ALTERNATIVE FEED FOR SHRIMP FARMING COMPRISING HERMETIA ILLUCENS MEAL

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of decapod feed comprising insect meal. It relates more particularly to an alternative feed intended for shrimp farming comprising black soldier fly larva meal of the species Hermetia i llucens. This feed makes it possible to maintain the weight gain, growth rate and feed conversion rate of shrimp while reducing the total quantity of animal meal used.

Description

Title of the invention: ALTERNATIVE FEED FOR SHRIMP FARMING COMPRISING MEAL OF HERMETIA ILLUCENS

[0001] The invention relates to the field of decapod feed comprising insect meal. It relates more particularly to an alternative feed intended for shrimp farming comprising black soldier fly larva meal of the species Hermetia illucens. This feed makes it possible to maintain the weight gain, growth rate and feed conversion rate of the shrimp while reducing the total quantity of animal meal used. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Shrimp farming is a branch of aquaculture whose commercial production continues to increase, stimulated by significant demand from territories such as the United States, Japan and Western Europe. The vast majority of farmed shrimp belong to the Penaeidae family and two species, the white-legged shrimp (Litopenaeus vannameï) and the giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), represent nearly 80% of all farmed shrimp. In order to meet the increase in global demand, manufacturers must produce increased volumes of shrimp, which represents significant farming costs, particularly for feeding these animals throughout their breeding cycle. Shrimp feed is generally composed of fish meal.In addition to being expensive, fishmeal has a significant ecological footprint, as it is produced from exhaustible resources and the volumes required to supply the fish farming and, more generally, the aquaculture sectors are considerable. Indeed, today, the consumption of large volumes of fishmeal by shrimp is essential for them to have optimal measurements, suitable for human consumption.

[0003] Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannameï) is the most widely produced shrimp species in the world, with production volumes exceeding 4.1 million metric tons in 2016 (FAO 2018). To support the growth of the Pacific white shrimp industry, it is necessary to find high-performance feed ingredients that can be produced sustainably and to improve the efficiency of production systems to provide higher volumes while putting less pressure on natural resources.

[0004] Protecting both the long-term potential of the industry and preserving natural resources is a growing challenge, not only in the context of L. vannamei, but also in all modern food production systems.

[0005] Plant-based ingredients have therefore become, over the last decades, commonly used ingredients in the formulation of aquaculture feeds (Barrows et al. 2007, Gatlin et al. 2007, Oliva-Teles et al. 2015). They have thus been successfully used to replace part of the fishmeal in the formulas of these feeds. However, plant proteins have certain nutritional limitations for aquaculture feeds: presence of antinutritional factors, high levels of fiber and non-starch polysaccharides, inadequate fatty acids, unbalanced profiles of essential amino acids, and reduced digestibility and palatability. In addition, a complete substitution of fishmeal with plant ingredients may lead to additional pressures on essential agricultural resources and on the environment (considering for example the deforestation linked to soybean cultivation).Thus, research efforts have been made to find more effective substitute ingredients.

[0006] As a result, manufacturers are now turning to new alternatives to fishmeal. More and more feeds, particularly in fish farms, are incorporating insect meal. Indeed, the production of insect meal is more environmentally friendly and can be produced using vertical farming, which means that less land space is required compared to other farms.

[0007] The prior art reports examples of using insect meal as a substitute for fish meal. Patent CN108576485 discloses a feed composed of Hermetia illucens insect meal for feeding fish.

[0008] Nevertheless, it is generally known from the state of the art that insect-based feeds, and in particular Hermetia Illucens, when substituted for fish meal, do not allow for obtaining a suitable weight gain and final weight compared to fish meal. In this respect, the article "Evaluation of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) larvae meal as partial or total replacement of marine fish meal in practical diets for pacifie white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)" (Cummins et al. 2017) describes compositions comprising HI meal obtained by alcoholic extraction, combined with soybean meal. In these tests, the inclusion rate of HI meal is between 7% and 36%.No significant difference in growth performance or survival was observed in shrimp fed HL meal. This paper concludes that the growth of shrimp fed a diet comprising fish meal and HI meal is lower than that of shrimp fed fish meal.

[0009] Improving performance in shrimp farms is a major challenge, but it cannot be done at the expense of the environment. It is therefore necessary to develop solutions for shrimp farming with a controlled environmental impact, in particular by offering feed whose production is based on more sustainable methods. Statement of the invention

[0010] The inventors have developed an alternative feed to fish meal-based feed for shrimp farming. This feed includes a portion of Hermetia illucens larva meal and allows the yield of a shrimp farm to be maintained while reducing the total quantity of animal meal, particularly fish meal, consumed.

[0011] Thus, the present invention relates to an innovative feed intended for shrimp farming comprising Hermetia illucens flour and making it possible to maintain the yield of the farming compared to a farm fed with a feed without Hermetia illucens flour and comprising a PFM portion of fish flour of between 5% and 30% by weight of said feed (reference feed). The innovative feed is characterized in that it corresponds to a composition in which an AFM portion of the fish flour of the reference feed would have been replaced by a pH1 portion of Hermetia illucens larva flour lower than AFM.

[0012] This feed is defined as being a feed intended for shrimp farming making it possible to maintain the yield of the farming compared to a farming fed with a feed without Hermetia illucens larva flour and comprising a PFM portion of fish flour of between 5% and 30% by weight of said feed,

[0013] characterized in that it comprises a P'FM part of fish meal and a pH1 part of Hermetia illucens larva meal, it being specified that:

[0014] - P'FM = PFM - AFM where AFM represents from 5% to 60% of PFM - pm represents from 35% to less than 100% of AFM

[0015] The present invention also relates to the use of this feed for maintaining weight gain, growth rate and feed conversion rate of farmed shrimp. ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Quite surprisingly, the inventors have developed an innovative feed intended for shrimp farming comprising Hermetia illucens larva meal, and which makes it possible to maintain the same breeding yield as a conventional feed based on fish meal from which the alternative feed could be obtained by substituting part of the fish meal with a lower proportion of HL larva meal. This results in a feed that is less rich in animal meal, but just as effective from the point of view of breeding yield due to the nutritional qualities of HI meal being superior to those of fish meal.

[0017] When the alternative feed according to the invention is used in feeding shrimp in aquaculture, a maintenance of the breeding yield is observed. This maintenance of yield is observed on several key parameters in aquaculture. First of all, shrimp fed with this feed grow as quickly and have a weight gain as interesting as those fed with a conventional feed based on fish meal.

[0018] The use of this feed also makes it possible to maintain the feed conversion rate. This parameter is economically essential for controlling the cost of production in aquaculture. Thanks to this feed, the shrimps reach the same weight from the same quantity of feed; in other words, the reduced proportion of animal meal in this feed has no impact on the efficiency of the conversion of said feed.

[0019] This feed is particularly advantageous for the aquaculture sector, because it allows the proportion of fish meal to be reduced, while maintaining the yield of shrimp farms. Even more advantageously, the specific nutritional qualities of HI meal for shrimp make it possible to offer a feed that is as efficient in terms of the yield obtained, but whose total quantity of animal meal is lower than that of a feed based on reference fish meal. As explained above, these results are based on the fact that HI meal has nutritional qualities superior to those of fish meal for the growth of shrimp.

[0020] Finally, insect meal is a very interesting alternative ingredient for feeding shrimp because its production is more environmentally friendly than that of fish meal. It is therefore a very interesting meal for preserving the yield of a farm while minimizing the ecological footprint of the food production process in aquaculture. This is why an alternative feed is proposed, equivalent to a conventional feed based on fish meal in which a part of said fish meal would have been replaced by a lower proportion of HI larva meal, with nutritional qualities at least as good as this conventional feed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] A first subject of the present invention relates to a feed intended for shrimp farming making it possible to maintain the yield of the farming compared to a farm fed with a reference feed without Hermetia Illucens larva meal and comprising a PFM portion of fish meal of between 5% and 30% by weight of said feed, characterized in that it comprises a P'FM portion of fish meal and a pH1 portion of Hermetia Illucens larva meal, it being specified that:

[0022] - P'FM = PFM - AFM where AFM represents 5% to 60% of PFM - pm represents 35% to less than 100% of AFM.

[0023] This feed constitutes a new feed intended for feeding shrimp, mainly for large-scale farming. This feed allows a good yield to be obtained. This property is defined in relation to an equivalent feed prepared with fish meal and without insect meal (reference feed). To obtain this alternative feed to a fish meal-based feed, the composition was formulated with new proportions. The alternative feed corresponds to a composition in which a part of the fish meal in the reference feed would have been replaced by a lower proportion of HI meal by weight representing between 35% and less than 100% of the proportion of fish meal replaced (“less than 100%” means that there is a minimal presence of HI meal, i.e. pH1 is for example between 35% and 98% of AFM).Because HI flour has very favorable nutritional properties for shrimp, these new proportions do not harm the farming yield and help to reduce the environmental impact associated with the production of fishmeal.

[0024] By "feed intended for shrimp farming" is meant any feed used in aquaculture, used as food in the diet of farmed shrimp. In the context of the invention, it is a feed comprising between 5% and 30% of animal meal consisting of fish meal and HI meal.

[0025] By "maintaining the farm yield" is meant the maintenance of the weight gain, growth rate and feed conversion rate of the farmed shrimp compared to the parameters observed in a farm fed with a conventional fish meal-based feed; in particular, these parameters are maintained when the conventional feed is replaced by the alternative feed in which a portion of said fish meal is substituted by a lower portion of HI larva meal. More broadly, the terms "maintain / maintain" cover the maintenance of the yield at a rate at least equal to that obtained with the reference feed, which means that the yield is equal to or greater than that of the reference feed.

[0026] Preferably, the HI flour used is obtained via a mechanical preparation process, without chemical treatment, without extraction in a solvent. Such a mechanical process may be a mechanical extraction of the solid part of the larvae previously ground and heated, followed by drying and grinding to obtain flour.

[0027] In a particular embodiment, the alternative feed corresponds to a composition in which between 25% and 50% of the fish meal of the reference feed would have been replaced by a lower proportion by weight of HI meal representing between 35% and less than 100% of the fish meal replaced.

[0028] In a particular embodiment, the shrimps are chosen from the species Litopenaeus vannamei, Litopenaeus stylirostris and Penaeus monodon.

[0029] A second object of the invention relates to the use of the alternative feed according to the invention for maintaining the weight gain, growth rate and feed conversion rate of shrimp.

[0030] The present invention will be better understood from reading the following examples, provided for illustration purposes and in no way to be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0031] [fig.l][fig.l]: Graphical representation of the average survival (%) of shrimps as a function of the feed ingested. CTRL corresponds to the control feed comprising a portion of PFM fish meal of 30% by weight of said feed. A, B and C correspond to the alternative feeds obtained by substituting a portion of the fish meal contained in the control feed with a lower portion of HI meal. These feeds correspond to a composition in which 27%, 33% and 39% respectively of the fish meal of the control feed would have been replaced by a pHI portion of Hermetia illucens larva meal lower than AFM, according to a pHI / AFM ratio of 37%, 39% and 40% respectively. The values ​​associated with the same letter do not show any significant difference between them (Fisher test, p > 0.05).

[0032] [fig.2][fig.2]: Graphical representation of the average weight gain (%) of shrimp in function of the food ingested. CTRL corresponds to the control food comprising a proportion of PFM fish meal of 30% by weight of said food. A, B and C correspond to the alternative foods obtained by substituting a portion of the fish meal contained in the control food with a lower proportion of HI meal. These foods correspond to a composition in which 27%, 33% and 39% respectively of the fish meal in the control food would have been replaced by a pHI proportion of Hermetia illucens larva meal lower than AFM, according to a pHI / AFM ratio of 37%, 39% and 40% respectively. The values ​​associated with the same letter do not show any significant difference between them (Fisher test, p > 0.05).

[0033] [fig.3][fig.3]: Graphical representation of the average conversion index of shrimp depending on the feed ingested. CTRL corresponds to the control feed comprising a proportion of PFM fish meal of 30% by weight of said feed. A, B and C correspond to the alternative feeds obtained by substituting a portion of the fish meal contained in the control feed with a lower proportion of HL fish meal. These feeds correspond to a composition in which 27%, 33% and 39% of the fish meal in the control feed would have been replaced respectively by a pHI proportion of Hermetia illucens larva meal lower than AFM, according to a pHI / AFM ratio of 37%, 39% and 40% respectively. The values ​​associated with the same letter do not show any significant difference between them (Fisher test, p > 0.05).

[0034] [fig.4] [fig.4]: Graphical representation of the average weight gain (g) and the rate of Average specific growth (% / day) of shrimps as a function of the feed ingested. CTRL corresponds to the control feed comprising a proportion of PFM fish meal of 15% by weight of said feed. A and B correspond to alternative feeds obtained by substituting a proportion of the fish meal contained in the control feed with a lower proportion of HL fish meal. These feeds correspond to a composition in which 33% and 47% respectively of the fish meal in the control feed would have been replaced by a pHI proportion of Hermetia illucens larvae meal lower than AFM, according to a pHI / AFM ratio of 50% and 64% respectively. The values ​​associated with the same letter do not show any significant difference between them (Fisher test, p > 0.05).

[0035] [fig.5][fig.5]: Graphical representation of the average feed conversion rate shrimp depending on the feed ingested. CTRL corresponds to the control feed comprising a proportion of PFM fish meal of 15% by weight of said feed. A and B correspond to the alternative feeds obtained by substituting a proportion of the fish meal contained in the control feed with a lower proportion of HI meal. These feeds correspond to a composition in which 33% and 47% respectively of the fish meal in the control feed would have been replaced by a pHI proportion of Hermetia illucens larvae meal lower than AFM, according to a pHI / AFM ratio of 50% and 64% respectively. The values ​​associated with the same letter do not show any significant difference between them (Fisher test, p > 0.05). EXAMPLES

[0036] EXAMPLE 1: Maintaining the growth performance of L. sty-lirostris shrimps fed with a feed obtained by replacing a portion of fish meal with a lower portion of Hermetia illucens meal Materials and methods

[0037] Experimental conditions: This experiment was carried out on shrimps of the species L. stylirostris. The experimental area consists of a series of 20 50L tanks (5 tanks per diet) and their 1 m3 water supply tank. A seawater renewal of 100% per hour was applied to all the tanks. The quality of the seawater supply is ensured by a mechanical filtration system. In addition, thermoregulation of the water was carried out by means of resistors in the tanks. Only the salinity (natural salinity around 35%o) and the photoperiod do not have a continuous control system.

[0038] This experiment was carried out with animals from a support earth tank, with an initial average weight of 7.12g±1.13g and at a density of 6 individuals / tank (+ 1 safety individual). The transfer was carried out 7 days before the start of the study in order to acclimatize the animals to the experimental conditions. During this period, individual weighing of the animals and their marking were carried out in order to establish the initial individual weights and allow their identification throughout the breeding period. On the day of marking, the density was reduced to 6 individuals / tank. Thus, the final individual weights and survival could be assessed at the end of the study period.

[0039] Control plan: Temperature (°C) and dissolved oxygen concentration (mg / L) were monitored daily (8:00 and 16:00). Siphoning, purging and counting the number of shrimp per tank (survival monitoring) were also carried out 5 times per week (excluding weekends and public holidays). Where appropriate, observations were recorded regarding moulting periods, animal behaviour or any other parameter of interest.

[0040] Preparation of Hemetia illucens flour:

[0041] The flour is obtained from H. Illucens larvae which are heated, mechanically separated into 3 phases (mechanical extraction, without the use of solvent), dried and then ground.

[0042] The larvae are killed by immersion in water heated to approximately 70°C. The devitalized larvae are ground and then heated to at least 90°C. The product thus obtained is mechanically separated into 3 phases: the solid part (cake), a liquid part containing water-soluble nutrients (glue water) and the oil. The flour, composed of the cake, the glue water and the antioxidant, is dried. The humidity at the outlet of the flour is between 5 and 10%. Finally, the flour is ground. The particle size of the flour at the outlet of the mill is less than 2 mm.

[0043] Characteristics of experimental foods and feeding plan:

[0044] The composition comprises, in addition to animal and vegetable flours, the ingredients conventionally contained in food for decapods, namely: oil, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

[0045] The control feed comprises a portion of PFM fish meal of 30% by weight of said feed. Feeds A, B and C, the composition of which is described in Table 1, are obtained by substituting a portion of the fish meal contained in the control feed with a lower portion of HL meal.

[0046] For example, feed A comprises a portion of fish meal P'FM of 22% by weight of said feed. It therefore corresponds to a composition in which a portion by weight AFM = PFM - P'FM = 30% - 22% = 8% of fish meal, corresponding to 27% of the fish meal PFM contained in the control feed (8% / 30% = 27%), would have been replaced by a portion of HI flour pHi = 3% by weight of the feed, representing 37% of AFM (3% / 8% = 37%).

[0047] This thus makes it possible to obtain foods corresponding to a composition in in which 27%, 33% and 39% of the fish meal in the control feed would have been replaced respectively by a pHi portion of Hermetia illucens larva meal, according to a pHi / AFM ratio of 37%, 39% and 40% respectively (Table 2). The proportion of animal meal in feeds A, B and C is therefore lower than the 30% contained in the control feed. For each of the alternative feeds A, B and C, the control feed represents a conventional fish meal-based feed from which the alternative feed could be obtained by substituting a portion of said fish meal with a lower proportion of HL larva meal

[0048] [Tables 1] ABC Control Feed Flour Hl 0 3 3.84 4.6 Fish meal 30 22 20.16 18.4 Wheat flour 38 46 48 50 Soybean meal 16 13 12 11

[0049] Table 1: Composition of food in % (main ingredients)

[0050] On D0, the food of the different study groups was differentiated. Each study group was offered access to the food ad libitum for 2*2h (09:00 and 13:00) before its withdrawal. 2 to 3 measurements of intake per week were carried out from the collection of food leftovers after the rations were made available, dried and weighed.

[0051] Formulas for calculating the parameters studied in this study:

[0052] - Survival (S; %) = [(Nbfinai-Nbinitial) * 100] / Nbinitiai where Nb is the number of individuals;

[0053] - Weight gain (WG; %) = [(Wfinai-Winitiai) * 100] / Winitiai where W is the individual weight

[0054] - Quantity ingested (Ing.; g / ind.) = Qingéré / Nb where Q is the quantity of food ingested;

[0055] - Conversion Index (CI) = Ing. / GP, which corresponds to the ali conversion rate mentary Results

[0056] Survival rate:

[0057] [Tables 2] Food Ufm / Pfm (%) % fish meal + % Hl meal Survival (%) Control 0 - 30 90.0414.9 A 27 37% 25 100*40.0 B 33 39% 24 86.7a±13.9 C 39 40% 23 93.347.5

[0058] Table 2: Mean values ​​of shrimp survival accompanied by their standard deviations according to the different experimental foods. The values ​​associated with the same letter do not show any significant difference between them (Fisher test, p > 0.05).

[0059] Regarding survival, the results are presented in Table 2, as well as in [fig.l]. These results show no significant difference in survival between the different treatments.

[0060] Weight gain, quantity ingested and conversion index:

[0061] [Tables3] Feed ôfM / PFM (%) % fish meal + % HI meal Weight gain (%) Quantity ingested (g / individual) Conversion index Control 0 - 30 23*47.4 8.7741.88 5.91*41.48 A 27 37% 25 26.4a45?9 10.82b40.65 5.7940.83 B 33 39% 24 18.544.7 12.0341.61 8.39*41.64 C 39 40% 23 30.9411.6 11.20^41.45 6.46*43.01

[0062] Table 3: Mean values ​​obtained in weight gain, quantity of food ingested and conversion index accompanied by their standard deviations according to the different experimental foods. The values ​​associated with the same letter do not present any significant difference between them (Fisher test, p > 0.05).

[0063] Regarding weight gain, the results are presented in Table 3, as well as in [fig.2]. Feeds A and B do not show any significant difference in terms of shrimp weight gain compared to the control feed. Treatment C even shows a significantly higher weight gain compared to the control. Thus, shrimp fed with one of the three alternative feeds show performances at least equivalent to those fed with the control feed on weight gain.

[0064] Regarding food intake, the results are presented in Table 3. The Foods A, B and C all three show a quantity of food ingested significantly higher than that observed for the control food, which reflects an improved palatability.

[0065] Finally, the conversion index (CI) makes it possible to obtain an objective measurement coupling both ingested and growth data. The CI therefore makes it possible to provide information on the capacity of the feed to transform into animal biomass. The results are presented in Table 3, as well as in [fig.3]. In this experiment, feeds A, B and C appear to be well transformed: their conversion indices do not show any significant difference with the control feed. The efficiency of the conversion of these feeds into animal biomass is therefore at least equivalent to that observed with the control feed.

[0066] Conclusion:

[0067] The objective of this experiment was to show that it is possible to substitute part of the fish meal with a lower quantity by weight of HI meal to obtain alternative feeds, less rich in animal meal, but just as effective, that is to say without affecting the nutritional properties of the feed. The results show that with the exception of feed C for which the weight gain is significantly higher than the control feed, the alternative feeds show weight gains at least equivalent to the control feed. The different feeds formulated with a reduced quantity of animal meal (fish meal + HI meal) also show a significantly higher feed intake and do not show any significant difference in the conversion index with the control feed.It has thus been shown that feeds formulated with a reduced quantity of fish meal + HI meal allow for the maintenance of growth gain, a quantity of feed ingested and a conversion index at least equivalent to those obtained with the control feed.

[0068] EXAMPLE 2: Maintaining the growth performance of Litop enaeus vannamei shrimps fed with a feed obtained by replacing a portion of fish meal with a lower portion of Hermetia illucens meal Materials and methods

[0069] Experimental conditions:

[0070] These experiments were carried out on shrimps of the species Litopenaeus vannamei.

[0071] The experimental area consists of 12 tanks of 290L. The shrimp larvae have were raised in a recirculating water system containing artificial seawater at a salinity of 20 gL *. A biological / mechanical filter and regular water changes kept the total ammonia (NH3 / NH4+) content below 0.05 mg.L 1 and the nitrite (NO2) content below or equal to 0.8 mg.L *. The water temperature was kept constant at 27°C ± 1°C using a automatic temperature control. A total of 720 shrimp with an average body weight of approximately 2.8 g were used to randomly compose 9 groups of 80 individuals. Each group was housed in a feeding unit. Each experimental diet was allocated to 3 feeding units. The total weights of the groups were measured at the beginning of the experiment and at 28 days.

[0072] Preparation and characteristics of experimental foods:

[0073] HI flour was added to the other ingredients (fish meal, vegetable flours, amino acids, vitamins and minerals...) and everything was thoroughly homogenized. A feed binder and water were added, and then the resulting paste was granulated using a granulating machine. The temperature during the procedure did not exceed 40-50°C. 3 kg of each feed was thus produced.

[0074] The control feed comprises a portion of PFM fish meal of 15% by weight of said feed. Feeds A and B, the composition of which is described in Table 4, are obtained by substituting a portion of the fish meal contained in the control feed with a lower portion of HL meal

[0075] For example, feed A comprises a portion of fish meal P'FM of 10% by weight of said feed. It therefore corresponds to a composition in which a portion by weight AFM = PFM - P'FM = 15% - 10% = 5% of fish meal, corresponding to 33% of the fish meal PFM contained in the control feed (AFM / Pfm = 5% / 15% = 33%), would have been replaced by a portion of HI flour pHi = 2.5% by weight of the feed, representing 50% of AFM (2.5% / 5% = 50%).

[0076] This thus makes it possible to obtain feeds corresponding to a composition in which 33% and 47% of the fish meal in the control feed would have been replaced respectively by a pH1 portion of Hermetia illucens larva meal, according to a pH1 / AFM ratio of 50% and 64% respectively (Table 5). The portion of animal meal in feeds A and B is consequently lower than the 15% contained in the control feed. For each of the alternative feeds A and B, the control feed represents a conventional fish meal-based feed from which the alternative feed could be obtained by substituting a portion of said fish meal with a lower portion of HL larva meal.

[0077] [Tables4] AB Control Feed HI Flour 0 2.5 4.5 Fish Meal 15 10 8 Wheat Flour 35 35 35 Soybean Meal 30.5 34 34

[0078] Table 4: Composition of food in % (main ingredients)

[0079] During the experimental period, feed was distributed automatically 4 times a day. The groups of shrimp received their respective diet according to a daily ration calculated from the average weight of the shrimp (standard percentage of weight) and adjusted daily according to expected growth, observed mortality and feed consumption per group.

[0080] Growth performance was evaluated according to the following parameters:

[0081] • Weight gain (GP; g) • Specific growth rate (SGR; % / day) = [(ln Wfinai - In Winitiai)*100] / t where t is the duration in days • Feed conversion rate • Survival (S; %) Results

[0082] [Tables5] Feed Ûfm / Pfm (%) % fish meal + % Hi meal Weight gain (g) Specific growth rate (% / day) Feed conversion ratio Survival (%) Control 0 - 15 4.00=10.09 3.20=10.06 1.75=10.04 97.5=11.3 A 33 50% 12.5 3.89=10.11 3.14=10.06 1.77=10.07 96.3=13.3 B 47 64% 12.5 3.91=10.19 3.16=10.08 1.77=+0.04 96.3=13.3

[0083] Table 5: Mean values ​​obtained in weight gain, specific growth rate and conversion index accompanied by their standard deviations according to the different experimental foods. The values ​​associated with the same letter do not present any significant difference between them (Fisher test, p > 0.05).

[0084] Regarding weight gain and specific growth rate, the results are presented in Table 5, as well as in [fig.4]. Feeds A and B do not show any significant difference in terms of weight gain or specific growth rate of shrimp compared to the control feed. Thus, shrimp fed with the alternative feeds show performances at least equivalent to those fed with the control feed on weight gain and growth rate.

[0085] As regards the feed conversion rate, the results are presented in Table 5, as well as in [fig.5]. In this experiment, feeds A and B appear to be well converted: their conversion indices do not show any significant difference with the control feed. The efficiency of the conversion of these feeds into animal biomass is therefore at least equivalent to that observed with the control feed.

[0086] Regarding survival, the results are presented in Table 5. These results show no significant difference in survival between the different treatments.

[0087] Conclusion:

[0088] The objective of this experiment was to show that it is possible to substitute part of the fish meal with a lower quantity by weight of HI meal to obtain alternative feeds, less rich in animal meal, but just as effective, that is to say without affecting the nutritional properties of the feed. The results show that the alternative feeds exhibit weight gains, growth rates and feed conversion rates at least equivalent to the control feed. It was thus shown that feeds formulated with a reduced quantity of fish meal + HI meal make it possible to maintain the yield of shrimp farming in comparison with the control feed.Thus, Hermetia illucens meal may be a viable solution and an interesting alternative to fishmeal in commercial shrimp diets as it not only allows a decrease in the amount of fishmeal used, but also an overall decrease in the amount of animal meal thanks to the combination of fishmeal and HI meal. HI meal is a very interesting ingredient because its production has a reduced environmental footprint and a quantity less by weight than that of fish is sufficient to obtain results at least equivalent to those obtained with current fishmeal-only feeds.

Claims

Claims

1. Feed intended for shrimp farming making it possible to maintain the yield of the farming compared to a farm fed with a reference feed without Hermetia Illucens larva meal, said reference feed comprising a PFM portion of fish meal of between 5% and 30% by weight of said feed, characterized in that it comprises a P'FM portion of fish meal and a pHi portion of Hermetia illucens larva meal, it being specified that: - P'fm = PFm- Afm where Afm represents 5% to 60% of PFM - pm represents 35% to less than 100% of Afm

2. Use of a feed as defined in claim 1, to enable the maintenance of weight gain in a shrimp farm.

3. Use of a feed as defined in claim 1, to enable the growth rate to be maintained in a shrimp farm.

4. Use of a feed as defined in claim 1, for maintaining the feed conversion rate in a shrimp farm.

5. Use according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said shrimps are chosen from the species Litopenaeus vannamei, Li-topenaeus stylirostris and Penaeus monodon.

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