Shrimp gut health and microbiome management are emerging welfare priorities, with gut health affecting disease resistance, stress tolerance, and overall welfare outcomes.
Shrimp gut health directly affects their ability to maintain welfare in production conditions. Disrupted gut microbiomes reduce disease resistance and stress tolerance, predisposing shrimp to conditions that cause welfare suffering. AHPND causes rapid hepatopancreatic destruction and mass mortality. Welfare-focused gut health management uses probiotics and high-quality feed to maintain gut integrity, avoids unnecessary antibiotic use that disrupts beneficial microbiomes, and monitors for early signs of disease. Biofloc systems provide additional microbiological support through beneficial water-borne bacteria.