BLOGS > OLUS®DIGEST IN SHRIMP DIETS SHOWS IMPRESSIVE RESULTS

Photo of pink shrimps with a blue shadow to mark the Olus brand.

OLUS®DIGEST IN SHRIMP DIETS SHOWS IMPRESSIVE RESULTS

26/01/2026 Aqua

Olus®Digest supplementation of shrimp diets improves energy utilization and protein digestibility as well as the absorption of astaxanthin, an important source of carotenoids for shrimp. Thereby, Olus®Digest enhances production performance and carcass coloring of shrimp. These effects were demonstrated in several scientific papers.

Olus®Digest is a source of lysophospholipids. Its effect on dietary supplementation was tested at an inclusion level of 2 kg/ton on production performance in juvenile shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in a six-week trial.

Materials & methods

  • 800 shrimp were placed in 40 net baskets (20 shrimp per basket).
  • At the start, shrimp body weight was around 1 g. All baskets were placed in two tanks, so all baskets had the same water quality and temperature.
  • The water quality in the tanks was maintained with bioflocs, and temperature between 26.5 and 27.5oC with a heat pump.
  • Each basket was equipped with an automatic feeder. Shrimp were fed continuously. Feed supply (as a % of biomass) was adjusted based on expected growth rate and the measured average weekly biomass increase.
  • Shrimp were weighed and counted per basket at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days of age. At the end of the trial at 42 days of age, shrimp were weighed individually.
  • Diets contained 40% crude protein and 8% crude fat. The control diet was fed as such or supplemented with 2 kg Olus®Digest/ton. Diets were produced with an extruder on a 2 mm die.
  • Measurements: At the end of the trial, average body weight, specific growth rate, biomass, survival rate, and FCR were calculated.

 

Results

Production performance during the 42-day production period is given in the table.

Table summarizing the effects of Elan®Digest supplementation in shrimp diets compared with a control diet. Parameters shown include final body weight, specific growth rate (SGR), biomass, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality. Elan®Digest supplementation resulted in higher final body weight (+12.7%), SGR (+8.1%), biomass (+14.9%), and feed intake (+4.6%), and a lower FCR (−12.2%). Most differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05), while mortality reduction was not significant (NS).

SGR was calculated as (ln(BW,end) − ln(BW,start)) / 42.

The basal diet contained 40% protein (2.20% lys and 1.36% “met plus cys”; mainly originating from 15.4% soybean meal, 3.6% corn gluten meal, 3.0% hemoglobin, 12.0% tuna meal and 3.6% squid meal) and 8% crude fat (from 3.3% fish oil and 1.5% soy lecithin as major sources).

Nutrient contents were according to commercial specifications. Olus®Digest was exchanged for 2 kg soy lecithin/ton feed. Final body weight, specific growth rate, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and biomass increase were all significantly improved by dietary Olus®Digest supplementation. As Olus®Digest was added to the mash prior to extrusion, it clearly demonstrated that Olus®Digest is thermostable under extrusion conditions. Shrimp body weight at 42 days was enhanced by 12.7%, and specific growth rate by 8.1%, indicating both improved energy and protein utilization, where feed conversion ratio was improved by 12.2%. Olus®Digest was proven effective in shrimp diets. Mortality rate was rather high, and numerically reduced by Olus®Digest supplementation.

 

Conclusions

Supplementation of extruded shrimp diets with 2 kg Olus®Digest/ton in exchange for soy lecithin significantly enhanced production performance as was shown in juvenile shrimp up to 42 days of age.

 

About the author

Prof. Jan Dirk van der Klis – Consultant Animal Nutrition

Prof. Jan Dirk van der Klis is a renowned poultry consultant with a PhD in Animal Nutrition from Wageningen University. Throughout his career, Jan Dirk has made noteworthy contributions to the industry. With his extensive expertise, he is offering valuable nutritional guidance to enhance the health and productivity of poultry. Jan Dirk’s profound knowledge and experience are pivotal in meeting the specific nutritional requirements of poultry and devising effective feeding strategies to yield optimal results. Since 2019, Jan Dirk has been working with Olus.

Would you like to discuss how optimized fat digestion can support shrimp performance? Contact us for technical insights on Olus®Digest.

 

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