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Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Matrix of Exogenous Proteases in the Nutrition of Shrimp Penaeus vannamei
by
,
Joice Teixeira de Souza
1,2, 
Maria Érica da Silva Oliveira
1,2,
Ana Elidarly da Cunha
1,2,
Vanessa Maria Freitas da Silva
1,2,
Ruan Arthur Nunes de Araújo
1,2,
Mário Augusto Monteiro Silva
1,2,
Raimundo Audei Henrique Júnior
1,2,
Marcos Aurelio Victor de Assunção
1,2,
Ana Cecília Araújo Lopes
1,2,
Daniel Pigatto Monteiro
3,
Thiago Pereira Ribeiro
3,
Moacir Franco de Oliveira
1 and
Matheus Ramalho de Lima
1,2,*
1
Animal Science Department, Campus Mossoro, Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid Region (UFERSA), Mossoro 59625-900, RN, Brazil
2
Animal Science Department, Campus Technological Innovation and Precision Animal Production Group (CNPq/UFERSA), Mossoro 59625-900, RN, Brazil
3
R&D in Nutrition at TECTRON, Toledo 85902-010, PR, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101410
Submission received: 14 April 2025
/
Revised: 7 May 2025
/
Accepted: 9 May 2025
/
Published: 13 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Aquatic Animals)
Simple Summary
In this study, we investigated the inclusion of a mixture of enzymes called proteases in shrimp diets with the aim of verifying whether the addition of these enzymes could increase feed efficiency and improve shrimp development, shrimp yield, and meat quality after slaughter compared to traditional diets. The experiment was carried out with four types of feed, two without enzyme supplementation and two with supplementation. Our results showed that the shrimp fed diets with enzymes grew faster and made better use of the feed, resulting in greater weight gain and meat yield after slaughter. Analysis of the intestine also revealed that these prawns had a better ability to absorb nutrients. In addition, the shrimp that consumed the diet with the proteases maintained the quality of the meat during storage. Therefore, we have concluded that the inclusion of these enzymes in diets can bring significant benefits to shrimp farming, such as greater productivity and better use of feed, contributing to more efficient and sustainable production.
Abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a matrix of acid and alkaline proteases in diets for Penaeus vannamei shrimp, considering zootechnical performance, meat yield, and intestinal histomorphometry. The experiment was carried out in 32 experimental units, with four treatments and eight replications each, using a density of 80 shrimp per square meter. The treatments consisted of positive control (PC) with standard diet, negative control (NC) with nutritional reduction, PC supplemented with 250 g/t of proteases (PCE), and NC supplemented with 250 g/t of proteases (NCE). In the fattening phase, significantly greater weight gain was observed in the NCE (14.23 g) and PCE (13.6 g) groups (p = 0.0381). Feed efficiency increased by 56.07% in the NCE group. Weekly growth was higher in the PCE (113.4%) and NCE (118.6%) groups (p = 0.028), with post-slaughter yields of 53.03% (NCE) and 52.21% (PCE). Water and humidity retention capacity remained stable in the NCE group during 210 days of frozen storage after slaughter. Intestinal histology indicated a greater absorption area in the groups with the best feed conversion and growth rates. It is concluded that protease supplementation improves nutrient absorption, growth, and meat yield in P. vannamei.
Keywords:
shrimp; exogenous enzymes; protease; performance; fish quality; histology
