Grass carp can be farmed in the north, but the main production areas are south of the Yangtze River

AbstractGrass carp can be farmed in the north. Grass carp can survive in water temperatures ranging from 0.5-40°C, and they have fewer diseases, so the farming techniques are easy to master. Grass carp are mainly farmed in the plains south of the Yangtze River in China, and are farmed less north of the Yangtze River.

Can grass carp be farmed in the north?

Grass carp can indeed be farmed in the north, but because the farming cycle in northern regions is relatively short, the stocking size and stocking density of grass carp are important factors determining the survival rate of grow-out farming and whether they reach market size in the same year. Therefore, to further improve the farming survival rate, it is recommended to buy large-size grass carp fingerlings for stocking. Suggestion: it is essential to strictly control important steps in healthy grass carp farming such as fry rearing, feed feeding and disease prevention, so as to achieve better economic returns. Grass carp can survive in water temperatures of 0.5-40°C, they have the advantage of fewer diseases, and their farming techniques are also very easy to master, so they are suitable for farming in northern regions.

Choosing a pond

Grass carp are generally farmed in ponds. The pond should be chosen in a place with abundant water sources and clear, pollution-free water quality. The pond area should be moderate and not too large, and the water depth should preferably be maintained at around 2.5 m. The pond should have no depressions and little silt, so that leakage and seepage will not occur. Before stocking the fry, drain all the water from the pond, remove excess silt and debris during this period, then freeze and sun-dry for about 15 days, add 20-30 cm of water, and spread quicklime powder for disinfection. Three days after disinfection, filter and add water to about 1-1.5 m. During this period, prepare several feeding machines and aerators to prevent grass carp from dying due to lack of oxygen.

Selecting fry and stocking

Before stocking, choose fry that are lively, disease-free, uninjured on the body and have a large appetite. The selected fry should preferably be within 3 cm in size, to avoid the phenomenon of the strong preying on the weak among grass carp. Once the toxicity of the disinfectant has dissipated, the fry can be released. Avoid mixing in fry of other species. The best time to release fry is in January-February, when spring water temperatures are relatively low and the fry's scales are tight, making body damage less likely. When releasing fry, bighead carp and silver carp can be polycultured, which can improve water quality and help promote the growth of grass carp.

Feed and feeding

To promote the growth of grass carp, artificially compounded feed can be chosen, with a crude protein content of more than 30%. When feeding, a feeding platform can be set up to train the grass carp school to surface and compete for food. When feeding, feed small amounts many times to ensure the grass carp eat their fill. After training is successful, feed at fixed times and in fixed amounts, and later gradually increase the feeding amount according to the growth of the grass carp. Do not feed too much at one time, to avoid causing indigestion in grass carp. During the peak growth season of grass carp, the number of feedings can be appropriately increased to promote their growth.

Farming management

When farming grass carp, inspect once each morning and evening to check water quality and the growth condition of the grass carp. The water should be changed regularly. Healthy water is generally green, with a transparency of around 50-60 cm. In summer, grass carp grow relatively fast, and their food intake and activity also increase. Because summer temperatures are relatively high and can easily cause oxygen deficiency in grass carp, pay attention to the dissolved oxygen level in the water body and promptly turn on the aerator to increase dissolved oxygen. Disinfection later on should also be done well.

Although grass carp can be farmed in northern regions, the main producing areas are in the plains south of the Yangtze River in China, and they are farmed less north of the Yangtze River.