Shrimp larvae quantity and quality: Only use branded shrimp seeds

The secret to earning 240.000 - 280.000 USD/year from shrimp farming

In Ap 15, Vinh Hau A Commune, Hoa Binh District, Bac Lieu Province, Mr. Long Van Nghia, the Director of Long Manh Fisheries Company, has successfully implemented a high-tech shrimp farming model that yields high economic returns and sustainability. With many years of experience in aquaculture, Mr. Nghia has embraced modern technology that not only boosts the success rate but also minimizes the risks of disease and adapts well to climate change.

As reported by the journalist, Mr. Nghia has invested in building round shrimp ponds following a closed-loop system, which allows for the precise control of key environmental factors such as salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen levels, and water quality. The ponds are lined with HDPE tarpaulin and are equipped with aeration systems, water treatment units and waste management systems to ensure that the risk of pathogen intrusion is minimized.

In addition, Mr. Nghia has incorporated a water circulation system to reduce environmental pollution while conserving water resources. This approach ensures that the shrimp grow robustly, reduces disease risks, and improves overall productivity.

According to Mr. Nghia, the most important factor determining success or failure in shrimp farming is the quality of the seed. He strictly uses shrimp fry from reputable companies with strong brands and clear origins. Before stocking, all shrimp fry are tested through PCR diagnostics to eliminate dangerous pathogens such as TPD (white shrimp hepatopancreatic necrosis) and EHP (enterocytozoon hepatopenaei).

"Farmers need to be fully informed about the origin of the shrimp seed they purchase, including where the parent shrimp were captured, the date of spawning, and how many breeding cycles they have gone through. This level of detail is crucial for controlling the quality from the outset and significantly reducing the risks during the farming process", Mr. Nghia explained.

In his shrimp farming model, Mr. Nghia avoids the use of antibiotics. Instead, he utilizes biological products that help control harmful bacteria, boosting the shrimp's natural resistance and overall health.

One of the most innovative aspects of this farming model is the application of remote pond monitoring technology. Through the use of sensors and cameras, Mr. Nghia is able to continuously monitor the water quality, the shrimp's feeding behavior, and their activity levels in the ponds. This real-time data allows him to quickly identify and correct any unfavorable conditions, ensuring the shrimp have the optimal environment for healthy growth.

Economic efficiency and expansion potential

Thanks to his high-tech shrimp farming model, Mr. Nghia's farm achieves a 100% success rate for each farming cycle. With a 20-hectare area, Mr. Nghĩa has built 36 shrimp ponds, each covering about 800m², divided into four sections. He farms 4-5 cycles per year, with an average yield of 50 tons per hectare per cycle. After deducting costs, he earns a profit of 240.000 - 280.000 USD annually.

Currently, Mr. Nghia not only raises commercial shrimp but also supplies high-quality shrimp seeds to the market. Due to his strict control over seed selection and farming techniques, his shrimp products are trusted by many businesses and local farmers in the area.

With its high economic efficiency and excellent adaptability to climate change, Mr. Nghĩa is planning to expand his high-tech shrimp farming model and simultaneously offer technical support to local shrimp farmers.

Mr. Long Van Nghia's high-tech shrimp farming model in Bạc Liêu serves as a clear example of success in applying modern science and technology to aquaculture. The effectiveness of this model is achieved through rigorous management of the pond environment, the careful selection of high-quality shrimp fry, and the use of advanced technology, all of which contribute to its high production yield.

The two segments of the shrimp seed market

According to Mr. Long Van Nghia, the shrimp seed market in Vietnam is currently divided into two primary segments.

The first segment consists of large, reputable companies with long-standing experience in producing shrimp fry on an industrial scale, ensuring consistent quality. While the price of shrimp fry in this segment is relatively high, ranging from 140-160 VND per fry, the production cost is only about 20-30 VND per fry. Despite the higher cost, farmers who implement high-tech shrimp farming methods still prioritize purchasing shrimp fry from these companies, as they guarantee higher production efficiency and quality.

The second segment of the shrimp broodstock market consists of smaller businesses that do not have the financial capacity to invest in high-quality parent shrimp or modern equipment. These companies usually buy discarded or substandard shrimp fry from larger, well-established companies and resell them to farmers. As a result, the quality of the shrimp fry is compromised. The shrimp seed from this segment are much cheaper, ranging from 20 to 100 VND per seed, but they come with significant risks. The success rate for farming these shrimp is very low, as they are more susceptible to diseases and grow at a much slower rate.

Mr. Nghia firmly asserts that the success or failure of shrimp farming is largely determined by the quality of the fry, especially when considering climate change. When investing in high-tech shrimp farming, the cost of shrimp fry accounts for only about 5% of the total investment. Given this relatively low percentage, farmers should be willing to pay a higher price for quality shrimp seed.

Professional shrimp farmers, particularly those engaged in high-tech farming models, typically choose breeds from reputable brands that offer clear and reliable sourcing information. In many cases, they are even able to trace the exact details of the parent shrimp, including their origin, breeding dates, and number of breeding cycles. By ensuring the fry are of high quality from the outset, farmers can significantly reduce the risks of disease outbreaks and increase the likelihood of a successful harvest.

How to identify high-quality shrimp seeds

According to Mr. Nghia, within the first 30 days after stocking, the success rate of the farming can be determined. If the shrimp larvae are of poor quality, they are prone to two common diseases. The first is TPD disease (white liver syndrome), which appears within the first 10 days and causes a high mortality rate. The second is EHP disease (enterocytozoon hepatopenaei), which usually appears after 20 days of farming, causing the shrimp to grow slowly and making it difficult for them to reach market size.

These two diseases account for 70-80% of the reasons for failure in high-tech shrimp farming models today. Therefore, farmers are becoming increasingly cautious when selecting shrimp larvae.

To evaluate the quality of shrimp larvae, Mr. Nghia suggests three main methods that farmers can apply. First, information from the Fisheries Department: Farmers can follow official notifications from the Fisheries Department to learn about hatcheries with parent shrimp that meet the required standards. Second, direct assessment at hatcheries: Farmers can visit hatcheries to check the production conditions and the quality of the larvae. Third, PCR testing and fluorescent staining (AFB): This modern testing method can detect potential pathogens in shrimp larvae. It ensures that the larvae are healthy and free from diseases before stocking them.

Mr. Nghia also predicts that in the future, farmers will gradually eliminate small, low-quality hatcheries. These will be replaced by reputable facilities that use advanced technology to meet the increasing demands of the shrimp farming industry.

The shrimp farming environment is becoming harsher, forcing farmers to raise their standards when selecting shrimp larvae. In the past, when natural conditions were stable and consistent, people paid less attention to the quality of larvae. However, today, the quality of shrimp larvae directly impacts the success rate of a farming season.

Mr. Nghia emphasizes that hatcheries that meet the standards for origin, technology, and production techniques will continue to thrive and develop. On the other hand, small-scale production facilities that lack investment and the ability to control quality will gradually be phased out from the market.

$ 1 = VND 25.320 - Source: Vietcombank.