Improving the sustainability of Penaeus vannamei farming relies on a better understanding of its nutritional requirements, enabling the development of feeds and feeding strategies that enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact. This meta-analysis compiles data from 45 studies published in 2024-2025 across 4 scientific journals: Aquaculture International, Aquaculture Nutrition, Aquaculture Research, and Aquaculture. The aim is to compare the conditions under which nutritional trials are performed and assess their potential impact on P. vannamei performance.
A rigorous selection process was applied to include only studies dealing with feeding rate (FR), stocking density, frequency of daily feed distribution, considered as the parameters directly influence shrimp performance, and their effects on key performance indicators such as specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survival rate (SR). Spearman correlations and regressions quantified and illustrated these effects on growth.
Results indicate heterogeneity in experimental conditions, impacting growth performance outcomes. The average trial duration was 51 ±14 days. Similarly, initial body weight (BW) varied widely with a mean of 2.5 ±2.35 grams. Stocking density also exhibited significant variation, averaging 158 ±109 shrimp per m³. Most studies apply 3 to 4 daily meals, with daily FR of 6 ±2 % of the biomass.
SR, SGR and FCR all exhibited high variability across studies. SR fluctuates significantly, with a mean of 85.5 ± 10.7%. SGR varied considerably, with an average of 3.87±2.12 % per day. Similarly, FCR also showed notable dispersion, averaging 1.63 ±0.39, reflecting variations in feed efficiency and experimental setups.
This meta-analysis shows a strong positive correlation (r = 0.78) between FR and SGR, confirming the fundamental role of nutrition in growth performance.
This study reveals significant heterogeneity in experimental protocols, impacting shrimp performance assessments. To address this, we established benchmarks to facilitate inter-trial comparisons. Establishing common research frameworks would facilitate meaningful performance assessments and improve the applicability of nutritional findings to shrimp farming. Future work will integrate water quality for better models and efficiency.