FISH-CUM-DUCK CULTURE

Transcription

1 FISH-CUM-DUCK CULTURE CIFRI TECHNOLOGY FISH-CUM-PIG CULTURE ICAR CENTRAL INLAND FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE BARRACKPORE, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

2 FISH-CUM-DUCK FARMING A multi-commodity farming system is more advantageous to the farmer than the monocropping system. However, commodity mix must fit into the available resources and needs as well as the economic and environmental forces around the farmer. Based on the above principles. a system of integrated fish-cum-duck farming has been developed through a number of production trials. The system not only results in more economic benefit to the farmer but also both the commodities mixed i.e., the fish and ducks are benefitted by their co-existance. The mutual beneficial effect of combined fish culture and duck raising is difficult to assess with accuracy due to c?mplex interactions in the pond ecosystem but experience has shown that this combination increases the production of both the animals and decreases the input cost on fish culture operations considerably. The droppings of ducks act as a substitute to fish feed and pond fertilizers which account for 60% of the total input cost in fish culture. The expenditure incuj red on duck raising is largely offset through sale proceeds of duck eggs and duck meat. The raising of ducks over fish ponds fits very well with the fish polyculture as ducks are highly compatible with cultivated fish The ducks feed on such organisms from the pond as larvae of aquatic insects tadpoles, molluscs, aquatic weeds etc. which do not form the food of stocked fish. The duck droppings act as excellent pond fertilizer and the dabbling of ducks at the pond bottom in search of food, releases, nutrients from the soil which enhances the pond productivity and consequently increases fish production. The ducks in turn get clean and healthy environment to live and quality natural food from the pond for their growth. The technique of combining fish culture and duck raising in Indian conditions has been developed and demonstrated by the Operational Research Project of this Institute. By this method it has been pos~ible to attain fish production ranging from 350Q-4000 kgjhajyr from the ponds of the farmers in West Bengal without resorting to supplementary feeding. The methodology of fish-cum-duck farming is described below.

3 1. Pond Management : Successful pond management is the basis of profitable fish-cum-duck farming. 1.1 Eradication of weeds : Ponds are generally infested with various types of weeds which are not desirable for the healthy growth of fish. Where infestation i~ scanty and scattered. it can be cleared by manual labour. But, if the infestation is heavy, chemical weedicides should be used. Some varieties of weeds can also be controlled by stocking grass carp. Ducks also keep the aquatic weeds under check, as they feed on the weeds. 1.2 Eradication of predatory and weed fish : Both the predatory and weed fishes are harmful for the baby carps, either directly or indirectly and hence their eradication from the ponds is a must. This is done most effectively by applying mahua oil cake, a fish poison of plant 2,500 kg/hectare/meter 1250 ppm). The desired quantity of mahua oil cake is soaked in water and uniformly applied in the pond. A net is dragged in the pond immediatelyafter application so that mah~a oil cake get mixed in the pond water. After a few hours of application the fish can be seen in distress, loosing their balance and swimming upside down. The fish can then be collected by dragnetting or by hand nets and can safely be used for human consumption. The toxicity of mahua oil cake lasts for about two weeks. Toxicity test should be done before stocking the pond. by keeping a few fingerlings for 43 hours in a hapa fixed in the pond. mahua oil cake has double advantage as it kills the unwanted fish and also acts as a fertilizer in the fish pond. Lime should be kgfhectarefyr depending upon the soil and water conditions. The half of the quantity is applied before stocking the pond and rest in 2-4 equal instalments to keep the pond water alkaline and hygienic. 1.3 Stocking of pond : After day.> of poisoning the pond is stocked with the fingerlings of Indian and Chinese carps i.e., catla, rohu, mrigal, silver carp, grass carp and common carp at a stocking density of 6000 fingerlings per hectare with 1200 catla rohu, 1200 mrigal silver carp 600 grass carp and 600 common carp. The species ratio and stocking density can be altered according to availlability of the seed. Culture ot Indian major carps alone or along with common carp can be taken up at places where seed of exotic carps is not available. Fingerlings of 10 cm or above should be stocked as the ducks are likely to prey upon small ones. 2

4 I.4 Manuring of pond : No manures are to be applied to the pond. Instead the ducks are given a free range over the pond surface from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. when they distribute their droppings in the whole pond, automatically manuring the pond. The droppings voided at night are collected from the duck house and applied to the pond every morning. 1.5 Feeding the fish : No supplementary feed is given to the fish as they utilize the feed spilled by ducks and also eat the duck droppings. The droppings also help in producing natural fish food organisms in the pond. Grass crap, if stocked, is fed by aquatic weeds such as Hydrilla, Najas, Potamogeton etc. If aquatic vegetation is not available then chopped green cattle fodder such as barseem, Hybrid napier, maize leaves etc can be fed to the grasc; carp inside a bamboo enclosure. Aquatic weeds or grasses for the grass carp should be given in the morning before the ducks are allowed into the pond from the duck house and in the evening when the ducks have gone back to the duck house, because the ducks also eat the weeds and in the process scatter them over the pond surface. 1.6 Periodic netting: Trial netting or monthly sampling is done every month to find out whether fishes are growing satisfactorily or not. It also helps in the timely detection of parasitic infection, if any. 2. Duck Husbandry: The egg laying by ducks depends upon many factors; ir,c1uding the breed and strain but good management contributes considerably torwards the achievement of optimum 2.1 Types of ducks: egg and flesh production. The kind of duck to be raised must be chosen with care since all the domesticated races are not productive and hardly enoegh for keeing in open ponds in all weathers. Local variety. 'Indian runner' being hardy has been found to be most suitable for this purpose, although they are not as good layers as exotic 'khaki campbell.' The number of ducks required for proper manuring of one ha fish pond is also a matter of consideration. It has been found out that ducks are sufficient to produce manure adequate enough to fertilize a ha of water area under fish culture. Two to four months ducklings are kept on the pond after providing them necessary prophylactic medicines as a safegaurd against epidemics. 3

5 2.2 Housing of ducks : The ducks do not need much elaborate house since most of the time during day they remain in the pond. Any house on the farm not being utilized, can be effectively converted into night shelter for the ducks. Alternatively a low cost night shelter can be constructed on the pond embankments, using split bamboos or any other cheap wood. A floating duck house can also be constructed on the water surface using empty mobil oil barrels as floats. The house should be well ventilated and so designed that the washings are drained into the pond. An important care is to keep the duck house clean and dryas far as possible. The overcrowding of the ducks in the night shelter should be avoided as this results in poor growth and reduction in egg production. About sq meter of floor space per bird is enough for night shelter. 2.3 Feeding of ducks: Ducks kept in the open waters are able to find natural food from the pond but that is not sufficient for their proper growth. This natural food is, therefore, supple mented with artificial feed. Since duck feed is not commercially available in our country. a mixture of any standard balanced poultry feed and good quality rice bran in the ration of I: 2 by weight can be fed to the 100 g feed/bird/day in addition to the natural food which they get from the pond. The first feeding is done in the morning and second in the evening. The feed is given either on the pond embankment or in the duck house and spilled feed is then drained into the pond to be utilized by the fish. Water must be provided in containers deep enough to submerge their bills, along with feed. Ducks are quite susceptible to afflotoxicosis, therefore, the mouldy feeds or fteds kept for long time should be avoided. 2.4 Health care : Efforts should be made to keep the duck house dry and maintain proper hygienic condition. Sunning the floor is also advisable if there is such provision. Duck house should be washed with disinfectant at least ol'lce week. Phenol should be avoided as it is harmful for aquatic life. Always prevaccinated ducklings against duck-plague should be kept for raising. 2.5 Egg laying by ducks : The ducks start laying after attaining the age of 24 weeks and continue to lay for two years. The ducks lay only at night, so there is no possibility of eggs being 4-

6 laid when'the ducks are in the pond during the day time. It is advisable to keep some straw or hay in the corners of the duck house for egg laying. The eggs are collected every morning after the ducks are let out of the duck house. The local variety of ducks, "Indian runner", lay between eggs in one year. 2.6 Duck Diseases: Compared to chicken, ducks are subjected to relatively few diseases. The local Indian variety of ducks is more resistant to diseases than other varieties. However, proper sanitation and health care are as important for ducks as for chickens "Prevention is better than cure" is the best formula for proper duckery management. An experienced farmer can detect a sick bird among the flock by a careful look, listening to the sounds of the birds and by observing any reduction in the daily feed consumption. A sick bird becomes listless, eyes lose brightness and watery discharge comes out of the eyes.and nostrils. The sound of sneezing and coughing from the duck house isa warning for the coming disease. The sick birds should immediately be isolated and not allowed to go to the pond. Local veterinary expert may be contacted immediately for further treatment and advice. 3. llarvesting: Some fish attain marketable size within a few months. Keeping in view the size of the fish, prevailing rate and demand of the fish in the local market, partial harvesting of the table size fish can be done. After harvesting partially, the pond should be restocked with the same species and the same no. of fingerlings depending upon the availability of the fish seed. Final harvesting is done after 12 months of rearing The eggs are collected daily in the morning hours after the ducks are released. Ducks should be sold after completion of two years of rearing because the egg laying capacity of the ducks decreases after two years. 4. Cost and Returns : Taking an average village pond as one acre in area, the variable cost and return functions of the system have been worked out for a 0.4 ha ( 1 acre) pond in the enclosed table. It is evident from the table that an investment level of Rs. 14,490 assures a return of Rs. 21,260. The net return on variable cost works out to 50.2%. The cost of fish production comes to Rs. 4.67jkg It may be added that the invesment level of Rs. 14,490 has to be viewed in the 5

7 light of income generation which starts after 3-4 months, when ducks start laying. If this income is ploughed back into the production process, the requirement of working capital is reduced to half. The above figures are based on the experience of a number of production trials conducted during the past years. An investment level of Rs. 13, has to be viewed in the light of income generation which starts after two to three months when accruals are there, as a result of sale of eggs. If this income from the sale of eggs is ploughed back into the production process, the requirement of the working capital is reduced to about half. 5. Why Fish-cum-duck Farming? Because: i) The fish can utilize the feed spilled by ducks and eat their droppings which form very nutritious food for fish. ii) Due to high manurial value of duck droppings complete saving on pond fertilizers and supplementary iii) Ducks keep water plants in check. feed for the fish is possible. iv) Ducks loosen the pond bottom with their dabbling and help in release of nutrients from the soil which increase the pond productivity. v) No additional land is required for duckery activities. vi) Ducks get 30 50% of their total feed requirement from the pond in the form of aquatic weed~, insects, molluscs etc., which are meless for the fish. vii) Major quantity of droppings are spread by the ducks themselves over the whole pond area. This is an efficient and labour saving method of pond manuring. The ducks act as living manuring machines. viii) It results in high production offish. duck eggs and duck meat in unit time and water area. ix) It ensureli high profit through less investment. 6

8 Gross output, paidout cost and Net Farm income-fish cum Duck culture (0.4 ha) A. 3000/ha Rent Annual Medicines Labour Ducklings Pond Fingerlings Netting Expenditure Incidentals/contingencies Interest preparation feed charges depreciations water 80/100 12/Ducklings 20/100 l/kg Rate body(rs.) with kg mahua oil 2, Iman working day capital - Sale Return of 200 eggs %/annum 8320 kg. ofnos. fish 14/kg'530nos man nos kg days 0/50 Rs. 10/kg Paise/egg Quantity Expenditure (Rs.) 1500'00 800'00 480'00 200'00 960'00 2,880'00 40'00 240' ' ' Rs. 14,800 Rs. 4,160 Rs. 2,800 C. Net Profit B-A Percentage of return on variable cost Cost of production per kg of fish Profit percentage to turn over Total Returns Rs. 21,760 Rs. 7, Rs Fisb-cum-pig farming The raising of small livestock such as pigs can be fruitfully blended with fish culture by setting animal housing units on the pond embankments in such a way that the wastes and washings of the housing units are drained into the fish pond. In this integrated culture system the fish not only utilize the feed spilled by pigs but 7

9 also feed on the fresh pigdung which contains 70% digestible food for the fish. Thepigdung when recycled in fish ponds acts as on excellent fertilizer and raises the biological productivity of the pond water and consequently increases fish production. The supplementary fish feed and pond fertilizers are not needed in this system as the pigdung acts as a substitute to these. This results in drastic reduction on the cost of inputs in fish culture. The expenditure incurred on raising of pigs is largely off set through the sale proceeds of pig meat. Based on the experience of a number of production trials during the past few years, the technology of fish-cum-pig farming has been developed and demonstrated by the Operational Research Project of this Institute. It has been possible to attain fish production ranging from 6,000 to 7,000 kg/ha/yr from the ponds of the farmers in West Bengal. The methodology of fish-cum- pig farming is described below: 1. Pond Management: Successful pond management is the basis of profitable fish-cum-pig farming. 1.1 Eradication of weeds: Ponds are generally found infested with various types of weeds which are not at all desirable for the healthy growth of fish. Where infestation is scanty and scattered, it is cleared manually, but if the infestation is heavy chemical weedicides are used. 1.2 Pond preparation: Both the predatory and weed fish are harmful for the stocked carps, either directly or indirectly and hence their eradication from the pond is a muse. This is done most effectively by applying mahua oil cake, a fish poison of plant origin. Mahua oil cake is 2,500 kg/hectare/meter of water (250 parts per million. The desired quantity of mahua oil cake is soaked in water and uniformly applied in the pond. A net is dragged immediately after the application so that mahua oil cake is mixed in the water. After a few hours of application the fi~h can be seen in distress, loosing their balance and swimming upside down. The fish are then collected by dragnettiog or by hand nets and can safely be used for human consumption. The toxicity of mahua oil cake lasts for about two weeks. Toxicity test 'should be done before stocking the pond, by keeping a few fingerlings (baby carps) for 48 hrs. in a hapa fixed in the pond. Mahua oil cake has added advantage as it kills the unwanted fish and it also acts a fertilizer in the fish pond. 8

10 Lime is Kg/haJyr depending upon the soil and water conditions. The half of the quantity is applied before stocking the fish and rest in 2-4 equal instalments as and when necessary. This keeps the pond water alkaline and hygienic. The pond is stocked after days of poisoning with the fingerlings of Indian and Chinese carps i.e. catla, rohu, mrigal and silver carp, grass carp, common carp at a combined stocking density of 8000 per hectare, with 1600 catla, 1600 rohu, 1600 mrigal, 1600 silver carp, 800 grass carp and 800 common carp. The stocking density and species ratio can be altered according to availability of seed. Culture of Indian major carps alone can also be taken up at places where seed of exotic carps is not available. 1.3 Manuring of pond: Pigdung collected from the pigsties is put in heaps on four corners of the pond or dissolved in pond water and spread over the pond surface. The washings of the pigsties are channelled into the pond which brings spilled feed, urine etc. into the pond at no extra labour. No other fertilizer is needed. The application of pigdung and washings is deffered on the days when the plankton bloom appears and water become green. 1.4 Feeding the fish: No supplementary feed is required for the fish in fish-cum-pig farming. Aquatic weeds such as Hydrilla, Najas, Potamogeton etc. or chopped green cattle fodder such as Napier grass, Barseem, Maize leaves etc. are provided to the grass carp. This cattle fodder can be grown on the terraced embankments of the pond and fed to grass carp and pigs. 1.5 Periodical netting Trial netting is done once a month to find out whether fish are growing satisfactorily or not. It also helps in the timely detection of parasitic infection, if any. Monthly netting also helps in raking the pond bottom which results in release of gases from the pond bottom as well as release of nutrients from the bottom soil. 2. Pig Husbandry : Growth of pigs depends upon many factors including the breed and strain, but good management contributes considerably to the achievement of optimum [ish production. 9

11 2.1 Types of pigs : The kind of pigs to be raised must be chosen with care since all the domesticated race, are not productive. The exotic land race variety of pigs are most suitable as they are well known for their quick growth as well as least occurance of disease.,local Indian variety though very much resistant to diseases is slow growing. About two months old, weaned piglets are kept for fattening. Usually, such piglets attain slaughter maturity (6070 Kg) within six months through intensive rearing. Thus, two batches of piglets can be raised along with fish which are cultured for one year. It has been found out that the excreta voided by pigs in a years time is adequate for fertilizing one ha. water area under fish culture. 2.2 Housing of pigs : Good housing with adequate accomodation, incorporating all essential requirements of pigs must be provided to give pigs healthy stailing conditions. The pigs are raised under two systems i.e. open air system and indoor system. A combination of the two, however, is followed In fish-cum-pig farming. A single row of pig pens facing the pond is constructed on the pond embankment. An enclosed run is attached to pen towards the pond so that the pigs get enough air, sun light, exercise and dunging space. The feeding and drinking troughs are also built in the run to keep the pens dry and clean. The gates are provided to the open run only. The floor of the pens and run should be cemented with drainage to the pond. There should always be a built in shutter to stop the flow of wastes to the pond as and when necessary. The drainage canal should have a diversion towards a pit preferably cemented, where excreta can stored on the days when pond is having plankton bloom. This excreta can be used subsequently. The pig-sties can be constructed by using widely traditional and locally available materials but the floor must be cemented. Bamboos are most suitable for making low cost pig-sties. The pigs need well ventilated enclosure with facilities for sheltering from the sun especially during summer months, as the pigs are poorly provided with heat regulating mechanism and sweat only from the snout. As such the pig-sties with thalchej roof are preferred over the tinned, or asbestos roofed. The height of the pig-~ties should not exceed I 5 meters, where as the height of the walls separating the pens and surrounding the run should not exceed 1 meter. For healthy growth of pigs a living space of meter square is provided for each pig. 2.3 Feeding the pigs: 10 Intensive raising of piglets is done under this system. The pigs are not allowed

12 to go out of the pig sties, where they are fed on balanced 1 kg/pig/day. Grasses and green cattle fodder are also provided. To overcome any mineral deficiency, sod ( 30 em X 30 em bed of grass with all its roots intact and interlocked soil) is provided once a week. Provision for built in feeding trough 30 em/pig is essential to minimise the food spoilage and to fecilitate proper feeding without scrambling and fighting. Similar separate troughs are also required for drinking water. The composition of concentrate mash required for good and healthy growth of pigs is given below. This composition can be changed according to the availability of various ingrediants locally. 2.4 Health care : Ingredients of concentrate mash Rice bran -30 kg. Rice polish - 15 kg. Wheat bran -30 kg. Maize broken -10 kg. Ground Nut Cake - 10 kg. Common salt -01 kg. Fish meal -04 kg. 100 kg. Rovimix ( A, B2' Da ) 20 g. (for 100 kg. ) Though pigs are hardy animals yet they may be infested with parasites. Maintenance of healthy and hygienic condition of the pig-sties keeps the pigs away from the danger of infection and thus adds considerably to profit. Though pigs are not water animals, they like taking baths and hence there should not be any hesitation in washing them. Pig-sties should be washed daily in the morning hours to drain all the remaining excreta and feed offal into the pond. Disinfectant must be used at least at weekly intervals while washing the pig-sties. It is advisable to get all the piglets vaccinated against swine fever, before keeping them for fattening. Local veterinary expert may be contacted in case of any disease. 3. Harvesting: Due to abundance of natural fish food in fish-cum-pig pond, the fish attain marketable size within a few months. Keeping in view the size attained. prevailing market rate, demand of the fish in local market, partial harvesting of table size fish can be done. After harvesting partially the pond should be restocked with the same 11

13 species and the same no. of fingerlings, depending upon the availability of fish seed. Final harvesting is done after 12 months of rearing. The properly fed pigs usually attain slaughter maturity ( kg ) within six months, Over weight pigs are unsuitable for becon products and are also uneconomical for further rearing, it is, therefore, desireable to sell the pigs after six months of rearing and a fresh batch of same no. of weaned piglets should be introduced for further rearing. 4. Cost and Returns: Taking an average village pond as one acre in area, the variable cost and return functions of the system have been worked out for a 0.4 ha ( 1 acre) pond in the enclosed table. It is evident from the table that an investment level of Rs. 19,049 assures a return of Rs, 34,520. The net return on variable cost works out to 75.9%. The cost of fish production works out to Rs per kg. It may be added that the investment level of Rs. 19,849 has to be viewed in the light of income generation which starts after 6 months through the sale of the first batch of pigs and particularly harvested fish. If this income is ploughed back into the production process, the requirement of working capital is reduced to half. The above figures are based on the experience of a number of production trials conducted during the past few years. An investment leval of Rs. 19,000 has to be viewed in the light of income generation which starts after six months when accruals are there, as a result of the sale of first crop of pigs and partially harvested table size fish. If this income is ploughed back into the production process, the requirement of the working capital is reduced to about half. 6. Why fish-cum-pig farming? Because: The fish can utilize the feed spilled by pigs and their excreta which is very rich in nutrie.lts for fish. 2. The pigdung acts as a substitute to pond fertilizers and supplementary fish feed, therefore, the cost on fish culture is greatly reduced. 3. No additional Jand is required for piggery operations. 4. Green cattle fodder required for pigs and grass carp can be grown on the terraced pond embankments.

14 5. Pond provides much needed water for washing the pig-sties and pigs. 6. It results in high production of fish and pig flesh per unit of area. 7. It ensures high profit through less investment. 8. The pond muck which gets accumulated at the pond bottom due to constant recycling of pig dung, can be used as fertilizer for growing vegetables and other crops. A. Expenditure Gross output, variable costs and Net Farm Income ( Fish-cum-pig-culture) (0.4 ha ) Quantity (Rate) Expenditure (ha Rs,) 1. Rent of water body 3000jha 1500'00 2. Pond preparation with mahua oil cake 1000 kg 80/100 kg 800'00 3. Cost of fingerlings 3400 Nos. 200/ '00 4. Annual depreciation on the cost of pig-sites 400'00 5. a) Fattening of 1st lot of piglets for 6, months i) Cost of weaned piglets each weighing 15 kg ii) Cost of pig feed iii) Cost of medicines iv) Cost of green fodder b) Cost of fattening of 2nd lot of weaned piglets for 6 months 6. Netting charges 7. Labour charges 8. Incidentals/contigencies 9, Interest on working capital Total variable costs 12 Nos. 6'50/kg kg I/kg 630 man days 10/man day 15%/annum 1,170'00 2,160'00 40'00 120'00 3,490'00 400'00 6,300'00 200'00 2,589' '00 13

15 B. Return 1. Sale of fish-2400 Rs. IOJ-per kg 2. Sale of 1,680 kg pig 6'50Jkg Total Returns Rs '00 Rs. 10, Rs c. Net profit B-A Percentage of return on variable cost Cost of production per kg of fish Profit percentage to turn over 75'9 3'18 43' '00 14

16 Prepared by B. K. Sharma Published by The Director Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute Barrackpore. West Bengal, India & Printed at Roman Printers, 37, AJ;ldul Road, Howrah-9.