The role of water in fish farming.

Water is the natural habitat of fish thus for successful farming venture,the quality must be monitored and controlled.The growth of any fish depends on the water parameters,feeding protocol,feed composition and genetic potential of the fish specie. The sources of water for the fish farming could be any of the following; wells,dams,boreholes ,sea/lagoon and streams.The system of farming intended will dictate the source of water to be used.The earthen pond usually get water from streams,sea/lagoon and channeled springs while the concrete ponds are filled either from wells,boreholes or dams.The most important factor to consider is the quality of the water source. Water for fish farming must possess the following qualities; 1) The PH must be between 7-9,not acidic or too alkaline. 2)The water must be clean and free from contaminants/pollutants such as oil,chemicals,paints or heavy metals. 3)It must be odorless,free from scumb or foam. 4)It must contain enough dissolved oxygen 4mg/litre. 5)It must have a temperature of between 25-32 degree . 6) The carbon dioxide must not be less than 5mg/litre. 7)Ammonia level 0.05mg/litre. 8)Nitrate not less than 50mg/litre. 9)Nitrite not less than 0.30mg/litre. Water quality should be checked at regular intervals using a water kit and necessary adjustment made,a change in any of the water parameters leads to stress in the fish which could lead to severe loses. Oxygen a major index of water quality needs regular monitoring and balancing.The reduced and increased levels of oxygen has a bad effect on the fish.When oxygen level is depleted in the pond,it leads to suffocation and death of the fish,while supersaturation leads togas bubble disease in fish.The supersaturation usually occurs in algae bloom,where there is rapid photosynthesis resulting in small bubbles accumulating in fish intestines,muscles and gills causing the fish to float. The management practices also hamper on the health of the fish,so these must also be taken into consideration in fish farming.

FINGERLING PRODUCTION.

Fingerling production in cat fish farming is an essential part of the farm operation because it is the seed needed for production.The Clarias gariepinus spp is the common cat fish reared in Nigeria because of its early maturity taste,and the fact that it has an accessory breathing organ hence can survive outside water for some hrs,this explains why its sold live in the open markets. The mature male and female brood stock are chosen and kept in separate tubs,one male can fertilize 10 females.The males are bigger and heavier than the females,weighing over 1kg is the ideal .The males must have well developed genitals that are reddish indicating maturity. The females to be used must be identified as good spawners,with a weight of 450-500g,and must be over 8months with dark golden green eggs. The females are usually injected with hormones,the eggs expressed and mixed with milt of the male catfish.The male catfish is killed to extract the milt while the female is returned to pond after eggs are expressed. There are various hormones used in stimulating ovulation in fish such as ova prim, human chorionic gonadotropin, crushed pituitary gland and a combination of motilium and suprefact. The materials needed for the spawning include; a glass trough or a bath tub with water inlet and outlet pipes, screen with stand, pumps,bowls and net covering to keep tank covered and dark.The method you intend to use will dictate materials you will put in place. METHOD; The female brood fish to be used are injected with hormone,and left for 10 hours in a tank with flowing water,after which the eggs are stripped and placed in a bowl and fertilized with sperm from milt sac.The testis are cut in quarters,placed in a cloth and squeezed ,so that the sperm is caught on the bowl of eggs and the mixture is gently stirred.The fertilized eggs are placed on the screen in the bath tub and hatching occurs in 24-30 hours. The eggs can also be spawned in bowls with air pumps,this continuous movement of the water facilitates rapid hatching of the eggs .The eggs start hatching after 24 hours,you observe the hatchlings swimming in the bowl,allow 12 more hours for other eggs to hatch,after which you discard the unhatched eggs. The hatchlings are transferred to nursery tank,but are not fed until the 3rd day when there is complete absorption of yolksac. The fry's are fed with artemia ,and growth is observed and monitored.The fry's are sorted every week until they are a month old,then select the fingerlings for sale or continue rearing and sell as juveniles.

AURAL HAEMATOMA.

This refers to pocketing or ballooning of the pinna, with blood from damaged blood vessels in the ear. Aural haematoma can be caused by direct damage to vessels in the ear.

The damage could be as a result of bite wound,accidents,but the most common cause is severe head shaking and scratching which is associated with heavy tick infestation. Otitis media and allergic dermatitis are underlying causes of aural haematoma,hence thorough examination is essential in treatment protocol.

 Treatment of haematoma can be surgical or non surgical intervention.
 Haematomas can resolve on their own but the ear will assume a cauliflower shape,hence disfiguring the shape and size of ear.

 Non surgical intervention involves draining the fluid and flushing the cavity with saline to remove any clot or fibrin. The draining will be done a number of times because the haematoma recurs.There is a tendency for secondary bacteria infection because of several needle pokes,hence complicating the case of haematoma.

 The surgical intervention involves lancing the haematoma,flushing the cavity with saline,then some sutures are placed on the pinna.

The sutures are to hold the wall to the cartilage beneath,to ensure there is no space for pooling of blood.The incision site is not sutured,rather the sutures placed on both sides of pinna provide the necessary closure.

 The sutures are removed after a week, and the animal is placed on antilnflammtory drugs,analgesic and incision site is sprayed with wound oil treatment to repel flies.

The ear could be wrapped up in bandage or a head collar is placed on the animal to prevent cutting off the stitches.
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Vet and food safety

Tuberculosis a deadly zoonotic disease, and the rise in human cases has been linked to consumption of animal byproducts and flesh of animals with tuberculosis. This is one of the reasons why you must purchase your beef and animal by products from certified slaughter slabs and abattoir. The picture shows tubercles in lymph node,rib cage, and liver, The entire carcass was condemned and destroyed. Do not purchase beef that is tainted, smelly or discolored. Buy your animal products and byproducts from certified slabs and abattoir. Food safety and hygiene is our collective responsibility,do your part.

THE ROLE OF THE VETERINARIAN IN CURBING TUBERCULOSIS.

FISH HEALTH PROTOCOL.

The fish tank/pond is a summation of all activities carried out in the farm. The health status of the fish depends largely on management,this will determine the success of the venture.The prevention of fish diseases is achieved by implementing methods to prevent stress on the farm these include regular feeding with good quality feed,at specific feeding points at specific times. Fish should be given good quality feed at specific points at specified times to ensure proper observation this protocol ensures pond management as observation will dictate course of action. Predisposing conditions to fish diseases can easily be observed and prevented,these include poor water quality,overstocking and poor feed quality. The presence of dead fish or dying fish in the pond indicate a stress condition which can be attributed to pathogenic agents,bad feed,poor oxygen concentration e.t.c. HOW TO IDENTIFY SICK FISH; 1) the fish stops feeding. 2)the movement is sluggish,swimming by the side of tank. 3) skin discoloration. 4)lesion such as sores,pus ,white nodules on the skin. 5) fins rotten or frailed off. 6)gills are pale,hairy,white and covered with mucus. When you observe any of the above do the following; 1) isolate fish. 2)test the water parameter with a test kit. 3) check the fish thoroughly. 4)submit fish for laboratory diagnosis. 5)match the result with water analysis . 6) institute treatment based on result. The isolation of sick fish in treatment tank is to prevent spread/contamination of other stock,but ideally when you identify any sick fish you isolate them but ensure you drain the pond and replace with fresh water.This will ensure you flush out the causative agent and also alter the water parameter. It is very essential to treat all the fish in pond although those isolated will be treated separately and will only be returned to pond when health status is certified . Fish health management is a key to success of the venture, using Atovi feed premix is an advantage. It enhances the immune system of the fish keeping diseases away, the fish grows faster resulting in early harvest and fish are of big sizes fetching more profit. The premix ensures proper absorption of feed,so there is no wastage reducing the amount of feces hence pond is clean without undigested feed in pond. The use of atovi premix ensures a balance in water parameters as there are no nitrogenous deposits preventing nitrite toxicity which causes brown blood disease.It also prevents high ammonia deposit in pond because of complete metabolism of feed. FOR HIGHER FISH YIELD ;USE ATOVI PREMIX.

AGRIBUSINESS : Common fish diseases and treatment.

Fish health management refers to practices that ensures optimum growth and development.The health status of fish is hinged largely on procedural technique;these include stocking density,water quality,oxygen tension, rate of dissolved gases turbidity and feed.The proper implementation of these technique ensures that the fish are disease-free. Diseases affecting fish are classified as bacterial,viral and fungal; these will only proliferate when environmental conditions of the pond are altered thereby making the fish susceptible to infection. Bacteria enteritis is a bacterial infection caused by Aeromonas punctata , where the fish stops feeding,the intestines are distended,the body is darkened ,the gills are rotten and anal region is swollen.The condition results in high mortality,the treatment is use of antibiotics in feed or soak affected fish in antibiotic laced water.There is also a herbal remedy ; fresh garlic are crushed and added to feed at a rate of 5 g of garlic to 10 kg of feed for 3 days. Bacterial gill rot caused by flexibacter columnaris; affects the gills turns them black because of large deposit of mucus on the gills,thus making it putrid.The operculum is inflamed ,gills ulcerate and drop off.This is also treated by adding antibiotics to feed,also table salt at 2% concentration in 20litres of water can be used in the treatment tank,where the fish are immersed for 10-15 mins. The cotton white disease or "water mold" caused by saprolegria spp,affects the gill filaments making them hairy and white.The treatment involves immersing fish in a solution of common salt and sodium bicarbonate. White head and mouth disease caused by pseudomonas dermoalla, the fish loses the natural color and attains a milky color from head to tail.This condition is also caused by myxococus piscicala. Furunculosis refers to the condition where the fish skin and muscle are inflammed,distended with pus,the fins are damaged and are eroded. The sudden death syndrome usually caused by branchiomycosis sanguinis; the gills are pale,with heavy mucus deposit on gills ,spores are also noted on gills suffocating the fish because of insufficient oxygen.This disease is largely associated with poor water quality with high deposit of inorganic matter. The treatment of bacterial infection in fish requires use of antibiotics in feed or water but most importantly,the pond must be flushed .Water must be added to pond and it should be properly aerated before treatment commences. Fish diseases can be prevented with sound management practices and inclusion of atovi feed premix to fish feed.