Case Analysis and Technical Key Points of Ecological Loach Farming

  This farming base implements an ecological three-dimensional farming model, which means making full use of space by planting water spinach on the water surface and farmingloachin the water. Unlike single-species loach farming, ecological farming is a compound farming method. The current combination of loach and water spinach is a successful attempt, a model case of combining vegetables with aquaculture.

  The Hengyuan Loach Farming Base starts stocking fry in mid-May each year, at a rate of 300 jin per mu and 150 fry per jin. Before stocking the fry, the pond is thoroughly disinfected by spreading 100 jin of quicklime per mu over the entire pond, followed by repeated flushing with water 3 times. After about a week, the fry can be stocked.

  During loach farming, special attention must be paid to the three preventions, feeding and daily management. The three preventions are disease prevention, escape prevention and bird prevention. In terms of disease prevention and control: do regular water disinfection work to create a good water environment for the loach; when feeding, some loach-specific disease-prevention drugs can be added regularly. In terms of escape prevention: observe whether there are any holes around the pond, and fill them promptly when found. A layer of mesh can be placed 20-30 cm from the pond to prevent the loach from directly contacting the surrounding soil, which can minimize the chance of escape. In terms of bird prevention: most birds that eat loach are national second- and third-class protected animals. To promote the harmonious development of humans and nature, we strongly recommend that farmers focus on prevention rather than killing; farmers can put a very thin net over the pond, which can effectively prevent birds from preying on the loach. Once the three preventions are done well, the basic problems are solved. In terms of feeding: feed amounts depend on the climate. When the water temperature is 20—30 degrees, feed 3% of the total loach weight; when the water temperature is above 30 degrees, feed 4% of the total weight; feed once each morning and evening, with 35% of the day's feed given at 6 a.m. and the remaining 65% at 5 p.m. In terms of daily management: the key is patrolling the pond morning and evening, observing whether the mesh is damaged, whether there is any escape at the inlet and outlet, how the water quality is, and whether ammonia nitrogen exceeds the standard; the pond water should be changed regularly, depending on the temperature; loach should not be overfed, and it is best if the feed is finished within two hours. Feeding platforms can be built to observe feeding conditions

  However, in summer, the water temperature can become too high, which may adversely affect loach growth. Therefore, we recommend that farmers place some aquatic plants on the water surface, and it would be even better if they can create economic value. Generally, water spinach covering 1/4 to 1/3 of the entire water surface is optimal. Below is a brief introduction to the technical key points of co-culturing water spinach on the water surface: choose an area in the middle or a corner of the water surface, fix the surroundings with wooden stakes or bamboo poles, and place a whole piece of shade net or foam in the middle (with many small holes cut in the shade net or foam to ensure the small water spinach plants can be inserted), then surround it with rope to prevent the water spinach from spreading out.

  Planting water spinach can save 20%--30% of feed, because water spinach attracts some insects, and these insects are exactly natural live bait for loach and are more nutritious than feed, which benefits loach growth; planting water spinach can also reduce the economic pressure on farmers. Large-scale loach farming requires relatively high investment, and the principal and profit can only be recovered when the loach is sold at the end of the year, whereas with water spinach planting, farmers can sell water spinach while farming loach, which clearly helps reduce feed costs!

  Taking the Hengyuan Loach Farming Base as an example, under the leadership of general manager Pan Youfeng, we tried the ecological three-dimensional farming model on 10 mu and achieved relatively ideal results. Fry were stocked at 300 jin per mu, the fry price was 20 yuan/jin, and the annual output is about 1500 jin, while the average market price of finished loach is 18 yuan/jin. After deducting fry costs of 6000 yuan, feed costs of 7000 yuan, pond construction costs including excavator modification of the rice fields and anti-escape mesh of 3500 yuan, labor wages of 2000 yuan/mu, and disease prevention and daily management of 1000 yuan, the profit is no less than 6000 yuan/mu. As for the co-cultured water spinach, each square meter can be harvested 15 times a year, creating an average return of 2 yuan per square meter. Calculated on the basis of 150 sq m of water spinach planting area per mu, that is 4500 yuan. Therefore, the ecological three-dimensional farming model is a good choice. During the trial process, the general manager played an important role, repeatedly experimenting and controlling the water spinach area to 1/4 to 1/3 of the total area, so that the loach has sufficient activity space and the water spinach has sufficient growing space

  Phone 13221258883  QQ: 1713329106  Address: Lintou Village, Geshan Town, Dongyang City, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province