How much do grass carp fry cost in 2019, and is it profitable to raise grass carp?

Black carp, grass carp, silver carp and bighead carp are the well-known “four major Chinese carps,” fish that people eat regularly and that have relatively high nutritional and economic value. Many farmers choose to raise grass carp. In 2019, how much do grass carp fry cost? Is it profitable to raise grass carp?

1. How much do grass carp fry cost in 2019?

The market price of grass carp fry is about 6 to 9 yuan per jin; if calculated by the fish, it is about 0.4 to 0.6 yuan per fish. Prices may differ somewhat by size and region, so the local market price should be taken as the standard. For grass carp fry of 250 to 500 grams per fish, the stocking density is about 400 fish per mu, and the grass carp output per mu is about 1200 jin.

2. Is it profitable to raise grass carp?

1. Market conditions for grass carp

The market price of grass carp has been rising continuously. In 2016 the price of grass carp was 12 yuan per kilogram, in 2017 it was 14 yuan per kilogram, and in 2018 it rose to 16 to 18 yuan per kilogram. The price of grass carp has kept rising, and market demand has not fallen because of the price increase, so raising grass carp can still make money.

2. Costs and profits of raising grass carp

Raising grass carp requires upfront investment in fry, pond construction (land rent), feed, medicine, water and electricity, and other costs. The cost of raising one mu of grass carp is about 1500 yuan, and the yield per mu is about 1200 jin. After deducting costs, the annual profit is about 2000 yuan, and if the farming area is large, it may even reach 5000 yuan per mu.

3. Grass carp farming techniques

1. Pond conditions: the pond used for farming is best 3 to 5 mu in area with a water depth of about 2 m. After the pond embankment is repaired, there should be no leakage, and water intake and drainage should be convenient. Set up one 0.2 kW automatic feeder at the edge of the pond, and equip it with two 1.5 kW aerators.

2. Preparatory work: after the pond is dried and exposed to the sun in winter, either clear the pond with water or clear it after drying when farming. If clearing with water, copper sulfate can be used; the water depth is generally 50 cm and the specific dosage is 500 grams per mu, as an insecticide treatment of the water body before fry are introduced. For dry pond clearing, use quicklime scattered dry at 50 kg per mu, or use bleaching powder scattered dry at 12.5 kg per mu. This method can thoroughly kill pathogens in the water relatively well and effectively improve the bottom substrate of the farming pond.

3. Stocking fry: select high-quality fry and stock them into the pond. When stocking, soak them in 0.4% enrofloxacin hydrochloride solution for 10 to 15 minutes. Before entering the water, test the water for 3 days; generally, use a 60-mesh net on a fishing pole. If the fry show no abnormal conditions within 3 days, the fry can be stocked normally.

4. Feeding: start the feeder at the appropriate time to feed and train them. When the fry hear the sound of the feeder, they will form a conditioned reflex and gather near the feeder. At the beginning, feed slowly and little; when starting to feed, feed at 1% of the amount, and gradually train the fry to form group feeding behavior with intense competition for food.

5. Water quality control: the water quality requirements for raising grass carp are ammonia nitrogen less than 0.2 mg/L, nitrite less than 0.2 mg/L, and pH between 6.5-8.5.

The prospects for raising grass carp in 2019 are still quite good, and market sales are also quite good. Grass carp is a very popular fish on the market and is very suitable for farming.