In the process of raising turtles and soft-shelled turtles, one of the biggest challenges for farmers is ensuring a steady and cost-effective feed supply. How can we make these animals eat well, reduce the overall cost of raising them, and ultimately boost the profitability of turtle farming? Here are some practical methods that can be used to address the feeding issue:
1. **Feeding Sources**: You can utilize sheds and wetlands on your property to grow feed or raise quail for a sustainable protein source. In spring, you can collect yellow locusts and small loaches, while in autumn, you can gather food for turtles by catching them in the wild.
2. **Trapping Insects**: Using black light traps is an effective way to attract insects during the summer and fall. Hang a black light lamp about 20 cm above the water surface in the turtle pond each night to attract insects, which can then be used as feed. During rice seedling growth periods, you can also use the "light and catch moths" method. Place a kerosene lamp in a pot filled with water, and at night, moths will be attracted to the light and fall into the water, where they can be collected early in the morning.
3. **Fishing for Snails**: Use scorpion nets or similar tools to collect snails from ditches, ponds, reservoirs, rice fields, and even fish and shrimp farms. These snails can serve as a natural and nutritious food source for the turtles.
4. **Using Waste Materials**: Collect animal by-products such as pig, sheep, and chicken organs and blood. After washing and chopping them, they can be fed to the turtles as a protein-rich supplement.
5. **Feed Preparation**: A homemade feed mix can be made using 30% flour, 30% wheat bran, 20% corn flour, 15% rice, and 5% fish meal. Mix all ingredients together and form them into pellets before feeding.
When using these feeding methods, it's important to pay attention to two key points: First, feed amounts should be carefully controlled. Turtles and soft-shelled turtles should be fed 14% to 20% of their body weight daily, divided into three meals. It's essential to remove uneaten food after 2 hours to prevent water pollution and maintain clean conditions. Regular water changes are also necessary. Second, every 15 days, add a small amount of sulfonamide drugs to the feed to help prevent diseases like swollen neck and internal bleeding.
By implementing these strategies, farmers can not only reduce feeding costs but also improve the health and growth of their turtles, leading to better economic returns.
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