Detailed Explanation of Management Measures and Technical Key Points for Bullfrogs During the Overwintering Period

As modern people's living standards rise ever higher, the dish "bullfrog" has gradually appeared on the menus of many restaurants. Combined with its high nutritional value and tender meat, the consumer base for bullfrogs is growing larger and larger, and many farmers have begun to devote themselves to the bullfrog farming industry. For bullfrog farming, the most difficult issue is overwintering. Many bullfrog farmers have reported that bullfrogs easily die on a large scale in winter, and how to get through this winter has become a major problem that farmers must face. As is well known, when the external environmental temperature drops below l0°C, the bullfrog's body temperature falls accordingly, feeding stops, activity decreases, and it hides in burrows and at the bottom of the water. This is the hibernation phenomenon of bullfrogs. Below, let us understand the overwintering management methods for bullfrogs.

I. Overwintering temperature

Overwintering management mainly involves controlling the overwintering temperature. The overwintering environmental temperature is best controlled at l0-l5°C, and the overwintering water temperature is best controlled at 5-l0°C. In this temperature range, bullfrogs are in a semi-dormant state, with a low metabolic rate and low oxygen consumption, making management easier. If conditions permit, the water temperature can be adjusted to 23-28°C to help bullfrogs change from winter hibernation to winter growth. During the overwintering period, the minimum water temperature must not be lower than 0°C, otherwise the bullfrogs will suffer frostbite or even freeze to death. Therefore, during the bullfrog overwintering period, the air temperature and water temperature must be observed every day, and the temperature must be well regulated.

II. Overwintering environment

Pay attention to regulating water quality, properly add water, change water, and maintain good water quality. For bullfrogs overwintering in a semi-dry manner, the soil must be kept moist for a long time and the environment kept quiet. During the overwintering period, bullfrogs do not eat or move, are in a dormant state, have a very low metabolic rate, and consume the least energy. If the environment is noisy or there is human interference, it will cause discomfort or migration of overwintering bullfrogs, which will raise their metabolic rate, increase energy consumption, significantly reduce body weight, and in severe cases even cause disease and death. Apart from necessary water addition, water changes and sprinkling, generally do not startle or disturb the bullfrogs.

III. Overwintering food

Feed an appropriate amount of feed. During overwintering, bullfrogs consume a large amount of energy to maintain life. About 0.5-l month before overwintering, bullfrogs should be fed more animal feed rich in fat and protein, so that they accumulate more fat and so on before overwintering, improve their resistance to severe cold, and thus overwinter safely. In the later stage of overwintering, when the air temperature and water temperature gradually rise above l0°C, the overwintering bullfrogs gradually awaken, and at noon on sunny days an appropriate amount of high-protein feed can be given, such as earthworms, yellow mealworms, etc., with a daily feeding rate of 0.5%-l.0%. Work must also be done well to prevent attacks by enemies and to promptly prevent and treat frog diseases.

IV. Care of tadpoles during the overwintering period

To help tadpoles overwinter safely, the water level of the tadpole pond can be deepened to about 0.3 m, and the amount of water hyacinth or other aquatic plants put into the water surface should be increased, generally to the extent of covering 2/3 of the water surface, so as to keep the water temperature slightly higher. If the air temperature drops below 0°C, the water in the tadpole pond should be deepened to 1.1 m, so that even if the water surface freezes, the water temperature in the deep layer of the pond can remain at about 4°C. In a water temperature environment of 4°C, tadpoles can overwinter safely and grow slowly relying only on feeding on organic matter in the pond water.

The above are the management methods for bullfrogs during the overwintering period. From the above content, it is not difficult to see that the management of bullfrogs during the overwintering period mainly revolves around temperature and environment. During the overwintering period, because bullfrogs are in a hibernating state, their requirements for food are not very high, and it is only necessary to supplement the bullfrogs with sufficient nutrition before and after overwintering. As for tadpoles, because they are small and have poor resistance, special attention must be paid to controlling the water temperature so that they can safely get through the winter.