In the shrimp industry, broodstock is always the foundation of a successful farming season. Healthy, fast-growing broodstock has long been a core requirement for farmers at all times. However, with increasingly volatile farming environments, more complex diseases, and ever-higher market demands, the criteria for broodstock today have also been raised to a new level. Besides health and growth rate, the shrimp industry needs generations of broodstock developed on a scientific basis, with better adaptability, greater stability, and sustainable profitability for farmers.
Few people know that Viet Uc embarked on this journey more than two decades ago, at a time when almost no entity in the Vietnamese shrimp industry had a long-term development path rooted in genetic science and breeding. From the very beginning, Viet Uc invested systematically in infrastructure, research centers, advanced technology, and collaborated with domestic and international experts to lay the foundation for the future of the shrimp industry. Recently, Viet Uc has continued to pioneer the application of Genomics in shrimp breeding programs in Vietnam: a technology considered the key to next-generation breeding worldwide. This contributes to consolidating Viet Uc’s leading position today.
At VINAFIS, a major event bringing together the aquaculture community, experts, and leading businesses in the Vietnamese shrimp industry, Viet Uc made a special highlight by sharing in-depth information about its systematic shrimp breeding program and the applications of genetic science and Genomics technology – the foundation for creating high-quality broodstock for the Vietnamese shrimp industry.
Modern breeding begins with a systematic genetic evaluation program.
In reality, a shrimp that grows quickly is not necessarily one that can pass on desirable traits to the next generation. Growth can come from favorable environmental conditions, good care, or many other factors besides genetics. Therefore, to sustainably improve the breeding stock, it is necessary to determine the true genetic value of each individual.
That is why Viet Uc implements the Genetic Evaluation program, a method currently applied in advanced aquaculture industries worldwide. This program helps predict the Estimated Egg Value (EBV) of each individual, that is, the ability to pass on desirable traits such as growth, survival rate, or adaptability to the next generation.
To make accurate predictions, the system doesn’t rely on a single factor but synthesizes multiple layers of data simultaneously: from multi-generational pedigrees of the parent stock, actual data on growth and survival rates, to environmental parameters such as salinity, temperature, weather, and pond conditions. All of this is processed using modern statistical models to separate the influence of genetics from the impact of the environment.
With over 15 years of systematically accumulated, highly accurate, and in-depth data from its pedigree system, Viet Uc has elevated breeding practices: not just selecting “good-looking” animals, but choosing individuals with the potential to produce superior generations year after year.
Genetic Gain – A Measure of Herd Progress
A breeding program is only truly valuable when it can demonstrate that the herd improves over time. In genetic science, this is measured by the Genetic Gain index, also known as genetic progress.
In breeding science, Accuracy is a measure of the precision of a selection method. When applying the EBV (Estimated Genetic Value) index, Accuracy reflects the reliability of predicting the genetic potential of each individual. Selection Intensity is the degree of selection required to find the most superior individuals. Genetic Variance represents the genetic diversity of a trait being improved, and Generation Interval is the time interval between two consecutive generations. When these factors are combined, genetics uses the Genetic Gain index to measure the progress of a breeding stock – or simply put, how much the offspring have improved in terms of growth, survival rate, and resistance after each generation.
All four factors – the accuracy of the selection method, selection pressure, genetic variance, and generation interval – affect the genetic gain of each trait to varying degrees. For whiteleg shrimp breeding programs, the accuracy of the breeding program, specifically the accuracy of EBV, has the greatest impact on the variation of genetic gain. This is an indicator of the reliability of predicting breeding value. The higher the accuracy, the greater the chance of selecting the right superior individuals, leading to faster genetic improvement of desired traits.
To enhance accuracy, Viet Uc continuously invests in three core platforms: a large dataset accumulated over two decades, a multi-generational genetic phylogenetic tree, and modern mathematical models capable of processing millions of data points under real-world farming conditions.
However, the biggest leap forward lies in Genomics technology.
Genomics: Viet Uc decodes molecular genetics, accurately identifying the superior differences of individual shrimp.
Genomic information enhances the accuracy of EBV (Ethical Therapeutic Value) in two important ways.
First, genomic data is used to correct errors in pedigree information. Because pedigrees are recorded by humans, the storage and management process is prone to errors. Meanwhile, gene sequencing technology allows for the precise determination of kinship between individuals within the same population. Therefore, discrepancies in pedigrees can be detected and corrected, making EBV estimates more reliable.
Second, genomic information increases the level of linkage between individuals within a population. If relying solely on pedigrees, genetic relationships are often only determined within the same family, such as shared parents, grandparents, or ancestors. In that case, data from some individuals mainly only supports the assessment of individuals within the same lineage. However, with Genomics, the degree of genetic similarity between individuals is determined directly through DNA, even if they do not belong to the same family. This allows the use of data from many different individuals throughout the population to estimate EBV for each specific individual. As more sources of information are incorporated into the analysis, the accuracy of EBV is significantly improved compared to methods that do not use Genomics.
This is a breakthrough in breeding, especially for survival rate traits. Without genomic information, siblings within the same family are often considered to have equivalent genetic potential, resulting in nearly identical EBV values, making it difficult to distinguish which individual is superior. However, survival rate is a trait influenced by many different genes. Therefore, even within the same family, each individual may carry a unique gene combination. Only with the application of Genomics can these differences be clearly identified, thereby creating differences in EBV between individuals and helping to accurately select those with higher potential for survival rates.
Beyond survival rates, Genomics also enhances the accuracy of genetic assessment for traits with high heritability coefficients such as growth or age at first reproduction in female shrimp. It can be said that this technology improves the accuracy of most traits recorded in modern agriculture.
That is why, worldwide, Genomics is considered an inevitable trend in modern breeding programs. In Vietnam, Viet Uc is a pioneering unit investing systematically in this field for the shrimp industry.
From the Research Lab to the Achievement: The VU-S26 Super Team
Investments in science only truly matter when they create value beyond the aquaculture pond. The VU-S26 Super Team is a prime example of the long-term genetic research strategy of Viet Uc.
The four shrimp lines were developed with clear directions: Super 60 stands out for its growth rate, Super Durable integrates high adaptability for stable productivity and high yields, Super Resistant focuses on increasing survival rates and reducing risks, while Super Salinity opens up opportunities for efficient farming in low-salinity areas.
Behind these outstanding traits is not randomness, but the result of many years of targeted selection, guided by data, mathematical models, and a foundation in Genomics.
When Science Brings Sustainable Prosperity to Shrimp Farmers
For shrimp farmers, the ultimate value lies not in technological jargon, but in practical results: healthier broodstock, more proactive farming, lower risks, and more sustainable profits.
This is also the philosophy that Viet Uc has pursued for many years: investing in the most invisible things, such as data, genes, and science, to create the most visible values outside the pond – the VU-S26 Super Team, developed to meet specific farming needs: rapid growth, resilience to environmental fluctuations, improved survival rates, and good adaptation to low salinity areas. These are not just new broodstock, but solutions researched to support farmers in various regions.
From DNA mapping to crop yields across the country, Viet Uc is walking alongside Vietnamese farmers, embarking on a new chapter for Vietnam’s shrimp industry: a chapter of science, technology, and generations of shrimp breeds created for the future.
