Effects of spray-dried bovine plasma on growth performance, immune system, and survival of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

The aquaculture industry in Mexico is searching for food ingredients that increase productivity without negatively affecting overall performance and health. Bovine plasma has been shown to contain a high concentration of bioactive compounds and growth factors that improve intestinal function and nutrient absorption. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of spray-dried bovine plasma (SDBP) on growth performance, protein efficiency, immune system, and survival in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Four diets were formulated to contain 0%, 1.5%, 3%, and 6% SDBP in isoproteic and isolipidic diets. Then, 120 juveniles of L. vannamei (4.02 ± 0.03) were randomly distributed in 12 ponds of 500-L with filtered seawater under a recirculation system (RAS). The diets were randomly distributed among the experimental tanks, with three ponds assigned per experimental diet. The feed was offered three times a day for eight weeks. At the end of the experiment, shrimp fed the diet with 3% SDBP had significantly (p < 0.05) improved overall performance compared to the other dietary treatments. Also, diets enriched with SDBP presented a significant increase (p < 0.05) of hemocytes compared to the dietary treatment SDBP-0, with a positive correlation between the number of hemocytes and increasing SDBP content. Furthermore, diets with 3% and 6% SDBP had the highest survival rate (90.0% and 93.3%, respectively). In conclusion, SDBP added at 3% in shrimp diets resulted in improved growth, survival, and hemocyte count. Therefore, SDBP is an excellent alternative to maintaining healthy shrimp.