Effect of binder type and concentration on prepared feed stability, feed ingestion and digestibility of Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock diets

The effect of six different binding agents (agar, sodium alginate, cassava starch, gelatin, wheat gluten and kelp meal) in two concentrations (30gkg(-1) and 50gkg(-1)) were evaluated with respect to physical quality of Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock pelleted feed, after 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180min of water immersion. The best treatments in terms of water stability, water absorption and protein leaching were obtained with sodium alginate and wheat gluten at 50gkg(-1). In a second experiment, the feed ingestion and diet digestibility with these two binders and their combination (1:1) were compared against a control diet containing 50gkg(-1) wheat flour. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the daily feed ingestion rate 2.39-3.33% of the biomass. The most representative values of apparent digestibility of protein (ADP) and apparent dry matter digestibility (ADMD) were achieved with diets containing wheat gluten and alginate+gluten mixture as binder. Based on these results, combinations with 50gkg(-1) wheat gluten is recommended as binder in pelleted feed for broodstock L.vannamei.