Trial - Extensive Shrimp Farming - Ecuador

Treatment Summary

A large shrimp farm in Ecuador wished to establish in what way BZT® products could increase the survival and growth in their shrimp culturing.

The treatment would be conducted with no mechanical aeration in water pumped directly from the sea. Between August and November, extremely low water temperatures (21-22° C) would influence growth, with salinity averaging 40 ppt.

One week before post larvae stocking, BZT® Waste Digester and BZT® Aquaculture were alternatively applied. The ponds were stocked directly with Post Larvae in a density of 100,000 pls/Ha, and BZT® products were mixed with supplemental feeds, with dosages increased to help counter initial attacks of diseases found in natural waters. Zero water exchange was performed, though each week water levels were recuperated due to soil filtration and evaporation. A commercial feed was utilized containing 500 ppm of Vitamin C, organic acids, and a consistent 35% protein content. The final conversion ratio was 1:1.

No antibiotics were used in BZT® ponds. In control ponds antibiotics were used for treating intra cellular bacteria for five days.

Results:

In Control Ponds, high disease events caused by Vibrio and intracellular bacteria occurred, resulting in shrimp mortality and water quality deterioration. In the BZT® ponds, soil and water maintained best quality up to the end of culture. Diseases were minimal, resulting in a survival better than in the Control ponds.

BZT® Waste Digester and BZT® Aquaculture helped to control ammonia and nitrite levels, improving water quality. They also helped to maintain a proper phytoplankton concentration. The BZT® products controlled diseases like Vibrio, which was reflected in higher survival.

Temperature was a factor that notably influenced average body weight increments as well as survival rate. The survival rate within the control ponds was a meager 24% average and 265 pounds/Ha versus the BZT® ponds, which resulted in a survival rate of 50% average and 1,000 pounds/Ha.