Current status and strategies of rainbow trout farming at the state government trout farm, Shillong, Meghalaya

Abstract

In the present investigation, the study utilized a mixed-methods approach, integrating both primary and secondary data sources. A questionnaire-based survey and in- depth interview with the supervisor of the trout farm facility ‘IF Farm’ was conducted to elucidate the incubation, hatching and rearing protocols of eyed-stage eggs sourced from the DCFR Uttarakhand experimental farm. The findings yielded insights into the protocols and scientific techniques, underpinning successful eyed-stage eggs hatching, relevant for the state government trout farm and optimization of trout production in Meghalaya. As for secondary data, the experiment was conducted for the duration of 120 days, at the State Government Trout Farm in Cleve Colony, Shillong, Meghalaya. Two raceway tanks with a water volume of 210 m3 and 170 m3 was stocked with healthy fish specimens having average weight of 75.2±0.73g and average length of 17.3±0.78 cm and was divided into two groups and each raceway tanks was stocked with 9.52 and 5.88 fish/m3 in T1 and T2 respectively and were daily fed with commercial floating pelleted feed, Growel-NUTRILA, thrice a day, at the rate of 2-3% body weight. To observe growth patterns in terms of weight and length sampling was done at 20 days interval. In this study length, weight, survival rate, weight gain, condition factor, SGR, FCR and water quality parameters were studied at different intervals viz., initial, 20th, 40th, 60th, 80th, 100th and 120th day. During the study period, the physico-chemical parameters of water samples from both the experimental tanks were analyzed and recorded weekly.