Effect of integrated duck-fish farming on growth performance and economic efficiency of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)‎

Abstract EN

This trial was conducted for 200 days/year started on April to October, years 2004 and 2005 to evaluate the effect of two stocking densities of ducks along with a control (without ducks) on productive and economic efficiency of Nile tilapia in ponds.

Four earthen ponds were used in the non-integrated system (no ducks, T1), two ponds/year, whereas four earthen ponds, two ponds/year were supplied with 1000 (T2) and 1500 (T3) Peking ducks per feddan (fdn)/cycle at years 2004 and 2005 (two cycles/year), were used for the integrated system.

Each pond was stocked with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fry (9.0 ± 0.38 g) at a rate 15000/fdn. Nile tilapia reared in the integrated ponds exhibited better body weight and food conversion than those of the non-integrated ponds.

Fish yield per fdn produced from the integrated ponds was significantly higher than that obtained from non-integrated ones.

Body mass of tilapia at harvesting and the net production per fdn were higher with T3 than that of T2 and T1, respectively.

The economical efficiency was in favor of T3 and T2 which were better than T1 (regarding net returns/total costs %).

Finally, the results showed that the integrated system was more profitable than the non-integrated system.