Abstract:

This study aims to assess the growth performance, and economic and investment analysis of juvenile tilapia production in earthen ponds of different sizes: 800, 1,600, and 3,200 m2. An on-farm study was conducted in Sakon Nakhon province, Thailand.The tilapia fingerlings were raised to juveniles at a stocking density of 31.29 fish/m2with the average raising time of 76 days. The 800 and 1,600 m2 ponds provided the better growth performance than the 3,200 m2 pond. This is due to the survival rate, harvesting weight, weight gain, and yield were higher, while the feed conversion ratio was lower. However, the economic and investment analysis revealed that the net present value, internal rate of return, and benefit-cost ratio of 1,600 m2 pond were higher, and the payback period was lower than the other pond sizes.Hence, the 1,600 m2 pond was recommended for tilapia juvenile production.

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