Key Technical Points and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Golden Pompano Farming Explained
Golden Pompano Farming Technology and Cost-Benefit Analysis
Based on a comprehensive analysis of market trends in recent years, selling golden pompano as early as possible yields the best returns and can also avoid some potential risks. At the same time, a high survival rate, fewer diseases and a low feed conversion ratio can also improve farming profitability
□Text/Photos by Li Xianyu, Guangdong Tianbang Feed Technology Co., Ltd.
I. Basic Information on Golden Pompano
The golden pompano, scientific name Trachinotus ovatus, locally known as yellow pomfret or golden pompano, belongs to the class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes, family Carangidae, genus Trachinotus. The fish is laterally compressed and oval-shaped; the anal fin and second dorsal fin are roughly equal in size, both noticeably longer than the abdomen. The head is laterally compressed, the caudal peduncle is slender, and the body is covered in small cycloid scales that do not shed easily. The golden pompano is a warm-water pelagic fish; it is relatively large in size, has a big appetite, digests quickly, competes aggressively for feed and grows rapidly, with a short farming cycle. The flesh is white, tender and delicious, making it one of the prized marine economic fish species along the southern coast. Artificial cage farming of golden pompano has a relatively long history, beginning in the 1990s; large-scale farming began in 2003, and pond farming began in 2004. Today, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and the southern coast of Fujian are the main producing areas for golden pompano.
In recent years, domestic demand for golden pompano has been rising steadily. It attracts considerable attention not only in the domestic market but is also in short supply in major aquatic product-consuming countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and the EU, making it another new highlight among aquatic product exports. Given the demand for golden pompano in both domestic and international markets, the prospects for developing golden pompano farming are broad.
II. Golden Pompano Farming Methods
Golden pompano is mostly farmed in cages and ponds. Cage farming is further divided into raft cage farming or deep-water cage farming. Pond farming mainly involves polyculture with fish, shrimp and crabs.
III. Cage and Pond Farming Techniques
1. Cage farming
(1) Site selection: Artificial cage farming of golden pompano is mostly inshore farming. The ideal farming area has good water quality, slow currents, good wind shelter, and a water depth of about 10 m at low tide (±1 m).
(2) Seedling stocking management: In Yangjiang, Guangdong, golden pompano seedlings are mostly stocked in April of the Gregorian calendar each year, and stocking is best when the water temperature is stable above 23°C. The stocking size is generally around 3 cm, and the stocking density is generally around 100 fry/cubic meter. When the fry grow to about 7 cm, grading and transferring to separate cages begins; grading and transferring can be done multiple times, and the final grow-out density is best at around 30 fish/cubic meter. For deep-water cages, the fry are first nursed to about 50 g each before being moved into the cages, and a density below 15 fish/cubic meter is preferable.
(3) Scientific feeding: Golden pompano has a large food intake, with a daily feeding amount of about 6% of body weight. The feeding amount should be scientifically controlled according to water quality and weather conditions to avoid waste and increased farming costs.
(4) Daily management: Points to note in the early stage of golden pompano farming (before 200 g): ① Parasites. Mostly Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (white spot disease), commonly seen below 25°C in areas with poor water exchange; a freshwater dip can remove them, and they are basically absent once the water temperature is above 28°C; ② Fish should not be too fat in the early stage. Choose high-quality special compound feed for golden pompano to ensure normal liver metabolism, prevent death caused by fatty liver, and improve the survival rate.
Points to note in the late stage of farming (after 200 g): ① Enteritis. Golden pompano has a large food intake in the late stage, and enteritis is relatively common. Feeding high-quality special compound feed for golden pompano can greatly reduce enteritis, or during peak feeding periods, regularly feeding some microbial preparations can promote digestion and prevent enteritis; ② Hypoxia. In the late stage, water temperatures are high, organic matter at the bottom metabolizes vigorously and consumes a lot of oxygen, reducing dissolved oxygen in the water body, while golden pompano has high activity levels and high dissolved oxygen requirements. Therefore, in hot seasons it is best to feed in the evening and morning to reduce the fish's activity and prevent mass deaths from hypoxia. ③ If water quality is poor and feeding is abnormal, the fish body becomes rough, the body color darkens, the scales protrude, and the fish quickly becomes emaciated. At this time, feeding high-quality, high-energy special compound feed for golden pompano can slow the emaciation, and once feeding returns to normal, the fish quickly recovers. ④ Skin ulcer disease. In severe cases the muscle rots away; it occurs mostly after autumn and is most severe in winter. With a reasonable stocking density and feeding of high-quality, nutritionally complete special compound feed for golden pompano, this disease is unlikely to occur.
2. Pond farming
Golden pompano grows quickly, has a short cycle and low cost in pond farming, so large-scale pond farming has developed rapidly in recent years. However, pond farming of golden pompano has low stocking density, low yield and low economic returns, which means other species must be polycultured to improve economic returns. Polyculture is mostly with fish, shrimp and crabs. The stocking density for pond farming of golden pompano is generally around 1000 fish/mu, the pond water depth should be about 2 m, water intake and drainage should be convenient, and aerators should be installed.
Key technical points for pond farming of golden pompano: ① Golden pompano requires high dissolved oxygen, so aerators must be installed; ② Water quality requirements are high, and water intake and drainage must be convenient; ③ Polyculture with shrimp and crabs. Stock shrimp and crab seedlings first, then stock fish fry about half a month later; ④ Use net enclosures to nurse and strengthen fry, improving the survival rate and ensuring uniform fry; ⑤ Feed at fixed points, and enclose the feeding area to prevent feed from drifting everywhere; ⑥ In hot weather and low pressure, change the water more often to keep water quality fresh and prevent hypoxia.
IV. Golden Pompano Farming Costs
1. Fixed costs: cage investment and personnel. Cage investment includes cage construction and the input of nets. In Yangjiang, Guangdong, a set of good-quality raft cages of 300 sq m, including cage construction and nets, costs about 80,000 yuan, and staff wages average 20,000 yuan/year/person. A set of 300 sq m rafts produces roughly 30,000 jin per year. Cages are depreciated at 10%, i.e. 10,000 yuan per year; adding labor, fixed costs are generally 1 yuan/jin. Therefore, the higher the output per unit, the lower the cost allocation and the lower the fixed costs.
2. Variable costs: feed cost (feed conversion ratio) and seedling input. In recent years, due to rising prices of feed raw materials, the price of commercial golden pompano feed averages 7000 yuan/ton, i.e. 3.5 yuan/jin. Fry prices are generally around 0.8 yuan/fish in the early stocking period and around 0.5 yuan/fish later, averaging 0.6 yuan/fish; with an ideal grow-out survival rate above 85%, calculated at 85%, the fry cost is 0.7 yuan/fish. At present, the average feed conversion ratio for growing golden pompano to 1 jin/fish is about 1.8. Calculated at a feed conversion ratio of 1.8, the feed cost for 1 jin of fish is 6.3 yuan/jin, accounting for nearly 80% of golden pompano farming costs, so controlling feed cost is key to realizing farming profitability. From farming practice, the shorter the farming time, the higher the survival rate generally is, the lower the feed conversion ratio and the lower the overall cost; conversely, the longer the farming time, the lower the survival rate, the higher the feed conversion ratio and the higher the overall cost.
3. Total cost: Based on a comprehensive analysis of the fixed and variable costs of golden pompano farming, the farming cost of golden pompano is generally 8 yuan/jin. To reduce costs and increase efficiency, one can only find ways to do so on the variable cost side. A good farming environment and conditions are certainly important, but good management is even more indispensable, reflected in the selection of high-quality seedlings and feed, the timing of marketing, and so on.
V. Golden Pompano Farming Profitability
In recent years, the market trend for golden pompano has been high at both ends and low in the middle, meaning prices are best at the end of July each year, lowest in September, October and November, and begin to recover after December. Excluding the influence of some abnormal factors, such as the freezing damage in early 2008 and the impact of Typhoon Hagupit, the market price of golden pompano rarely exceeds 15 yuan/jin. Under normal circumstances, from September to the end of November in the Gregorian calendar, the market price of golden pompano is at its lowest, generally 10-12 yuan/jin; it is highest around the Spring Festival, but generally within 15 yuan/jin.
To ensure the profitability of golden pompano farming, the following points must be achieved:
1. Based on a comprehensive analysis of farming costs and market trends, the earlier golden pompano is sold, the better the returns and the more some potential risks can be avoided. 2. The higher the survival rate and the higher the output per unit, the better the returns. 3. With fewer diseases, smooth farming, fast growth and a low feed conversion ratio, the returns are higher.
□Text/Photos by Li Xianyu, Guangdong Tianbang Feed Technology Co., Ltd.
I. Basic Information on Golden Pompano
The golden pompano, scientific name Trachinotus ovatus, locally known as yellow pomfret or golden pompano, belongs to the class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes, family Carangidae, genus Trachinotus. The fish is laterally compressed and oval-shaped; the anal fin and second dorsal fin are roughly equal in size, both noticeably longer than the abdomen. The head is laterally compressed, the caudal peduncle is slender, and the body is covered in small cycloid scales that do not shed easily. The golden pompano is a warm-water pelagic fish; it is relatively large in size, has a big appetite, digests quickly, competes aggressively for feed and grows rapidly, with a short farming cycle. The flesh is white, tender and delicious, making it one of the prized marine economic fish species along the southern coast. Artificial cage farming of golden pompano has a relatively long history, beginning in the 1990s; large-scale farming began in 2003, and pond farming began in 2004. Today, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and the southern coast of Fujian are the main producing areas for golden pompano.
In recent years, domestic demand for golden pompano has been rising steadily. It attracts considerable attention not only in the domestic market but is also in short supply in major aquatic product-consuming countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and the EU, making it another new highlight among aquatic product exports. Given the demand for golden pompano in both domestic and international markets, the prospects for developing golden pompano farming are broad.
II. Golden Pompano Farming Methods
Golden pompano is mostly farmed in cages and ponds. Cage farming is further divided into raft cage farming or deep-water cage farming. Pond farming mainly involves polyculture with fish, shrimp and crabs.
III. Cage and Pond Farming Techniques
1. Cage farming
(1) Site selection: Artificial cage farming of golden pompano is mostly inshore farming. The ideal farming area has good water quality, slow currents, good wind shelter, and a water depth of about 10 m at low tide (±1 m).
(2) Seedling stocking management: In Yangjiang, Guangdong, golden pompano seedlings are mostly stocked in April of the Gregorian calendar each year, and stocking is best when the water temperature is stable above 23°C. The stocking size is generally around 3 cm, and the stocking density is generally around 100 fry/cubic meter. When the fry grow to about 7 cm, grading and transferring to separate cages begins; grading and transferring can be done multiple times, and the final grow-out density is best at around 30 fish/cubic meter. For deep-water cages, the fry are first nursed to about 50 g each before being moved into the cages, and a density below 15 fish/cubic meter is preferable.
(3) Scientific feeding: Golden pompano has a large food intake, with a daily feeding amount of about 6% of body weight. The feeding amount should be scientifically controlled according to water quality and weather conditions to avoid waste and increased farming costs.
(4) Daily management: Points to note in the early stage of golden pompano farming (before 200 g): ① Parasites. Mostly Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (white spot disease), commonly seen below 25°C in areas with poor water exchange; a freshwater dip can remove them, and they are basically absent once the water temperature is above 28°C; ② Fish should not be too fat in the early stage. Choose high-quality special compound feed for golden pompano to ensure normal liver metabolism, prevent death caused by fatty liver, and improve the survival rate.
Points to note in the late stage of farming (after 200 g): ① Enteritis. Golden pompano has a large food intake in the late stage, and enteritis is relatively common. Feeding high-quality special compound feed for golden pompano can greatly reduce enteritis, or during peak feeding periods, regularly feeding some microbial preparations can promote digestion and prevent enteritis; ② Hypoxia. In the late stage, water temperatures are high, organic matter at the bottom metabolizes vigorously and consumes a lot of oxygen, reducing dissolved oxygen in the water body, while golden pompano has high activity levels and high dissolved oxygen requirements. Therefore, in hot seasons it is best to feed in the evening and morning to reduce the fish's activity and prevent mass deaths from hypoxia. ③ If water quality is poor and feeding is abnormal, the fish body becomes rough, the body color darkens, the scales protrude, and the fish quickly becomes emaciated. At this time, feeding high-quality, high-energy special compound feed for golden pompano can slow the emaciation, and once feeding returns to normal, the fish quickly recovers. ④ Skin ulcer disease. In severe cases the muscle rots away; it occurs mostly after autumn and is most severe in winter. With a reasonable stocking density and feeding of high-quality, nutritionally complete special compound feed for golden pompano, this disease is unlikely to occur.
2. Pond farming
Golden pompano grows quickly, has a short cycle and low cost in pond farming, so large-scale pond farming has developed rapidly in recent years. However, pond farming of golden pompano has low stocking density, low yield and low economic returns, which means other species must be polycultured to improve economic returns. Polyculture is mostly with fish, shrimp and crabs. The stocking density for pond farming of golden pompano is generally around 1000 fish/mu, the pond water depth should be about 2 m, water intake and drainage should be convenient, and aerators should be installed.
Key technical points for pond farming of golden pompano: ① Golden pompano requires high dissolved oxygen, so aerators must be installed; ② Water quality requirements are high, and water intake and drainage must be convenient; ③ Polyculture with shrimp and crabs. Stock shrimp and crab seedlings first, then stock fish fry about half a month later; ④ Use net enclosures to nurse and strengthen fry, improving the survival rate and ensuring uniform fry; ⑤ Feed at fixed points, and enclose the feeding area to prevent feed from drifting everywhere; ⑥ In hot weather and low pressure, change the water more often to keep water quality fresh and prevent hypoxia.
IV. Golden Pompano Farming Costs
1. Fixed costs: cage investment and personnel. Cage investment includes cage construction and the input of nets. In Yangjiang, Guangdong, a set of good-quality raft cages of 300 sq m, including cage construction and nets, costs about 80,000 yuan, and staff wages average 20,000 yuan/year/person. A set of 300 sq m rafts produces roughly 30,000 jin per year. Cages are depreciated at 10%, i.e. 10,000 yuan per year; adding labor, fixed costs are generally 1 yuan/jin. Therefore, the higher the output per unit, the lower the cost allocation and the lower the fixed costs.
2. Variable costs: feed cost (feed conversion ratio) and seedling input. In recent years, due to rising prices of feed raw materials, the price of commercial golden pompano feed averages 7000 yuan/ton, i.e. 3.5 yuan/jin. Fry prices are generally around 0.8 yuan/fish in the early stocking period and around 0.5 yuan/fish later, averaging 0.6 yuan/fish; with an ideal grow-out survival rate above 85%, calculated at 85%, the fry cost is 0.7 yuan/fish. At present, the average feed conversion ratio for growing golden pompano to 1 jin/fish is about 1.8. Calculated at a feed conversion ratio of 1.8, the feed cost for 1 jin of fish is 6.3 yuan/jin, accounting for nearly 80% of golden pompano farming costs, so controlling feed cost is key to realizing farming profitability. From farming practice, the shorter the farming time, the higher the survival rate generally is, the lower the feed conversion ratio and the lower the overall cost; conversely, the longer the farming time, the lower the survival rate, the higher the feed conversion ratio and the higher the overall cost.
3. Total cost: Based on a comprehensive analysis of the fixed and variable costs of golden pompano farming, the farming cost of golden pompano is generally 8 yuan/jin. To reduce costs and increase efficiency, one can only find ways to do so on the variable cost side. A good farming environment and conditions are certainly important, but good management is even more indispensable, reflected in the selection of high-quality seedlings and feed, the timing of marketing, and so on.
V. Golden Pompano Farming Profitability
In recent years, the market trend for golden pompano has been high at both ends and low in the middle, meaning prices are best at the end of July each year, lowest in September, October and November, and begin to recover after December. Excluding the influence of some abnormal factors, such as the freezing damage in early 2008 and the impact of Typhoon Hagupit, the market price of golden pompano rarely exceeds 15 yuan/jin. Under normal circumstances, from September to the end of November in the Gregorian calendar, the market price of golden pompano is at its lowest, generally 10-12 yuan/jin; it is highest around the Spring Festival, but generally within 15 yuan/jin.
To ensure the profitability of golden pompano farming, the following points must be achieved:
1. Based on a comprehensive analysis of farming costs and market trends, the earlier golden pompano is sold, the better the returns and the more some potential risks can be avoided. 2. The higher the survival rate and the higher the output per unit, the better the returns. 3. With fewer diseases, smooth farming, fast growth and a low feed conversion ratio, the returns are higher.