Feeding frequency is a critical factor in Penaeus monodon aquaculture. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an intelligent high-frequency feeding strategy on the growth, intestinal microbiota, and metabolism of Penaeus monodon , a 35-day trial was conducted comparing a high-frequency (HF, 72 times/day) and a low-frequency (LF, 4 times/day) feeding regime using an intelligent feeding system. The physiological and mechanistic responses were assessed through 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics. The HF group demonstrated significantly superior growth performance, with markedly higher final body weight, length, WGR, AGR, and SGR, alongside a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than the LF group. Intestinal analysis revealed that the HF group possessed higher microbial diversity and a distinctly different community structure compared to the LF group. Beneficial families like Rhodobacteraceae and Lachnospiraceae were enriched in the HF group, whereas the LF group was dominated by Vibrionaceae . Metabolomic profiling showed that the HF group exhibited significant upregulation of key metabolites (e.g., L -alanine, citric acid) compared to the LF group, which were enriched in pathways central to amino acid metabolism and energy production. Correlation analysis further linked these shifts in beneficial microbiota with the altered metabolic profile. These comparative results demonstrate that high-frequency feeding reshapes the intestinal microbiome and host metabolism in P. monodon , providing a mechanistic explanation for its growth-promoting effects. • First study to integrate 16S rRNA sequencing with metabolomics in P. monodon under high-frequency feeding. • High-frequency feeding significantly enhanced growth performance of P. monodon. • It positively altered intestinal microbiota structure, and Key metabolic pathways related to nutrient absorption and energy metabolism are upregulated.
Wang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.