Whole Corn Grain Meal Inclusion in Commercial Shrimp Feeds

Misael Rosales

The world farm production of shrimp in 2014 was 9.02 billion lbs. The estimated world consumption of feed consumed by shrimp farms was 16 – 20 billion lbs. in 2014. Wheat grain and/or by-products (e.g. wheat middlings) levels typically average around 30% of shrimp feeds. Thus, approximately 4.8 billion to 6 billion lbs. of wheat grain and/or by-products were consumed by commercial shrimp feeds in 2014. The world’s shrimp farm production is increasing by over 7%/year with the prediction to reach the size of chicken production in the future.

A major reason why corn grain is not being used in shrimp feeds instead of wheat grain and/or byproducts is the contamination level of aflatoxin in corn in the world, particularly the sub-tropical and tropical regions. Considering the very small incidence of aflatoxin in Minnesota corn, plus the demonstration that corn could replace wheat grain and/or by-products in feeds with no reduction of shrimp farm production/acre, indicates that a potential new market for Minnesota corn can be established.