EFFECT OF COMMERCIAL FEEDS ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF SHRIMP (PENAEUS MONODON) IN BAGERHAT COASTAL PONDS OF BANGLADESH

The experiment was conducted over 120 days from March to June 2019 in Bagerhat sadar upazila, Bagerhat. The study was categorized into four treatments indicated as T₁ (ACI feed), T₂ (Quality feed), T₃ (Mega feed) and T₄ (control) with three replicates. The experimental ponds were stocked with shrimp PL at same density of 4 nos./m². Ponds were treated with agricultural lime based on soil and water pH and fertilized with urea and Triple Super Phosphate depending on water transparency and depth. Different water quality parameters were determined at ten-day intervals. Parameters of water were within acceptable ranges of shrimp culture. Higher growth (30.36 g) of shrimp was achieved in T₂ compared to T₁ (28.53 g), T₃ (27.43 g) and T₄ (22.85 g). Growth and survival rate of shrimp were comparatively lower in T₄ at the same stocking density. Significantly (p<0.05) higher production of shrimp was obtained in T₂ (971.52 kg/ha) than those of T₁ (855.90 kg/ha), T₃ (757.07 kg/ha) and T₄ (566.68 kg/ha). Highest net profit (US$ 2570.2/ha) of shrimp farming was found in T₂ than that of T₁ (US$ 2105.7), T₃ (US$ 1786.6) and T₄ (US$ 1298.1). Results of the study indicate that among different commercial feeds Quality feed (T₂) is better than other feeds in respect of survival rate, growth, production and net profit. So, farmers may be encouraged to use Quality feed for getting higher production and significant return in a short period of time.