Medicated‐Feed Intervention in Catfish Farming: An Economic Perspective

Abstract

AbstractCatfish farmers manage several bacterial diseases on their farm operations. Among them, enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) is the most widespread and economically significant disease. Farmers have limited ESC management choices, primarily through feed restriction or treatment with medicated feed (Aquaflor [florfenicol] or Romet [ormetoprim sulfadimethoxine]). However, the management of ESC on catfish farms has economic implications given the production losses associated with the feed restriction approach and the expense of medicated feeds. This relative economic study evaluated the economics of ESC management on commercial catfish operations using medicated feeds as opposed to the feed restriction approach. The relative economic benefit of disease management varied depending on the nature of the catfish production phase, degree of disease progression, and intensity of culture practices. This study provides economic justification for the use of medicated feeds as opposed to restricted feeding in the fingerling production phase, with net benefits ranging from US$1,600/acre to $1,800/acre. However, its use in food fish production should involve consideration of various factors, such as the market price of the fish and the foregone revenue along with production aspects, such as the size of the fish and the intensity of culture practices. The study underscores the economic importance of medicated feeds in the judicious management of bacterial diseases in catfish farming.