Co-Authors:
Barash, H., Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Animal Science, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Plavnik, I., Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Animal Science, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Moav, R., Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Animal Science, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
In 1977 and 1978, two fish ponds at the Dor Aquaculture Experiment Station were integrated with duck production. Each pond's area was 400 m2 and they were stocked with a polyculture of common carp, Tilapia, silver carp and grass carp (White Amur). The ducks were fed with prepared, nutritionally balanced feed, while the fish had to get by with the ducks' droppings plus the feed dropped directly from the ducks' beaks into the ponds. The ducks' performance on the ponds was superior to their 'land' control in growth rate, feed efficiency, viability and cleanness of feathers and skin. The average daily gain of the fish was 38.5 kg ha-1, not significantly different from ponds receiving similar mixtures of dry poultry manure plus supplementary feeds. Our experimental results provide necessary empirical support to the conclusion that the system is very efficient and its use should be expanded in warm water aquaculture. © 1982.