August 30, 2013

The Mexican shrimp hatchery association, ANPLAC, has recently inaugurated a nucleus shrimp breeding centre at an inland facility near Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. 

The facility consists of a quarantine area where broodstock are individually tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for four different viruses, a maturation unit, a small hatchery for family culture, and multiple grow-out tanks. The facility was partially funded by the Mexican Government and dues paid by participating hatcheries. In late 2013, first generation offspring will be distributed to hatcheries for the development of their own broodstock.

The breeding centre's founder broodstock, which has a high tolerance to whitespot, were imported from Primo Broodstockin Houston, Texas, USA.  Primo has a three-year contract to provide broodstock to ANPLAC.

Primo Broodstock's webpage says, "Primo Broodstock has unique SPF families that have been selected for up to 12 generations for superior growth and tolerance to most known viral and bacterial diseases. For breeding purposes, the animals are selected and grouped into families using DNA markers. The approach that Primo Broodstock has taken towards genetic selection is based on developing animals tolerant to most known viruses and pathogens. The animals have shown the ability to withstand an infection without signs of the disease.