Abstract

Three separate studies, involving a total of 48 ponds, were conducted to determine the value of certain agricultural forages and by-products as supple­mental feed for crawfish. In Study 1, crawfish (Procambarus clarkii) were grown in replicated ponds with four different treatments; namely bahiagrass (Pasalum notatum) hay, rice (Oriza sativa) hay, inorganic fertilizer, and natural vegetation (control ponds). Greatest average yield of harvestable (>75 mm) crawfish was obtained from the rice hay and bahiagrass hay treatments with 736 and 733 kg/ha, respectively. Crawfish production in fertilized and control ponds was much lower, 192 and 202 kg/ha respectively. In Study 2, crawfish were grown in replicated ponds with four different treatments; namely sugarcane (Saccharum sp. hybrids) bagasse + inorganic fertilizer, sugarcane bagasse + chicken manure, sugarcane bagasse only, and chicken manure only. The average yield in kg/ha for each was: sugarcane bagasse + inorganic fertilizer, 459; sugarcane bagasse + chicken manure, 395; sugarcane bagasse, 280; and chicken manure, 438. In Study 3, an experimental design similar to Study 2 was used. Results in kg/ha were: sugarcane filter cake, 370; sugarcane filter cake+ chicken manure, 581; sugarcane bagasse, 359; and chicken manure, 600. To summarize all three studies, some agricultural forages and by-products show promise as supplemental feed for crawfish. None of the by-products tested reached a desired level of production of 1,000 kg or more per ha. It appears then that various agricultural forages and by-products may have a supplemental role in ponds with a shortage of natural vegetation. Fed alone they do not appear to provide suitable forage for crawfish.

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