Probiotic use in Litopenaeus vannamei farming in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Prophylactic health products (probiotics) are used in shrimp aquaculture to improve pond water quality, pond soil condition and/or enhance the shrimp health leading to better weight gain of shrimp. Questionnaire based survey was conducted in 182 Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp farms located in north coastal, central coastal and south coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, in order to understand the usage pattern of probiotics. A total of 45 different probiotics brands supplied by 31 manufacturers were being used in L. vannamei farming. However, three probiotic brands were being prominently used by 54 per cent of the shrimp farmers. A single probiotic was being applied by 50 per cent of the shrimp farmers while 35 per cent and 15 per cent of farmers were employing two and three probiotics, respectively during shrimp culture. Water probiotics were being commonly used compared to soil probiotics and gut probiotics . Other probiotics used, were meant for dual applications namely water & soil and water and gut . The bacterial species composition of the different probiotics comprised of Bacillus species Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactobacillus , Thiobacillus, Streptococcus faecium, Clostridium butyricum, Cellulomonas cartae, Pseudomonas. The product labels claim that probiotics help to maintain water quality by digesting organic matter, reduce H2S, NH3, turbidity, hardness,improve DO, regulate pH, reduce sludge,maintain stable and health phytoplankton bloom, assist in free moulting of shrimp, improve feed conversion and probiotic microorganisms compete with harmful Vibrio sp. and bring down vibrio population in shrimp rearing environment. The price of different probiotics ranged between Rs. 145 per kilogram and Rs. 7000 per kilogram. The cost per application dose of probiotic per hectare pond ranged between Rs. 363 and Rs. 7875 with a mean cost of Rs. 2405 plus or minus 1527 per dose per hectare pond area.