Credit for the photos and information providing: Sherif Sadek and Mohamed Sabry (ACO)- Egypt
Reporting: Abdel Rahman El Gamal
Because the specialized shrimp feed is expensive especially when the feed used is imported, efforts are spent to minimize the feed waste caused by overfeeding and in the same time provide the proper quantity of feed for best growth rate. Shrimp in existing ponds are fed for five times/day; two of which are performed during day time while three feedings take place during night. In that regard it needs to emphasize that shrimp is the species targeted for feeding while it is believed that the production economics should be investigated if mullets which share the same pond are consuming much of this expensive feed. Thus the 60% of night feedings is assumed to be the share of shrimp which are capable to feed at night while mullets will not feed during night – theoretically.
Feed is provided in feeding trays which are placed at intervals along one of pond lengths. Two hours after feeding, feeders are physically checked to determine the status of feed consumption and /or leftovers to be utilized in adjusting feeding rates. In the present farm, 15 the 1-ha pond is furnished by 15 feeding trays shown in the photo; the second photo shows feed samples for the shrimp.
The protein and fat contents of shrimp feed throughout the grow-out are 34% and 15% respectively. In this particular farm, the size of feed particles (crumbles/pellets) used increases as shrimp grows and includes 0.6, 1.2, 2.2, and 2.5 mm.
