Magdedeploy ng halos 500 pulis sa kamaynilaan ang ating gobyerno sa nalalapit na Valentines day.Ang dahilan ng ganitong karaming deployment ay para sa siguridad ng mga taong magdidiwang ng nasabing okasyon.Ayun din kasi sa intelligence report ng kapulisan sa banggit na araw ay maybanta daw na “PAGPAPASABOG” sa matataong lugar tulad ng motel, hotel at parke…….
Milkfish: The King of Fish Part 2
Milkfish: The King of Fish
by Henrylito D. Tacio
Fry supply
Historically, milkfish fry abound in the country. In recent years, however, the number collected has been dwindling due to the destruction of natural habitats brought about by the extensive conversion of mangrove areas to fishponds, destructive fishing methods and environmental degradations, among others. Consequently, with the decrease in seed supply, the cost6 of fry and fingerlings has increased significantly over the years.
Normally, milkfish fry appears in different places and various seasonal peaks. Areas like Southern Leyte, Western Samar, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Occidental, Antique, and Iloilo have two peak seasons: March to July and October to November. Provinces like Cotabato and Zamboanga del Sur have fry available year-round.
“Livelihood Options for Coastal Communities,” published by the Laguna-based International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, says peak gathering days occur during high tides after two or three days following a new moon or a full moon. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) or peak-spawning season of milkfish starts in March to June and drops in August to September. During the breeding season, the rising GSI value coincides with rising seawater temperature. Spawning regularly occurs among five- to – seven yea old sabalo in the wild. Fertility is about 300,00 to one million eggs per kilogram weight of sabalo.
Several milkfish fry collection methods are practiced in the Philippines. This includes fry barriers of fences, seine nets and “bulldozer” nets.
The collected bangus fry are placed in well-ventilated containers, preferably wooden vats or big earthen jars filled with clean brackishwater. The containers must be kept in cool areas. Overexposure to sunlight should be avoided. The fry should also be brought to the concessionaires’ buying stations without delay.
Raising milkfish can be done using different production systems in freshwater and in brackishwater. Depending on the available resources and level of management, the culture methods can vary from the traditional or extensive systems, the modified extensive, to semi-intensive and intensive.
Milkfish can also be reared with other species. In freshwater ponds, milkfish can be cultured with mullet, tilapia, and carp with yields averaging 7,500 kilograms per hectare. In brackishwater ponds, shrimps, mudcrab, seabass, and seaweed are the most common species combined with milkfish.
According to the PCAMRD, the rates of stocking of the different species depend on their biological requirements, farmers’ preferences, and the market demand for the cultured products.
Is there money in raising milkfish? A study on the cost and returns of milkfish production was conducted by the agriculture department in the provinces of Bulacan, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental in 2001. The result shows that Bulacan incurred the highest average production cost at P32, 202 per hectare while in netted P41, 922. Average production costs per hectare were lower in Negros Occidental at P20, 390 and in Iloilo at P14, 047. The net returns were calculated at P15, 271 and P10, 746, respectively. Certainly, then, there is money in bangus production.
source: MARID agribusiness, January 2006
Milkfish: The King of Fish part 1
Milkfish: The King of Fish
By Henrylito D. Tacio
Milkfish, more popularly known among Filipinos as bangus, is considered a national icon as it is part of the country’s national heritage. Found in the entire Indo-Pacific area with water temperature above 20 degrees, milkfish appears in folk tales as “king of fish”.
Because of the Filipinos special preference for milkfish, it is one of the most-often cultured fish in the country.
“Milkfish has always been the most important species cultured in the Philippines in terms of area and production,” reports fishery expert Simeona Aypa.
Production
The top milkfish producing provinces are Bulacan, Pangasinan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. A report by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) show that the combined production of these five provinces alone accounts for almost 50 percent of the country’s total bangus production.
For a very long time, the Philippine aquaculture industry was virtually synonymous with milkfish culture. The introduction of marine cages has greatly expanded the range of culture systems under which milkfish is now being produced: brackishwater ponds, fish pens in freshwater lakes, fish pens in shallow bays, lake based cages whether fixed or floating and sea-based cages. Perhaps no other aquaculture species has a wider range of environment and culture systems under which it is being produced.
“Commercial production of milkfish in the Philippines dates back more than a century ago although significant growth of the industry was realized only in the last three decades,” reports the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD). “Several economic activities stem from milkfish farming. These include fry collection, nursery operation, processing, marketing and other related services such as ice making and fish transport.’
A recent study show that total milkfish supply has been increasing. In 1998, the reported milkfish supply was at 165,458 metric tons. It increased to 232,342 metric tons by 2002. Of the total supply, 99.75 percent utilized as food and less than one percent was exported.
Unlike most fish, milkfish adapts to marine, brackishwater, and freshwater environment. From 1998 to 2002, milkfish production in the country grew at an average annual rate of 9.44 percent.
“Annual average production during the five-year period was 202,144 metric tons,” noted Crisanto Castillo, author of the BAS report. “OF this total volume, 179,735 were produced from brackishwater, 11,903 metric tons were harvested from freshwater, and 10,506 metric tons from marine water.”
In 2002, the average yield of milkfish per hectare of fishpond is 0.82 metric ton. Previously, it was only 0.75 metric ton per hectare of fishpond.
“Milkfish farming in fish pens and fish cages from marine environment had higher yields at 30.72 metric tons per hectare,” said Castillo in his report. “This was way above the average production in brackishwater fishpond at 0.74 metric tons per hectare, and freshwater fishponds at 2.53 metric tons per hectare.”
In 2002, milkfish farming in brackishwater environment had the biggest production but had the lowest productivity. In brackishwater fish pens and fish cages, average yields per hectare were high at 59.54 metric tons and 129.78 metric tons respectively.
“The high yields from brackishwater pens and cages were the result of bigger milkfish produced in smaller areas,” Castillo noted.
Milkfish commands a high price in the domestic market. From 1998 to 2001, average producers’ and retail prices of milkfish exhibited an upward trend: from 52.98 percent to 57.67 percent at farm gate and 79.58 percent to 82.50percent at retail. But in 2002, however, prices dropped by 6.14 percent at farm gate and 4.34 percent at retail.
Some studies have shown that price of milkfish is relatively high during the months of December to May and low in June to November. Monthly prices vary by eight percent below and above the prices of the average month.
Exports
There is also a market for milkfish outside the country. Between 1998 and 2002, milkfish exports have grown. The volume of milkfish exports averaged 359.87 metric tons with an annual growth of 46.06 percent. In 2002, exports reached 589.27 metric tons valued at US 1.8 million dollars. About 45.81 percent of the total quantity exported was in frozen form and 30.79 percent was whole or in pieces.
The Philippines exports milkfish in different forms such as smoked, dried, marinated, frozen and canned products. These are exported to Australia, Canada, Japan, United States, Switzerland, Qatar, Singapore, Hong Kong, Guam, and Lebanon. In 2002, 14,863 kilograms of fresh/chilled milkfish were exported to Guam alone. Also in 2002, the US was the biggest buyer of frozen milkfish (89,169 kilograms). Canada bought 53,687 kilograms of smoked fish from the country in the same year.
Raising Quails Part 3
Raising Quails Part 3
By: Gemma C. Delmo
Incubation and hatching
Usually, quails nurture their own eggs but other breeds like the bobwhite do not naturally incubate, hence the need for an incubator. If you decide to use one, study carefully the instructions to avoid problems. NSW identifies two incubators commonly used. The still-air and forced-draught or fan ventilated incubators. Still-air incubating temperature of 38.3 degrees centigrade for the first week, 38.8 degrees centigrade for second week and not exceeding 39.5 degrees centigrade until hatching is completed. Humidity is important in small still-air incubators, thus avoid opening the incubator unless you need to turn the eggs. The eggs must be turned by hand three to five times a day and put a mark on the eggs to connote the number of turns. It is advised to transfer the eggs to different locations in the incubator in case the temperature is not consistent. To prevent newly hatched chicks to slump in hatching trays, crowd the eggs or attach cheesecloths to the bottom of the hatching tray before the hatch.
Forced -draft or fan ventilated incubators should have a maintaining temperature of 37.5 degrees centigrade and a relative humidity of 60% until the 14th day. The NSW suggest turning of eggs every 2 to 4 hrs to prevent embryos from sticking to the shell. On the 14th day, candle and remove any cracked eggs or dead embryos. Transfer the eggs to the hatching trays and stop turning. If there is a separate hatcher, maintain its temperature at 37.2 degree centigrade with relative humidity of 70%. The incubator should not be opened during the hatching process. If all procedures have been followed the chicks may be removed on the 17th or 18th day.
Incubation without using these machines is also possible. Gather quail eggs and put them under a hen. Remove all chicken eggs and wait for 17-18 days for hatching.
It may take ten hours for chicks to fully pop out from their shells. After hatching, the incubator should be cleaned, disinfected and fumigated.
Disease prevention
Though quails are hardy and resistant to diseases, they can still be affected with common poultry illnesses. Proper sanitation is the primary solution to avoid all health problems and regularly disinfecting the equipment is highly recommended. Birds that appear sick should be quickly separated and immediately take out dead birds. Consult a veterinarian or an animal expert for a guaranteed health safety.
Quail bronchitis
Quail bronchitis is one of the most common diseases of quails. According to Merck Veterinary manual (MerckVet), quail bronchitis is naturally occurring, highly contagious and a fatal respiratory disease. It affects quails of different ages that are maintained on the same premises.
The disease is caused by adenovirus that instantly affects the respiratory tract of the birds. It also affects the liver and intestine of the birds. Clinical signs include respiratory distress, coughing and sneezing. Loose, watery droppings are common in some acutely affected older birds.
The disease is often self limiting. There is no specific treatment and experimental vaccines have proven ineffective. However, increasing the brooder temperature by 1.5 to 3 degrees centigrade and avoiding contact between older and younger birds and other avian species are of value, as are strict isolation and sanitation can be an effective solution. Immunity is long lasting, possibly for life and recovered birds can be retained for breeders. New birds should not be introduced to premises without a 30-day quarantine.
Haemoprotus infection
This infection is also identified by MerckVet as common among quails. This affects the heart, liver, muscle and lungs. Mortality can be as high as 78% particularly in bobwhite quails. This infection is very perilous as it can cause sudden death without clinical signs. However, experts tell that if birds show anemia, lameness, poor growth and weakness, it should be given treatment such as antimalarial drugs or medicines containing chloroquine (5 milligrams per kilogram) and buparvaquone (2.5 milligrams per kilogram).
Ulcerative enteritis
Ulcerative enteritis is an acute highly contagious disease of quails caused by the bacterium Clostridium colinum and characterized by the ulcers of the intestine. It can cause 100% mortality in quails. According to the Poultry Site, transmission of diseases is from feces of sick and carrier birds through flies. Birds affected by this disease show listlessness, retracted neck, drooping wings, partially closed eyes, ruffled feathers, diarrhea, anemia and watery white feces. The poultry site recommends treatment of Streptomycin (44 gm/100 liters of water0, Bacitracin, tetracyclines, penicillin (50 to 100 ppm in feed), amoxicillin and vitamins. Response to treatment should be seen within 48 to 96 hours.
Quails are also affected by salmonella, lice, cholera and blackheads which can easily be treated.
The MSU states that many strains of the disease causing bacteria have been isolated and some strains have shown high resistance to the more beneficial drugs we use. Good management practices will help reduce the severity of these outbreaks. The institution therefore recommends the following practices:
Keep water trough clean or use nipple waterers.
Do not let visitors into the bird producing areas.
Clean and disinfect all equipment before taking it near the birds.
Do not bring any new birds onto the premises. If you need to increase flock size, hatch chicks from purchased eggs or eggs you produce.
Additionof 6-10 pounds of salt to each 100 square feet of litter or growing area has been reported to reduce ulcerative enteritis outbreaks.
Maintain a good insect pest and rodent control program to reduce disease spread.
Wear clean clothes and disinfect footwear before entering quail rearing facilities.
MSU emphasizes that most disease outbreaks are spread by the bird caretaker, not by the birds. Precautions you take to prevent the disease from entering the premises will be much more rewarding than trying to “treat’ yourself out of a disease problem/
A great source of extra income
Though investments may not be as big compared to chickens, it can nevertheless be a good source of extra money. From egg to becoming an egg producer, quails can generate money within two months as it will only take 57 days to fully grow and produce eggs again. Broiler quails can be sold 35 days after it has been hatched. Sixteen days after it has hatched, quails can again lay eggs within 41 days.
If you decided to raise 100 quails with a 70% egg producing capacity, it is guaranteed to produce 70 eggs in one day. Eggs are now sold at 0.75 pesos each. A rule of thumb that still applies with regard to profitability of a quail venture is that for every thousand of quail population, the net income per day should be 100 pesos. So if you have 10,000 heads you have daily net income of 1,000 pesos. This covers all the costs including depreciation.
Quails can be profitable if well-taken care of. We strongly recommends consulting an expert first before engaging in the business to ensure amore productive and profitable quail raising.
*** sources: New South Wales Food Authority, Michigan State University Cooperative Extension, The Poultry Site, Merck Veterinary Manual, Livestock Development council and Bureau of Animal Industry.
Source: MARID Agribusiness February 2007
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