Cargill facilities. (Photo Credit: Cargill)

Cargill launches programme to help battle EMS

Cargill's animal nutrition business has launched a programme aimed at helping shrimp producers manage the risk of early mortality syndrome (EMS) on their farms and improve profitability.

The programme, called SmartShield™, is a holistic approach combining specialized feed and technical services proven to combat the disease and increase production by an average of 30 per cent.  

EMS, now technically known as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), is caused by certain strains of the bacteria Vibrio and has caused devastating production losses in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Mexico. It has recently been suspected in disease outbreaks in other Central American countries. Outbreaks of EMS have caused mortality rates as high as 100 per cent.

The new SmartShield™ programme is comprised of three components:

• On-Farm risk assessment uses a specialized tool that provides customized reports including specific biosecurity and farm management recommendations to reduce disease risk;
• Targeted feed solutions with advanced nutrition including a functional additives package delivered through a complete feeding programme that improves growth performance and boosts the shrimp immunity to increase survival;
• Specialized technical support package includes on-site performance evaluation tools and rapid diagnostics in water quality and disease resulting in early detection and preventative recommendations saving time and money.

"Disease is one of the major causes of low farm productivity and loss of revenue," said Ryan Lane, global aquaculture technology director.

"Our experience has shown us that targeting only one aspect of production is not enough. A holistic approach – improved biosecurity, a specialized feeding programme and customized technical services for ongoing disease prevention and management – is best for effectively reducing disease outbreaks on the farm," Lane added.

The SmartShield™ programme is the result of two years of research at Cargill's Global Animal Nutrition Innovation Center in Elk River, Minn., to design and select the best possible combination of additives and nutrients for promoting growth performance and animal survival.

According to the company, field trials conducted with key customers in Mexico proved that the SmartShield™ programme can provide customers:

• An average of 59 per cent higher production yield;
• An average of 20 per cent improvement in Feed Conversion Rate (FCR);
• Up to USD 3,850 per hectare return on investment.

In partnership with customers, researchers, industry and government, Cargill has been investigating strategies to help shrimp producers reduce the risk of EMS outbreaks for more than two years. In addition to R&D, scientific studies and field trials, the SmartShield™ programme builds on feedback and learnings from EMS-affected countries, including a workshop that Cargill hosted in Mexico in November 2013, which brought together a wide range of academic researchers, government representatives and industry experts to share experiences and explore strategies to deal with the disease.

"This programme is a huge step forward in our journey to help mitigate the devastating effects of EMS on the industry," said Mario Chong, business development manager for Cargill's aquaculture business in Central America.

"We have listened to our customers and reacted with a strong, research-based solution to combat this devastating disease," Chong pointed out.

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