19.01.2013 Views

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Symposium 1 - the National Sea ...

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Symposium 1 - the National Sea ...

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Symposium 1 - the National Sea ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Effects of Temperature and Feeding Rates Upon Growth<br />

and Feed Conversion Ratios in Tilapia<br />

Stephen P. Kirkup Lori S. Marsh<br />

Graduate Research Associate Associate Professor<br />

Dept. of Biological Systems Eng. Dept. of Biological Systems Eng.<br />

Viginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ.<br />

George S. Libey Alan G. Heath<br />

Research Associate Professor Professor<br />

Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife Science Dept. of Biology<br />

Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ.<br />

Charles W. Coale C. Gene Haugh<br />

Professor Professor<br />

Dept. of Agric. and Applied Econ. Dept. of Biological Systems Eng.<br />

Viginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ.<br />

Introduction<br />

Tilapia are ideally suited for culture in recirculating aquaculture systems. They are<br />

tolerant of poor water quality and low oxygen levels and breed prolifically. Although<br />

native to Africa and <strong>the</strong> Middle East, tilapia have been introduced in developing nations,<br />

such as South and Central America, Sou<strong>the</strong>ast Asia, Africa, China and <strong>the</strong> Philippines, as a<br />

dietary supplemental source of protein. Except for some of <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn most regions of<br />

<strong>the</strong> United States, tilapia cannot be over-wintered in ponds, and <strong>the</strong>refore have not been<br />

widely cultured in ponds in <strong>the</strong> US. But many of <strong>the</strong> same characteristics that make tilapia<br />

popular for pond and cage cultures throughout <strong>the</strong> world also make <strong>the</strong>m ideally suited for<br />

recirculating aquaculture systems. In <strong>the</strong> United States and Canada, live tilapia command<br />

a premium price and thus have become a significant aquacultural product in major cities<br />

having large ethnic oriental populations. Recirculating aquaculture systems are ideally<br />

suited for serving <strong>the</strong>se live tilapia markets, because <strong>the</strong>y allow for year-round production<br />

and <strong>the</strong>y can be located reasonably close to <strong>the</strong> market, thus reducing transportation costs,<br />

stress and moralities incurred during transportation.<br />

Several efforts have been made to analyze <strong>the</strong> economics of raising tilapia in recirculating<br />

aquaculture systems (Head and Watanabe 1995; Losordo and Westerman 1994; O’<br />

Rourke 1996). Two of <strong>the</strong> largest costs in <strong>the</strong> production of tilapia are feed and fixed or<br />

overhead costs. Feed represents <strong>the</strong> largest of <strong>the</strong> variable costs. Losordo and Westerman<br />

estimate that feed accounts for approximately 21 percent of <strong>the</strong> total production cost,<br />

thus, any management practice that significantly improves <strong>the</strong> feed conversion efficiently<br />

1

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!