The Effects of the Use of Antibiotics in Aquaculture on the Environment and the Human Body
The use of antibiotics in aquaculture has started in the last century. In the 1980s, antibiotics were mainly used to prevent and control diseases. In 1987, their application reached a peak, which caused problems such as residual antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in farming products.
Farmers were the most directly impacted. During Grobest’s on-site visits, we found that the vast majority of farmers have used antibiotics to prevent or treat diseases. They reflected that some effect could be observed after the first use, but the symptoms would recur after a few days and the number of diseased shrimp would increase. In addition, no effect would be observed upon using antibiotics again, due to developed drug resistance. In the end, the farmers would be helpless and desperate, and little or no income would be earned.
You are what you eat! When consumers buy and consume products with residual antibiotics, the residue will also accumulate in their bodies, which will increase their drug resistance at the same time. When they contract a disease, they may be forced to increase the drug dose in order to achieve the desired effect. In the worst scenario, any dose may be inefficacious and they will have to depend on their immunity alone to overcome the disease.
Contemporary Difficulties in Shrimp Farming
After 2010, due to introducing high-density farming to various places, outbreaks of white feces syndrome, enteritis and various bacterial diseases began to occur in shrimp farming. In recent years, the occurrence of diseases has been an intractable problem for farmers
Initially, farmers used antibiotics to deal with diseases. After repeated use, however, antibiotics remained in the farming pond environment, causing pathogenic bacteria to develop resistance and making it impossible to fight the disease. Therefore, no matter how the farmers carried out shrimp culture, it always resulted in failure. Even when the shrimp survived after the use of antibiotics, many consumers refused to purchase products containing antibiotics due to the rise of “green food” and health awareness, thereby causing farmers low returns on their investments.
All-Round Solution by Grobest
The origins of Grobest’s founder go back to farming. He had suffered a similar fate due to antibiotics and endured the same hardships as the farmers our company now serves. Therefore, he decided to find an alternative solution through research and development to farm successfully and in an environmentally friendly way.
Only when farmers are able to run healthy culture of aquatic species can the aquaculture industry develop dynamically and become sustainable. In response to the problems of white feces syndrome and enteritis, Grobest have developed functional feed to strengthen the digestive system of aquatic animals. It is known that the intestinal tract accounts for more than 70% of all immune cells. Many immune cells are activated in the intestinal tract, which enhances immunity. Therefore, only a healthy intestinal tract can produce good immunity and reduce the risk of opportunistic infections. Grobest functional feed includes a variety of special fermentation products and nutrient enhancers, which can make farmed species healthier and give farmers the confidence to say “NO” to antibiotics. The specific benefits of our products are as follows:
- Enhance appetite and palatability
- Activate and strengthen the immune system
- Increase liver and pancreas digestion and absorption capacity (increased oil drops count)
- Promote hepatopancreatic and intestinal health of shrimp
- Promote the repair of blind-ended hepatopancreatic tubule injury
The results of Grobest’s many years of research and experiment are summarized as follows:
- Environmental management is critical, as well as reducing the possibility of exposure to pathogens. This includes bio-security, waste discharge, sufficient dissolved oxygen levels, and the use of PSB and EM bacteria to control harmful substances in the water, so as to achieve microbial balance.
- II. It is crucial to strengthen the immunity and disease resistance of shrimp, and intestinal health is of first importance with respect to the immunity of shrimp. Grobest maintains the intestinal probiotic flora and hepatopancreatic function through enhancing our feed with fermentation metabolites and natural organic acids developed by our team, so as to build a strong immune system.
In the following cases, the hepatopancreas and intestinal tract of shrimp can be observed through a microscope, and significant improvement in the intestinal tract can be seen after ingestion of Grobest functional feed.
Differences in visual inspection of the body
Before
Before using Grobest feed, the intestinal tract of the shrimp was thin, light in color and relatively empty.
After
However, after four days of using Grobest Immune Enhance functional feed, the intestinal tract became thick, dark in color and full. Hepatopancreas was plumper than before.
Differences in microscopic inspection of the tubules
Before
Before using Grobest feed, the tubules appeared shrunken and the oil drops were sparse, with the saturation less than 40%.
After
However, after four days of using Grobest Immune Enhance functional feed, the tubules recovered their normal shape and the oil drops saturation exceeded 80%.
Reduced intestinal inflammation
- Before use: blur spots and inflammation in the intestine.
- During use: spots in the intestine gradually become clear and inflammation is reduced.
- After using Grobest functional feed, the tubules are full of oil droplets. No ATM is visible, and the shape becomes rounder.
- ATM = Aggregated Transformed Microvilli.
Improved condition of Aggregated Transformed Microvilli (ATM)
- Before use: few oil drops in the cecum and ATM are present. The tips are slightly sharp.
- During use: the count of oil drops in the cecum gradually becomes adequate and ATM has been discharged. The tips are slightly round.
- After use: oil drops are saturated in the cecum and there is no ATM. The tips are well-rounded.
The above performance datas shared from customer's successful cases, but the actual result may impact by environment, seed, feeding management in verity changing factors.
Water quality control requirements and feeding method
- Water quality indicators: Ammonia < 0.3 ppm, Nitrite < 1 ppm, D.O. 4 ppm or above and pH 7.5–8.5. When the water quality becomes poor, use Grobest water quality treatment agent PSB and EM bacteria to modify water quality, and use functional feed.
- Method of use of functional feed
- Fry stage (below DOC 30): Use consecutively for 15 days for precaution
- Precaution: Use consecutively for 5~7 days every two weeks
- Outbreak season: Use consecutively for 15 days when the season changes or in outbreak season
Grobest technical service
In addition to providing products, Grobest provide technical services in various countries, assisting farmers in environmental control and shrimp health observation, guiding farmers on the proper use of Grobest feeds and water treatment products, and sharing with farmers optimal culture techniques including the most recent findings, thereby helping farmers grow.
