A Detailed Guide to Integrated Tilapia Farming Methods and Techniques

The cost of integrated farming is relatively low, and when fish prices are sluggish, the profit margin is larger and it is highly practical to implement. How to further improve the benefits of integrated farming through management techniques has become the main issue at present.

In recent years, as pond rents have continued to rise in various places, feed prices have kept climbing, and water resources are limited in many areas, tilapia diseases occur from time to time, while the price of finished fish fluctuates, making the market outlook less than optimistic. How to reduce farming costs and risks has become a common concern among farmers.

I. Benefit analysis of tilapia farming models

Taking the tilapia monoculture model as an example, if feed is applied throughout the whole cycle, the farming cost for tilapia is about 3.5-4 yuan/jin, and two crops can be raised per year. Under the fish-shrimp polyculture model with full-cycle feeding, the farming cost for tilapia is about 3-3.5 yuan/jin, and basically one crop of fish can be raised per year. Under the integrated farming model, with tilapia and the four major Chinese carps polycultured in the pond and a semi-feeding approach, the cost is about 2-3 yuan/jin, and one crop of fish can also be raised per year.

The market price determines the fate of the fish. Monoculture costs are too high, polyculture often only breaks even, while integrated farming costs are relatively low, and when fish prices are sluggish, the profit margin is larger and it is highly practical to implement.

II. Problems existing in the integrated farming model

At present, the integrated tilapia farming model still has the following problems: First, because it is semi-fed farming, the fish grow slowly and at uneven rates, so the market-size fish are inconsistent in size and tend to be concentrated for harvest during the year-end peak, when fish prices are often poor. Second, when there is too much manure from pigs, ducks and other livestock and poultry, the water body's biological chain is easily thrown off balance, water quality deteriorates very easily, and this environment has an enormous impact on the growth rate of fish in the water. Third, when the water quality in the pond enters a vicious cycle, fish are prone to outbreaks of disease and even death. Fourth, drug residues may exist in links such as the farming environment, fry, feed, aquatic animal medication and livestock and poultry medication. Fifth, farmers have a weak awareness of scientific management and do not pay enough attention to fish disease prevention and water quality adjustment, making it very easy for deteriorating water quality to cause disease and lead to economic losses.

III. Management techniques for the integrated farming model

1. Reasonable stocking density and appropriate mixing

Taking a pond of about 20 mu as an example, assuming the pond has a water depth of 2.5-3 m, the fry stocking ratio can be: bighead carp 40-50 fish/mu, bream 30-40 fish/mu, white crucian carp 300-400 fish/mu, tilapia 1300-1600 fish/mu, with other fish species appropriately mixed in as well. Bighead carp and bream can be stocked for two crops per year, while the other fish produce one crop per year. In fact, no matter which farming model is used, the stocking density must be appropriately arranged according to the actual farming environment, and the production cycle must be understood.

2. Graded farming

It is recommended that farmers spend a little more time first concentrating the purchased fry in small ponds and raising them to large-size fingerlings before transferring them to ponds for separate rearing. This practice not only facilitates management and feeding with fine feed, but also improves the survival rate of the fry, and at the same time, after the fish are transferred to ponds, the stocking density can be controlled relatively accurately. During the farming process, through successive harvesting and stocking, not only is the utilization rate of the pond improved, but the economic income of the pond can also be increased. More importantly, it is conducive to the management and control of the main production pond.

3. Pay attention to disinfection of parasites, bacteria and water bodies

Integrated tilapia farming should focus on prevention, combining prevention and treatment, to reduce the occurrence of fish diseases. Excessive parasites and bacteria will greatly reduce the feeding ability of fish, slow down growth, lower feed conversion rates, increase costs, and may even cause a vicious cycle, outbreaks of fish disease, and in severe cases lead to fish death. During farming management, fish should be regularly examined every month to see whether there is parasitic infection, and especially for tilapia under 100 g, attention should be paid to frequent deworming; after 100 g, deworming should be carried out regularly once a month. When carrying out the operation, the basic principle of deworming first and sterilizing afterward should be followed.

4. Focus on water quality adjustment

“To farm fish, first cultivate the water.” Only when the water environment is good can the effects of saving feed, reducing disease and making fish grow quickly be achieved. Farmers should frequently test the pH value, ammonia nitrogen and nitrite content of the farming water body, and adjust water quality according to the actual situation. During the farming process, aerators should also be used reasonably and part of the farming water body should be replaced in a timely manner. On rainy days or muggy weather, generally turn on the aerator for 2-3 hours at noon to neutralize water temperature, increase dissolved oxygen in the water body and volatilize ammonia nitrogen. Replace the pond water body by slow drainage and slow irrigation.

In the integrated tilapia farming model, water adjustment work is particularly important. Special attention should be paid to the fact that when air temperature and water temperature are too high from June to September, tilapia streptococcosis is easily induced. At this time, farmers should heighten their vigilance and carry out preventive work in advance.

5. Effectively use livestock and poultry manure and rationally feed complete formula feed

(1) In the integrated tilapia farming model, the key to feed application lies in “emphasizing both ends and going light in the middle.” Before tilapia reach 50-100 g, complete formula feed should be dominant with livestock and poultry manure as a supplement, to promote early skeletal development and sound growth of tilapia. When tilapia grow to the 100-250 g stage, livestock and poultry manure should be dominant, combined with complete formula feed, to achieve the purpose of saving farming costs. After tilapia reach 250-300 g, rationally supplying complete formula feed can increase the growth rate of tilapia and raise the meat yield of tilapia.

(2) During the farming process, the amount of feed applied should be increased or decreased according to weather, changes in water quality and the food intake of the fish.

(3) Every month, drugs such as antibacterials and liver-protecting agents should be regularly mixed into the feed for feeding, to enhance the immune capacity of tilapia. This is particularly important from June to September each year, and generally drugs should be mixed into the feed for feeding 1-2 times per month. (Avoid using antibiotics and drugs banned in aquaculture during the farming process.)