Table 1.
The key characteristics of the examined fish farms at Kafrelshiekh province, Egypt.
| Key Factors | Farm I | Farm II | Farm III | Farm IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1- Individual characteristics | ||||
| • Age | 44 | 52 | 51 | 58 |
| • Gender | Male | Male | Male | Male |
| • Education | Lower secondary | High education | High education | Upper secondary |
| 2- Farm characteristics | ||||
| • Type of production | Semi-intensive | Semi-intensive | Semi-intensive | Semi-intensive |
| • Size of the farm (m2) | 12,600 | 8400 | 14,700 | 13,650 |
| • Number of ponds/farms | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| • Fish stocking density/pond | 10,000 | 14,000 | 18,000 | 18,500 |
| • Water source | Agriculture drainage | Agriculture drainage | Agriculture drainage | Agriculture + sewage water |
| • Fish stocking management | Feed supplements, water exchange | Feed supplements, water exchange | Feed supplements, water exchange and night aeration | Feed supplements, water exchange |
| • Fish production (ton)/feddan | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| • Marketing weight-harvest size (g) | 300–375 | 250–300 | 200–240 | 300–350 |
| • Use of untreated poultry manure | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| • Average previous mortality rate last 2 years/pond/day | 200 | 400 | 350 | 500 |
| • Current mortality rate/pond/day | 150 | 300 | 250 | 350 |
| • Therapeutic and prophylactic treatment | Humic acid, CaOH powder, probiotics and feed additives | Ca carbonate and manganese | Tetracycline + Probiotics | Chloramphenicol + humic acid and probiotics |
| • Disinfectants used | QAC | QAC | QAC | Ca hypochlorite |
| • Veterinary supervision (yes/no) | Occasionally | No | No | Yes |