Empirical modeling of feed conversion in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) growth

Litopenaeus vannamei or Pacific white shrimp is one of the main shrimp species cultivated around the world. Despite its easy handling, there is no detailed description of its metabolic performance. This work developed a novel mathematical model for L. vannamei growth based on mass conservation and chemical equations for feed oxidation, allowing to calculate shrimp specific growth rate, specific rate of feed consumption, specific rate of ammonia nitrogen excretion, and oxygen specific consumption rate. Results, when compared to literature data, indicate a correlation higher than 99%, demonstrating that the proposed approach can successfully predict the growth based on the assessed parameters. Through this strategy it is possible to optimize the management of shrimp cultivation, especially in relation to dissolved oxygen, availability of feed and ammonia excretion, according to each stage of shrimp growth. Based on the environmental conditions maintained during the present study, the result of the present mathematical model can be a potential tool for reducing costs and environmental impacts in aquaculture shrimp farm.