Combine tray checks, animal behaviour, biomass estimates, and pond conditions before changing feed.

Feed is both nutrition and information

Feeding observations can reveal changes in appetite, animal condition, water quality, or equipment performance. The goal is not to decide from one tray; it is to assemble enough evidence for a controlled adjustment.

Make checks comparable

Use the farm's standard feed, tray placement, loading method, soak time, and scoring method. Record feed batch, ration, feeding time, tray result, weather, water-quality exceptions, and checker. A changed method can look like changed appetite.

Look beyond the tray

Consider feed remains together with shrimp distribution and behaviour, recent moulting, mortality, biomass estimate, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, rainfall, and aeration. Inspect feed condition and delivery equipment when the result is unexpected.

Change one thing with a reason

Follow the farm's approved feeding table and adjustment limits. Record the evidence, authorised ration change, and next review time. Do not automatically add feed to compensate for weak response; uneaten feed adds organic load and can further reduce water quality.

Stop and escalate

Escalate a sharp or pond-wide appetite drop, especially with abnormal behaviour, mortality, equipment failure, or deteriorating water quality. Treat it as an operational or health signal—not a diagnosis—and follow the farm response plan.

Script

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Sources & further reading

  1. Australian Prawn Farming Manual

    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; feeding, pond condition, and health-management context.

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