Back A. Hanecom, J. F. prinsloo and H. J. Schoonbee
Aquaculture Research Unit, University of the North, P/Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa
Full Paper (PDF File: 405KB)
Abstract
The production potential of pig manure on fish growth and water quality in integrated pig-fish systems was investigated using effective micro-organisms (Kyusei EMTM) with or without formulated pig feeds and Anolyte. Both Anolyte and EM effectively reduced faecal bacterial loads in pig manure. EM positively affected pig growth but this was obscured with the introduction from the second month of growth hormone and antibiotics in the pig diets. The application of manure from both treated and untreated pigs had a positive effect on fish yields, improving the feed conversion ratio of the fish to below 2. The EM-A containing manure, however, significantly improved the overall FCR producing a value of 1.4. The application of EM-A containing pig manure also had a marked effect on some faecal organism counts in the manure and in the water of the fish ponds, but also reduced the somatic coliphage numbers significantly. Faecal Streptococci and E. coli found in the kidneys, gills, spleen and liver of the Mozambique tilapia which were used as pond fish, may well have a medium to long term negative implication for the use of animal manures containing faecal bacteria. This aspect required serious attention in future research where agricultural waste products of this nature are used to stimulate fish pond production.