THE PROTEIN REQUIREMENT OF PENAEID SHRIMP AT VARIOUS LIFE‐CYCLE STAGES IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS

Investigations into the nutrient requirements of penaeid shrimp in controlled environment systems using extruded diets compounded from practical ingredients have shown that the protein requirement of the early postlarval animal exceeds 40% crude protein, but decreases to less than 30% crude protein in the later life-cycle stages. Studies of the importance of protein quality, i.e., source and amino acid balance, indicate that when marine protein sources, e.g., fish meal and shrimp meal, exceed 40% of the finished ration performance of the animal suffers. The improbability of lysine and methionine being limiting amino acids in practical rations is discussed. In addition, the protein requirements of the Gulf of California brown shrimp, (Penaeus californiensis) is compared to non-grooved shrimp, Penaeus stylirostris and Penaeus vannamei.