Improve Gut Health in Fish to Increase Aquaculture Productivity

Dr. Anuja Kenekar

September 23, 2022

Aquaculture

Improve Gut Health in Fish to Increase Aquaculture Productivity

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The importance of gut health in aquaculture is recognized widely. Fish’s digestive systems are the direct outcome of the stable, desirable gut bacteria.

The optimum gut microflora impacts feed efficiency, performance, and overall productivity.

Fish are particularly sensitive to microbial interactions between the environment and their digestive tracts.

These changes raise the danger of unwanted gut microbiota rapidly growing and destabilizing, which can impair digestive system function.

Because the digestive tracts of fish are the primary source of bacterial, viral, and parasite diseases, regulating gut health is crucial for a profitable aquaculture system.

A weakened gut cannot defend itself. On the other hand, a healthy gut can digest and absorb the largest quantity of nutrients, providing the greatest value to the farmer.

Growth and performance are maximized, along with feed waste being reduced once the ideal gut structure and effective feed utilization are reached.

Stress is a constant worry in fish farming operations.

In addition to disease resistance, age, and diet, the gut can become unbalanced when paired with external environmental elements such as temperature, salinity, pH, and the rigors of production.

Growth and performance are also hampered by poor gut health.

The key to improving production yield and profitability in aquaculture is dependent on establishing and maintaining stable, well-balanced microbiota in the digestive system.

Modulating Microflora with Natural Compounds

There are sustainable methods for managing gut microflora in aquaculture. There are environmentally friendly methods for controlling gut flora in aquaculture.

These include using a wide range of natural compounds, such as probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, yeast extracts, and phytobiotics, which are proficient at modulating the microflora toward a desirable composition.

These kinds of tactics have synergistic impacts.

For instance, probiotics can strengthen the development of probiotic bacteria, increasing the potency of probiotics.

Fish Efficiency

Fish are an efficient and long-lasting source of protein. They use less energy than terrestrial animals, which means they require less food to produce edible meat.

This is referred to as feed efficiency in the industry. Due to the increasing global demand for animal protein, people can no longer rely solely on natural water sources to provide the number of fish required.

The alternative is to raise fish in man-made systems, which is the fastest-expanding area of food production.

Importance of Gut Health

Aquaculture waste and its environmental impact have become more of a concern, resulting in increased sickness risk among farmed fish.

Because the gut is the primary digestive and largest immunological organ in fish, injury to the gut could result in decreased appetite, sluggish development, impaired capacity to digest and absorb nutrients, and an increase in illness.

Although fish feed is produced at high heat and pressure to ensure feed hygiene, certain plant protein sources may contain anti-nutritional elements that can harm the stomach.

Low-value proteins, peroxide lipids, mycotoxins, and other hazardous components are a threat to the gut.

Beneficial Feed Additives

Feed is the most expensive component of aquaculture production. While it is critical for farmers to keep feed prices as low as possible, quality takes precedence above cost.

A low-quality diet may end up costing more in the long run if it produces quick changes in microflora and, hence, has a negative impact on gut health.

After conducting intensive research on fish gut health, our aquaculture experts at Organica Biotech have come up with an eco-friendly formulation.

Bioflok is a thick probiotic formulation fortified with unique natural and eco-friendly bacteria required for the Biofloc fish farming system enabled with biotechnology. It boosts the productivity of your fish farming operation.

The probiotic bacteria in our Bioflok preparation mix aid in the quick breakdown of nitrate and ammonia in the fish farming system. As a result, it promotes improved and healthy proteinaceous formulation.

If you are looking for a way to improve gut health in fish to increase your fish farm’s productivity? Reach out to our aquaculture experts for customized solutions.

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