Diseases remain one of the biggest challenges for fish and shrimp farmers in Asia. While many producers still hope for a "magic bullet" to solve all their problems, companies like Alltech are promoting a more holistic and preventative approach to animal health.
Shrimp health
“For shrimp farmers, we believe that building the foundations of health—starting with immunity—is far more important than looking for a quick fix,” said Dr. Henry Wong, Regional Commercial Development Director at Alltech, during an interview with Aquafeed.com at VIV Asia.
“We try to educate farmers not to wait until disease appears. It will come—just like in humans—but if shrimp have stronger immune systems, the impact is reduced. Losses can be minimized. There's no guarantee the disease won’t reach the farm, but strengthening immunity is a crucial first step,” Wong explained.
To support it, Alltech advocates for the use of organic trace mineral technology in aquafeed. “These trace minerals play a key role in various immune responses and they are essential nutrients. After decades of research, education and promotion, the industry is beginning to recognize that organic trace minerals outperform inorganic ones. They can be used at a lower inclusion rate while still delivering equal or even superior results,” Wong explained.
In low-salinity environments, shrimp require continuous mineral supplementation. “We’ve found that applying trace minerals in addition to macro minerals directly to the water improves shrimp growth and supports them during the molting process,” said Wong.
While organic trace minerals have been shown to enhance survival under stressful conditions, Wong emphasized that no single solution is sufficient on its own. “Farmers should apply immune-boosting nutritional supplements proactively from the beginning, rather than waiting until problems arise and react to it.”
Probiotics are another solution Alltech offers to the industry. The company recently introduced a new probiotic product for water bioremediation – an easy-to-use product for direct application to water. “After three years of in-house research, we developed a multi-strain probiotic blend tailored for the aquaculture market,” Wong shared. The product, first unveiled at VIV Asia, is now available in India as its pioneer market.
Fish farming
When it comes to fish farming in Asia, rising costs are a major concern. “Higher costs are pushing farmers to increase stocking densities, which in turn raises disease risk. To tackle these issues, we apply the same health-first approach in fish farming,” Wong said.
He also noted that high-value marine fish species tend to receive more focused care. “A 10% mortality rate is a major concern for marine fish farmers, while some freshwater fish farmers accept up to 50% as normal. It's a mindset issue,” Wong explained. “Marine fish farmers must justify their investment. For freshwater species, profitability is still largely price-driven. But improving survival rates through better immune support and water quality should be a top priority.”
Could younger generations bring a shift in mindset? Possibly—but Wong believes economics is the true driver. “A few years ago, when shrimp prices were high, we saw younger people returning to the farms. But with recent price drops, that trend reversed. In the end, the economy still plays the biggest role in attracting talent to the industry,” added Yufan Zhang, SE Asia Technical Manager and China Aqua BD Manager at Alltech.
Mycotoxins
Another major issue Alltech is tackling is mycotoxin contamination in aquafeed. The company has developed a robust database to help customers understand their risk profiles.
“Each species has different tolerance levels for various mycotoxins,” Wong explained. “By combining this knowledge with our extensive data on mycotoxin levels in raw materials, we can provide a total risk assessment—categorized as low, medium, or high. This helps our customers implement the right mitigation strategies.”
Among the most prevalent in aquafeed is deoxynivalenol (DON). Wong pointed out that although many feed mills currently use clay-based binders, these are largely ineffective against DON. In response, Alltech has been developing a next-generation mycotoxin binder specifically designed to offer stronger protection against DON. The first commercial launch is planned for Japan later this year.
