancreas causing high mortality. Managing pathogen abundance is not only important for shrimp survivability, but also allows us to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance in aquaculture, which has important implications for human health.

DSM solutions, such as Biotronic® and AquaStar® contribute to pathogen inhibition by:

  • Direct inhibiting pathogen growth
  • Reducing pathogen virulence by quorum quenching mechanisms
  • Degrading toxins (e.g. PirA/ PirB from AHPND positive Vibrio spp.) which attack gut and hepatopancreas tissues
     

Improved environment

Shrimp share an intimate relationship with their environment. As such, they are continuously exposed to pathogens and toxic substances in the pond water which can reduce health and performance. For the same reason that clean air is important for human health, good water quality is critical for shrimp. Further, maintaining water quality is also an important environmental consideration to Reduce Emissions from Livestock and Aquaculture.

DSM solutions, including AquaStar® contributes to an improved environment by:

  • Improving water quality, through reduction of toxic metabolites
  • Improving sediment conditions, by controlling organic matter levels
  • Improving growth performance, meaning less risk and time to market

Products

  • OVN Optimum Vitamin Nutrition®

    OVN Optimum Vitamin Nutrition® is about feeding animals high quality vitamins, produced with the lowest environmental footprint, in the right amounts, appropriate to their life stage and growing conditions, to optimize: • Animal Health and Welfare ▶ good for animals • Animal Performance ▶ good for farmers • Food Quality & Food Waste ▶ good for consumers and the planet

  • AquaStar®

    AquaStar® comprises the most complete range of aquaculture probiotics for hatchery, feed mill and farms to improve growth and enhance pond and water quality.

  • ROVIMAX®

    Fish need a robust immune system to stay healthy. Rovimax is a high quality feed additive containing nucleotides to booster and strengthen the immune system- for best performance in aqua cultured species and better returns for producers.

  • Biotronic®

    The Biotronic® line of state-of-the-art enhanced acidifiers support modern farm animals against Gram-negative bacteria.

  • Levabon® Aquagrow E

    The innovative immune modulator for modern aquaculture, containing highly bioactive compounds in combination with autolysis technology to maintain gut health and intestinal integrity in aqua-cultured species.

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