From Abstract: In this study, conducted in the state of Andhra Pradesh, researchers assessed the components in commercial hatchery feeds.
• The moisture content of postlarval (PL) feeds ranged between 6.48 and 11.04%. Average protein
and fat content of PL feeds were distinctly lower than those in zoea and mysis feeds and in live
Artemia (brine shrimp).
• Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were lower than unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) in all the hatchery feeds. Palmitic acid-C16 (7.09%) and tricosylic acid-C23 (6.29%), were the dominant SFAs.
• Linolenic acid-C18:3 (9%) and docosahexaenoic acid DHA-C22:6 (8.53) were the prominent
monounsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) recorded in PL feeds.
• Eicosapentaenoic acid EPA-C20:5 content in PL feeds was low (1.15%).
• Essential amino acids ranged between 22.3 and 41.53% in PL feeds. The monoamino dicarboxylic
acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid) constituted nearly 35% of the total amino
acids in PL feeds.
• The organochlorine pesticide HepEpo was detected in one mysis feed sample at 7.05 parts
per billion (ppb).
• Chloramphenicol, an antibiotic, was detected in two PL feeds at a high level of 112.5 ppb and 453 ppb.
• Cadmium content was more than 1 part per million (PPM) in PLs, zoea and mysis feeds.
Lead content was less than 1 ppb in all the hatchery feeds.
• Total enterobacteriaceae, yeast and molds were detected in only one PL feed (20 cfu g-1).
The study revealed the need for good manufacturing practices and screening of all feed components for antibiotics, pesticide residues and heavy metals.
Source: Hatcheryfeed.com (An Aquafeed.com publication). Nutritional Composition, Quality and Hazards Profiling of Commercial Post-Larval Feeds Used in Litopenaeus Vannamei Hatcheries. L. N. Murthy, B. Madhusudana Rao, R. Anandan, Suseela Mathew, P. T. Lakshmanan and M. M. Prasad. Website Visit on October 27, 2015.