Indonesia is home to the second-longest coastline and vast marine waters. It consequently made Indonesia the owner of one of the most fertile fishing grounds in the world. In 2020, fisheries made up 2.8% of Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP). Despite that, Indonesia has only used up 7.38% of its potential area for aquaculture production, with shrimp being the highest-value commodity.

Lending A Helping Hand to the Ambitious Goal

With the ambitious goal for the government to increase aquaculture production to 10.4% by 2024, aquaculture farmers need to ensure smooth production. Securing the aquaculture feed, which provides the necessary nutrients for the livestock, is essential. Especially since it maintains a robust immune system, growth, and reproduction.

Aquatic animals depend on their gut health to maintain their overall well-being. Animals in distress can impact their gastrointestinal tract negatively, which leads to impaired barrier function and absorption. Diet composition and feed ingredients can influence the gut structure and microbiota balance, affecting digestive functions.

The Role of Feed Additives in Aquaculture Farming

Using feed additives is an option to promote the healthy growth of aquaculture livestock. Feed additives can also utilize feed and increase the stress resistance of aquaculture species. Feed additives are primarily non-nutritive and come in various shapes, such as pellet binders, probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenic substances, and antioxidants.

Probiotics and prebiotics enhance immune response, digestion, and water quality. Meanwhile, essential fatty acids, mushrooms, seaweed, organic acids, enzymes, and essential oils play a role in growth, pathogen resistance, livestock performance, and blood parameters. Different feed additives serve different purposes for the overall well-being of the livestock. Aquaculture farmers need to know what kind of feed additives are suitable for their farms to ensure expeditious utilization.

Moreover, vaccination is not feasible for shrimp due to their immune system limitations. Using antibiotics is also restricted due to safety, environmental concerns, and antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, aquaculture farmers need to take extra measures to ensure the health and well-being of the livestock for successful farming.