European Journal of Scientific Research - EuroJournals

Development of an Interated Poultry/Fishery Husbandry for Optimal Agricultural Production 789
Keywords: Integrated, fishery, poultry, droppings, pond
Introduction
In many parts of the world, fish have provided an important part of people’s diet for centuries. The
increasing per capita consumption of fish is partially due to consumer demand for healthy diet and the
growing recognition that the fatty acid content of fish provides health benefit to man. The growth rate
of the world’s human population has called for increased harvest of fish and fisheries products from
marine and inland waters (Woynarovich 1979). Chandrasoma (1988) observed that during the last
hundred years, fish catches have increased rapidly due to improved technologies. Despite the fact that
growth in fish catches stopped some 15 years ago, over fishing had already caused the worldwide
decrease in stock to become a real problem. The need to increase fish production by fish farming is
urgent. Fish farming is an agricultural activity that can deeply improve the already existing farming
system. As in agriculture, fish farming techniques include the removal of unwanted plants and animals,
their replacement by desirable species, the improvement of these species by crossbreeding and
selection, and the improvement of food availability by the use of fertilizer. Fish farming can benefit
from agricultural by-products generated by other activities, as these activities can be used to increase
the quality of plankton, that is, the natural food of fish (Chakrabarty and Hettiarachchi 1982). Fish
farming can be combined with poultry, animal husbandry and irrigation practices, which can lead to
higher production and net profits. This practice is called integrated fish farming or integrated
aquaculture. The integration of animal husbandry, especially poultry, with fish farming in a small scale
results in the production of organic manure for the fertilization of the fish pond to increase the
production of the natural food organism (planktonic algae) to be eaten by the fish. In some cases, the
poultry wastes are used as direct food by some fish without supplementary feedings, such species
include Nile Tilapia (FAO, 1996).
There are various methods of integrating poultry with fish farming. Some designs give room for
the poultry house to be sited on a land near the pond and the poultry waste/ manure is transferred into
the pond manually. While another design sites the poultry directly on the pond. Literature regarding
poultry/fish integration generally relates to battery or deep litter in which the birds are typically fed on
complete diets in pelleted or mash form and the manure used as feed (Little and Muir, 1987). Manure
is packed into the pond to fertilize it for the fish to feed. Not all fish are carnivores; therefore, not all
can feed on manure. The herbivores rather pick waste supplemental feeds from the birds’ meal only.
Integrated fish farming is regarded by aquaculturists of most countries as a model farming system for
full utilization of local resources, for waste recycling and energy saving, and for maintaining ecological
balance and circulation. Besides increasing the supply of fish, meat and eggs, and employment
opportunities, it also reduces the cost of fish production through utilization of local farm products as
fish feeds and fertilizers and reorganization of farm labour for effective output (De Silva 1991).
Although this technology is highly productive in certain regions in China and parts of Asia,
Sharma 1981, reported that it is now recognized that large-scale technology transfer to most other
regions, both inside and outside China, is dependent on a clearer scientific understanding of the
physical, chemical and biological processes involved.
In developing countries like Nigeria, many are not informed about integrated fish farming and
its attendant benefits. There is virtually no reliable data concerning the feasibility and adoption of the
system. Adesulu (2001) stated that integrated fish farming is not a common practise in Nigeria. Thus
this study was carried out in order to intensify our efforts on integrated agricultural production.
2. Methodology
Model poultry housing unit and concrete fishponds were designed and constructed using locally
available materials. Three wooden battery cages were mounted on the fish ponds. The set-up was made