Cost effective pangasius culture in Lampung

The situation in the farming of the pangasius in Indonesia is very different from that in Vietnam, the world's largest producer of pangasius catfish. Three species of pangasius are reared in Indonesia, Pangasius hypophthalmus, P. sutchi, and P. jambal. Up to 3,000 small hatcheries and 12,000 small farms, which are located in West and East Java, Lampung, Jambi, Riau, Palembang and south Kalimantan, produce fish for local consumption. In 2008, 4 billion 2-inch (5 cm) fry were produced, valued at USD 33.5 million. Production is expected to reach 6 billion fry in 2009. Pangasius, harvested at 500g sells for 1 USD. This represented USD 215 million in 2008, and is expected to reach USD 300 million in 2009.

Fish are consumed locally and this gives a 'local aspect' to the pangasius industry in Indonesia. However, the many problems faced by the farmers are similar to those faced by farmers targeting the export market: feed cost, disease and damage to the environment. In this article, we review some of these problems and look at some costeffective solutions adopted by hatcheries and farmers from Lampung. 

The first week of larval rearing represents the most critical period. Typically the hatchery cycle include 2 phases, first in tanks and then in ponds. The presence of natural food in fertilized outdoor ponds gives better results.

Unfortunately, rearing larvae in outdoor ponds makes temperature control and biosecurity measures quite impossible. Most farms use a flow-through system with incoming water pumped in directly from canals. This results in mortality due to temperature inducing stress or promoting the growth of protozoan parasites. There is also the presence of agriculture chemicals leaching from farm fields into incoming canals, presence of pathogens such as Edwardsiella ictaluri, responsible for white spot disease or Bacillus Necrosis Pangasius and Aeromonas hydrophila, A. sobria and A. caviae responsible for Motile Aeromonas Septicaemia.

A first solution adopted by hatcheries such as Mixa Fish Farm, was to switch from a two phase to a three phase production cycle. The first phase relies on small indoor tanks, for the first week, followed by a second phase in small outdoor tanks. These outdoor tanks allow better biosecurity measures with disinfection and limited water exchange and better water quality management than big outdoor tanks. The third phase (in the classic system 'the second phase') relies on large outdoor tanks with flow through water. 

Dead fry as a result of stress due to temperature, presence of chemicals or pathogens.

 

Outdoor ponds with natural food.

The applications of Sanocare PUR 0.3 ppm and Sanolife PRO-W 0.5ppm prevented any disease outbreak whilst the application of Sanoguard TOP range product improved the health status of the larvae. This seems a valid alternative to the prophylactic application of antibiotic such as oxytetracycline (5 to 20 mg/l) that was reported to give good results in the first week post hatching. The larval cycle is closed after 30-40 days, when 2-inch long fry can be sold for ongrowing. 

Pangasius are omnivorous and ingest detritus and sediments to obtain nutrition from particulate organic matter, microbial biomass and benthic invertebrates Food conversions generally range within 1.5–2.0.The rapid growth of the pangasius aquaculture industry has raised a number of environmental concerns:

The pangasius can utilize a modified swim bladder to absorb oxygen directly from the atmosphere. This greatly reduces or eliminates the need for pond aeration.

 Pangasius can be produced efficiently using either homemade feed or compound diet with reduced protein (28-32%) and lipid sources.

 

Therefore, managing the health of farmed pangasius stocks depends on the overall management of the farm, including the reasonable and responsible use of veterinary medicines and chemicals. The current disease control strategies are a combination of improved husbandry skills and application of a wide range of antibiotics. Reports of a very rapid development of antibiotic resistance by both bacterial species to a wide range of antibiotics indicate the urgent need to improve the current disease control strategies adopted within the industry.

The solution is provided by this example from Lampung area, where farmers used two products in the pond preparation phase:

- Sanolife Nutrilake at 30kg/ha, to improve the oxidation of waste product and stimulate the growth of favourable algae

- Sanocare PUR at 0.5ppm (to treat water prior to stocking.

The ponds (700 m² with 1.5 m depth) were stocked at 15 animals (2 inch size) per m². During the production cycle, Sanolife PRO-W (a mixture of Bacillus strains selected for their ability to degrade waste products) were applied at the recommended dose of 200g/ha on a weekly basis. A mixture of immunostimulants and nutraceuticals (Sanogard TOP range of product) was applied at 1-2g/kg feed during critical stages. After 5 months of culture, 500g size fish were harvested. With a survival of 70%, each pond produced 5,500 kg. This gives an income of USD 5,450 USD per pond per crop. There would be 2 crops per year.