Introduction to Indoor Ambient-Temperature Intensive Rearing Techniques for American Bullfrogs

Indoor intensive rearing of American bullfrogs, although requiring a higher one-time investment than outdoor rearing, offers several major advantages over outdoor rearing: no natural enemies, and escape and theft are very unlikely to occur; the growth of the bullfrogs is easy to inspect, and diseases can be detected in time for treatment; the temperature is stable, and feeding is not easily disturbed by people or vehicles; the indoor pool water is very shallow, so the feed put in is not easily wasted; labor intensity is low, and the work is done without exposure to the sun, rain or wind, just like working in a factory, so even housewives can take part; compared with outdoor farming, the survival rate is higher, growth is faster, feed consumption is lower, and the economic returns are better. Based on the above points, it has now been adopted by more and more people. Indoor intensive rearing has two forms, namely indoor warmed (greenhouse) rearing and indoor ambient-temperature rearing.

Indoor ambient-temperature rearing is another form of indoor intensive rearing of market-size American bullfrogs. It also has several characteristics of greenhouse rearing, only the growing period is not as long; the equipment and buildings are about the same, only there are no warming facilities; the rearing management is basically the same as greenhouse rearing, with only one temperature-regulation measure reduced. When the air temperature and water temperature drop to the point where the bullfrogs eat very little and do not gain weight, then, as with outdoor rearing, they should be transferred into the pond to overwinter or be reared in a greenhouse. Where conditions permit, indoor ambient-temperature rearing can be combined with greenhouse rearing. When the indoor natural temperature is suitable for bullfrog growth, the ambient-temperature rearing method is used; if the temperature drops and the bullfrogs begin to hibernate, warming measures are taken for greenhouse rearing. In this way, the site and equipment are fully utilized, and at the same time bullfrog output can be increased and economic returns improved.