Dietary Supplementation of Selected Feed Additives and Its Effects on Growth Performance, Survival and Digestive Enzyme Activity in Whiteleg Shrimp, Penaeus vannamei Boone, 1931

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of selected natural feed additives - kefir, makhana, pineapple and garlic on growth performance, survival and digestive enzyme activity in Penaeus vannamei Boone, 1931. Five dietary treatments were formulated: a control diet (DC) without additives and four treatment diets (D1 to D4) supplemented with 10% of milk kefir, makhana (lotus seed), pineapple and garlic, respectively. Each treatment had four replications, with 15 post-larvae (initial weight: 0.045 g) per replicate and shrimp were fed four times daily for 90 days. Water quality parameters were maintained within optimal ranges throughout the trial. Shrimp fed the pineapple (D3) exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, survival rate and the lowest feed conversion ratio among all treatments. Proximate composition analysis revealed improved nutritional quality, with D3 (pineapple) yielding the highest protein content. Digestive enzyme activities (protease, amylase and lipase) were significantly (P < 0.05) high in D3, followed by D1 (milk kefir) and D4 (garlic), indicating enhanced digestion and nutrient absorption. Garlic and kefir also showed notable positive effects compared to makhana and the control group.  These findings demonstrate that dietary supplementation with natural additives, particularly pineapple, significantly improves growth rates, survival rates and digestive enzyme secretion in P. vannamei.