Advanced Aquaculture of Carps and Tilapia – Ponds and Cages

Kevin Fitzsimmons, John Woiwode, R.S.N. Janjua ASA SoyPak

Multan, Punjab, Pakistan14 March 2012

Carp and Tilapia• Carps are most important farmed food fish and

tilapia are second.• Global demand, variety of production systems and

geographic regions, some vertically integrated• Environmentally sustainable – “Green Aquaculture”

(no fish meal required in the diet, no antibiotics, many farms use effluents for crops)

Subsistence and Export Commodity• Tilapia is unique in its role as a small livestock

animal grown by subsistence farmers in developing countries around the world…..

• And• It is widely grown and exported to high value

markets to be served in expensive restaurants and grocery stores

• Commodity or specialty crop - BOTH, like chicken

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World Tilapia Production of 3,300,000 mt in 2011

US Tilapia consumption (imports and domestic)368,295 mt of live weight (equivalent) – 2006

437,000 mt of live weight (equivalent) - 2007453,264 mt of live weight (equivalent) – 2008

465,953 mt of live weight (equivalent – 2009)579,443 mt of live weight (equivalent – 2010)

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Genetic improvements in tilapia

(From: Mair, G., 2002)

Selective breeding and genetic improvements

• Excellent breeding programs - G.I.F.T. - Malaysia- Genomar - Brazil and Norway- Chitralada – Thailand- TabTim – Thailand (CP Group)- GIFT Excell – Philippines- Molobicus - Philippines- GIFT Bangladesh

• Several in Mexico• YY Supermale - Philippines and Swansea, Egypt and

Indonesia

Carp and tilapia in ponds

Extensive ponds

Semi-intensive ponds

Multiple small cages

Taal Lake, Philippines

Irrigation Reservoir, Arizona

Paulo Afonso Reservoir, Brasil

Other small cages

Nile Delta, Egypt

All tilapia farms have dogs, even cage farms

Shrimp Pond, Philippines

Shrimp Pond, Thailand

Large cage farms

Pond culture to cotton irrigation

Fish and citrus in Hainan, China

Integration of aquaculture and agricultureWater pH reduced from 8.3 to 8.0Added 19.7 kg/ha N to 45 kg/ha used in

standard fertilization schedule of cotton.

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Results - Integration of aquaculture and agriculture

Contributed 2.6 kg/ha P to cotton crop.

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Cotton Height 2002

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Plant height with Fish Effluent, Standard Fertilizer and Well Water

Fish Nutrition and Feeds

Contents

Nutrition Pond Fertilization and Natural Feeds Ingredients and Formulations Manufacture and Preparation Storage, Handling, and Feeding Methods

Nutrition and feeding behaviours Tilapia are omnivores (eat lots of things) Carps are more specialized Both capable of consuming decaying vegetable

matter Long intestines Filter feeders (algae, bacteria, plankton) when

young Need protein and balanced nutrition for rapid

growth Maybe more cost effective to settle for moderate

growth

Feeding strategy Juvenile fish are especially good at filter

feeding phytoplankton.Many hatcheries utilize greenwater culture Juveniles also filter feed on small

zooplankters (especially crustaceans)Save money on juvenile feeds by partial

nutrition from natural feed in juvenile ponds and tanks

Nutrition decisionsNatural herbivores and detritivores. Opportunistic feeders grazing on algae and

bacteria in production system.Fry and fingerlings need high protein

(50-40%) dietGrowout needs lower protein (32-28%) diet“Organic” diets may be needed for “organic”

buyersCompare FCR to decide most efficient diet

Minimize fish meal in diet

Use more soybean meal Utilize other grains treated with phytase Increase use of other by-product meals (meat

and bone, blood, feather, poultry by-product, brewers waste, etc.)

Examine other locally available ingredients (rice bran, cotton cake, canola, sunflower seed meal, etc)

Long convoluted intestine.Digests complex organic matterFry are filter feedersAdults are grazers

Carp and Tilapia Biology

Proteins

Need balanced set of amino acids. Basic building blocks of proteins (and muscles)

Ten essential amino acids (required) several more are supplemental

Lipids

Lipids are basically fats. Fish need a variety of long chain

hydrocarbon fatty acids for proper growth Will also bio-accumulate lipids from

consumed algae

Carbohydrates

Needed for metabolic energy Carbohydrates are polymers of sugar. Common ingredients are corn, sorghum,

rice Molasses is mostly sugar and water. Does

not supply as much energy as equal mass of lipid (fat)

Fiber

Less digestible material to help move material though the intestines.

Helps with micronutrients

Vitamins and minerals

Commonly supplied in “premix” Often available in natural production of

ponds. Not critical for most semi-intensive fish

farm operations. Very critical in cage systems

Ingredients and formulations

Normally need high protein diets for young 40-50% Protein requirements drop as fish reach

reproductive age. Lipid demand might increase with egg formation. 30-32%

Growout diets only need 25% protein

Manufacturing and preparations

Pellet mill

Compression pellet mill

Feed mixed with water to dough consistency Moistened feed put into hopper, pushed down

to auger screw Auger forces feed through the die head. Holes in die determine pellet width Knife blade cuts pellets to desired length

Extruders

Floating feeds Feed mixes with steam in barrel of extruder Cooks ingredients, improves palatability Gelatinizes starches Steam expansion and auger forces feed out

of barrel with rapid expansion. Traps air in pellet, allows to float

Meat grinders and pasta mills

Storage

Always keep feed as dry and cool as possible Avoids spoilage and rancidity of fats in diet Bags should be on pallets, off floor to allow

air to circulate and slow pests (mice, rats, roaches, ants, from getting to bags

Large amount can be stored in bulk in silos.

Handling

Reduce rough handling Crushed pellets form fines which are not

consumed by fish. Fed by hand, blower, belts

Bangladesh tilapia aquaculture

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Future global tilapia aquaculture

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Conclusions Tilapia are omnivores But eating anything will not make you grow

fast and strong Tilapia need balanced nutrition for rapid

growth just like human children

Buy TILAPIA

Thank you!

Questions and discussion?