Authors
Thanh Phuong Nguyen
Publication date
2013
Journal
On-farm feeding and feed management in aquaculture
Pages
241-267
Publisher
FAO Rome
Description
The Mekong delta is considered as the most important region for aquaculture production in Viet Nam and in 2008 accounted for approximately 73 percent of the total national aquaculture production (IFEP, 2009). The delta has a total freshwater area of 641 350 ha, of which 480 181 ha has the potential for further aquaculture development; and has the most diversified aquatic farming activities and greatest potential for increasing aquaculture production. There are several species that are commercially produced in the delta, of which striped (or tra) catfish is the most important. The production of striped catfish reached 1 147 000 tonnes in 2009 (Fisheries Directorate, 2010). The rapid expansion of striped catfish farming has resulted from various factors, of which the improvement of feed and feeding practices has played a key role. The feed and feeding of striped catfish has changed overtime. In the early days of the striped catfish farming industry, farm-made feed (FMF) was mainly used. FMF was used across all the culture systems including cages, pens and ponds. Manufactured pelleted feed (MPF) was first introduced to striped catfish cultured in cages in 1995 and 1996. Since 2004, the use of MPF has gradually been accepted by striped catfish farmers. The survey indicated that 63.3 percent, 17.4 percent and 19.3 percent farms used MPF, FMF or a combination of MPF and FMF, respectively. Over the past five years, the striped catfish MPF industry has been developing rapidly in Viet Nam, with annual production increasing from 300 000 tonnes in 2004 (Tran, 2005) to 2 240 000 tonnes in 2008 (Annex 1). The feeding practices used to culture …
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