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Email the author (Login required) Dietary supplementation of calcium butyrate modulates hepatopancreatic trypsin activity in Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei
Submited: 2026-04-06 16:25:42 | Published: 2026-08-24 10:43:23
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol54-issue4-fulltext-3645
Abstract
The use of feed additives and innovative shrimp diets aims at improving feed quality, leading to animal health and performance gains. Organic acids like calcium butyrate are used as a dietary supplement for marine shrimp. They are effective in promoting shrimp health and growth, and benefit the digestibility and availability of different nutrients. This study evaluated the growth performance and hepatopancreatic digestive enzyme activity of juvenile Penaeus vannamei fed a diet supplemented with commercial calcium butyrate (Butifour®CCB) for 27 days. For this purpose, 80 P. vannamei juveniles were randomly assigned to two experimental groups, with eight replicates each: control (0.0%) and calcium butyrate treatment (0.2% Butifour®CCB). Additionally, water quality analyses were performed to ensure a suitable environment for the juveniles. Shrimp survival remained above 95% for all treatments, and no significant differences were observed in growth performance, weight gain, specific growth rate, or protein efficiency rate between groups (P > 0.05). Similarly, the dietary use of calcium butyrate did not grossly alter the hepatopancreas composition (inc. protein and triglycerides) or the hepatopancreatic activity of amylase, lipase, and chymotrypsin digestive enzymes. Notably, the activity of hepatopancreatic trypsin showed a 30% increase (P = 0.0281) in shrimp fed the calcium butyrate diet (0.08 ± 0.01 nmol min-1 mg protein-1) compared to shrimp fed the control diet (0.05 ± 0.01 nmol min-1 mg protein-1). Therefore, the inclusion of 0.2% calcium butyrate in P. vannamei juvenile diet promotes trypsin activity in the hepatopancreas and may benefit protein digestion and nutrient availability.
