Production and economic efficiencies of intensive black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) culture during different cropping seasons in the Mekong delta, Vietnam

Abstract

Production management of intensive prawn farming strongly differs between dry and wet season in terms of availability and quality of prawn seeds and water quality. Secondary data implied that prawn seed batches from the market had a total pathogen infection rate of 53%, predominantly caused by 37% white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), 19% monodon baculovirus (MBV) and 4% yellow head virus (YHV). Pathogen-free seed batches averaged to 52% during the dry season compared to the wet season (42%). Survey revealed average stocking density of 17 PL m -2 with a survival rate of 55%, a crop yield of 2,470 kg ha -1 crop -1 and a net income of 6,768 USD ha -1 crop -1 . Average production cost amounted to 3.4 USD kg -1 , and feed cost accounted for 58% of the production cost. Technical efficiency with respect to prawn yield and survival rate was higher during the dry season than the wet season. The probability of yield loss was 15.6 times higher in the wet than in the dry season. A positive net income can be generated for farms operating in the dry season using new ponds and performing pathogen laboratory tests on prawn seeds before stocking.

Effect of different water biofloc contents on the growth and immune response of gibel carp cultured in zero water exchange and no feed addition system

“…Feed and feeding practices are major factors affecting aquaculture production and economic efficiency (Braga, Magalhães, Hanson, Morris, & Samocha, ; Son, Phuong, Hai, & Yakupitiyage, ). In most of the aquaculture system with water exchange daily, aquaculture species retain only 20%–30% feed nutrient.…”

Biological characteristics of the improved extensive shrimp system in the Mekong delta of Vietnam

“…Shrimp seeds in the Mekong delta of Vietnam had a total pathogen infection rate of 53% (Son, Phuong, Hai & Yakupitiyage 2010). The problem of disease outbreaks can be exacerbated as 34% of the questioned households in the Cai Nuoc district did not care about the quality of seedstocks (Field data 2008).…”

Production characteristics of intensive whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) farming in four Vietnam Provinces

“…Son et al. () found that for black tiger prawn intensive farming, higher yields and efficiency were attained for cropping cycles occurring in the dry season (December to May) in Mekong Delta, Vietnam. However, in our data, from four separate regions of southern Vietnam (Bình Thuận, Cà Mau, Kiên Giang and Sóc Trăng), lower production yield was noted for stocking events occurring in both the dry season (October through April) and the wet season (May through September), with the lowest yield in March, in the dry quarter.…”

“…Although production characteristics have been previously described for Vietnamese shrimp farms (Johnston, Trong, Tien, & Xuan, ; Khang, ; Son, Phuong, Hai, & Yakupitiyage, ), most are associated with culture of P. monodon . The production of L. vannamei in Vietnam was recently studied; however, the focuses of the studies were on the resources used for the production and economic analyses (Boyd & Engle, ; Engle et al., ).…”