The effect of mechanization on the growth and nutritional indicators of dual-purpose rainbow trout culture farms in Markazi Province, Iran
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Abstract
This research aimed to investigate the effect of mechanization on the growth and nutritional indices of dual-purpose rainbow trout farms in Markazi Province, Iran. Five cities with high production capacity and large numbers of culture ponds were selected in cooperation with the provincial fisheries organization. Experts were sent to the farms to prepare the necessary documents and complete questionnaires regarding the available and active mechanization equipment, technologies used, farm production, type of feed consumed, feed manufacturing company, feeding method (automatic or manual), use of feed dispensers, fish size uniformity to reduce competition and dominance during feeding, and methods of feed storage. Growth and nutritional indices of the farms were also determined.
Some of the mechanization equipment observed in the farms included aeration towers (90%), drum filters (23.33%), feed storage equipped with ventilation fans (30%), pallets in feed storage areas (66.67%), sedimentation pools (53.33%), and fish grading systems (76.67%).
The results showed that mechanization and feed type affected the growth process of fish. Improved nutritional management, efficient use of resources through optimization and correct selection of feed type, feeding quantity, and feeding methods increased the economic productivity of dual-purpose rainbow trout culture ponds in Markazi Province.
The study also demonstrated that several variables, including production volume, quantity and quality of feed, health management, stocking density, fish weight, implementation of harvesting patterns, construction of sediment collection ponds, fish grading, proper hygienic feed storage on pallets, installation of aerators and window mesh systems in feed storage facilities, and periodic monitoring of physicochemical and microbial water parameters, can significantly influence farm performance.
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