Effect of Aquaculture Feeding Practices on Commercial Fish Farming in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan

Abstract

A field survey was carried out in three tehsils namely Rawalpindi, Gujar khan  and Kahuta) of Rawalpindi district. A predefined questionnaire was used to gather the information. In the studied farms the average stocking rate of 1200 fingerlings/acre with average weight of 4 grams were stocked. The fingerlings were fed with constant feeding rate of 3% of their body weight. On average the fish ponds have been fertilized with 9-12 kg-1acre-1week-1 cow dung and poultry droppings as organic fertilizer, 5 kg/acre/week urea and 3 kg-1acre-1week-1 DAP (diammonium phosphate) as inorganic fertilizer. Highest production obtained with balanced supplemented followed by standard feed and conventional feed for Labeo rohita (373.56, 344.26 and 286.40 kg/acre/year respectively). Cirrhinus mrigala highest production was with balanced supplemented and standard feed (304.22  and 282.71 kg/acre/year) and lowest with conventional feed (207.22 kg-1acre-1year-1), Ctenopharyngodon idella highest production was with balanced supplemented feed (361.24 kg-1acre-1year-1) and lowest production (212.15 and 205.31 kg/acre/year) with both standard and conventional feed  and  Hypophthalmichthys molitrix production was non significant for balanced supplementary feed (309.53 kg-1acre-1year-1), standard feed (194.24 kg-1acre-1year-1) and conventional feed (133.90 kg-1acre-1year-1). The present study and statistical analyses revealed that the balanced supplementery feed produced a significant yield in carp culture. Based on this study, the balanced supplementery feed ingredients are highly affected by fishes and its inclusion in formulated feed for beneficial to carp culture.