Influence of dietary protein levels and biofloc system on the nursery performance of Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Abstract
Aim of study: To assess the performance of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879) during the nursery phase under different culture systems (water exchange ‑ WES and biofloc ‑ BFS) and varying crude protein levels, using high‑density culture conditions (2,500 post‑larvae m‑³). Area of study: This study was conducted at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, in Brazil. Material and methods: The experimental design followed a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, in which the initial variable corresponded to the type of rearing system, while the second one referred to the dietary crude protein content (35% and 40%), yielding in the combinations WES 35, WES 40, BFS 35, and BFS 40. Main results: The results demonstrated that the BFS 35 combination exhibited the lowest basic variable production cost and a substantial reduction in water footprint, ten times lower than the WES combinations. Furthermore, the BFS 35 system achieved a notable improvement in net benefits (2,876 USD 1000 m‑³), which was approximately twice that of the WES 35 (1,441 USD 1000 m⁻³) and nearly three times that of the WES 40 (1,006 USD 1000 m⁻³). Research highlights: The BFS 35 system can significantly reduce both the water footprint and the crude protein content in commercial feed, while simultaneously enhancing economic returns. These results suggest that the biofloc system with a 35% protein level is a viable and more sustainable option for the nursery phase of M. rosenbergii, offering a promising alternative to traditional systems.
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