How to Prevent High Feed Conversion Ratio in Shrimp Farming

Abstract

In shrimp farming, feeding management is becoming more and more important because feed cost is about 40-50% of the total cost for intensive culture. Improper or incorrect feeding management could reduce profits during period of low prices. Past experience and analysis of shrimp farming operations in several countries show that the most common mistake in shrimp feed management is overfeeding,which results in high feed conversion ratio (FCR) and production costs. Feeding the appropriate amount enables the shrimp to grow quickly, thereby achieving optimal production. This paper explains the problems encountered with feed management especially overfeeding, and some experiments which could explain the reasons behind these problems and how to solve them, to help shrimp growers to improve their efficiency and remain competitive during the global economic crisis.