Rajeev Jha

Disease outbreaks continue to represent the most significant economic threat to global aquaculture production, particularly in intensive shrimp farming systems. Consequently, the industry is increasingly shifting from treatment-based interventions toward preventive health management strategies that emphasize biosecurity, nutrition, and environmental control. Modern aquaculture recognizes that feed serves not only as a driver of growth performance but also as a critical tool for enhancing animal health, resilience, and disease resistance. This integrated health management approach combines biosecurity, pathogen surveillance, water quality optimization, responsible stocking practices, and continuous health monitoring throughout the production cycle.

To address these challenges, a multi-component functional feed formulation was developed incorporating ingredients with complementary antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. The formulation contained peptidoglycans, enzymes, essential and non-essential amino acids, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds designed to support gut integrity, optimize metabolic function, enhance immune competence, and improve resilience against pathogenic challenges. A series of controlled experiments was initially conducted in an indoor recirculating aquaculture system (RAS)-based facility to standardize the formulation and determine the optimal inclusion level. Subsequently, the most effective formulation and dosage were validated through multiple field trials conducted in commercial shrimp ponds located in disease-prone (“red zone”) production areas.

The field evaluation was implemented within a comprehensive health management framework that included pond disinfection, stocking of specific pathogen-free (SPF) post larvae, strict biosecurity measures, optimized feeding practices, and rigorous water-quality management. Across different trial phases, the functional feed consistently reduced pathogen load, resulting in improved survival, enhanced growth performance, better feed utilization, and increased overall productivity compared with conventional production practices.

The findings demonstrate that integrating multi-functional nutritional strategies into shrimp production systems can effectively strengthen host defense mechanisms and reduce disease-related losses. The transition from reactive disease treatment to proactive health management through precision nutrition provides shrimp producers with a sustainable approach to maximize biomass production and sustainable farming. Such integrated functional feed frameworks are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting the sustainability and resilience of the rapidly evolving Asian aquaculture industry.