Effect of butyrate on growth performance, nutritional indices and immune performance of Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) (Decapoda, Penaeidae)

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of dietary sodium butyrate on growth performance, feed utilization, immune responses, and antioxidant capacity in Penaeus vannamei . Post-larvae (PL10) were fed diets with 1, 2 and 3% sodium butyrate, as well as a control diet, for 120 days. Shrimp fed with 2% sodium butyrate diet achieved the highest final weight (14.71 ± 0.08 g), weight gain (1.94 ± 0.08 g), specific growth rate (3.66 ± 0.17%), survival rate (88.88 ± 3.85%), and a better feed conversion ratio (1.34 ± 0.12) compared to the control and other treatment groups. Immunological assessments showed increased cellular and humoral responses, including total haemocyte counts (46.74 × 10 6 cells/ml), granulocyte (28.35 × 10 6 cells/ml) and hyaline cell counts (19.42 × 10 6 cells/ml), serum protein (86.69 ± 3.02 mg/ml), lysozyme activity (1.12 ± 0.06 U/ml), and prophenoloxidase activity (0.78 ± 0.05 OD at 490 nm). Antioxidant capacity, measured by superoxide dismutase activity (8.5 ± 0.04 μ mol), was also higher in shrimp fed with 2% butyrate. These findings show that adding 2% sodium butyrate per kg of feed facilitates optimizing growth, immunity, and stress tolerance in P. vannamei . Sodium butyrate can be a useful feed additive for sustainable shrimp farming, improving health, productivity, and disease resistance.