Lertwanakarn Tuchakorn, Purimayata Thitima, Luengyosluechakul Thnapol, Grimalt Pau Badia, Pedrazzani Ana Silvia, Quintiliano Murilo Henrique, Surachetpong Win
Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Graduate Program in Animal Health and Biomedical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Aug 2;13(15):2498. doi: 10.3390/ani13152498.
Welfare assessments have risen to prominence in the aquaculture industry, with increasing awareness of their significance among stakeholders in Thailand. In this study, we conducted a welfare assessment of tilapia ( spp.) farms in Thailand, focusing on health, environmental, behavioural, and nutritional indicators. Comparing semi-intensive (earthen ponds) and intensive farming practices (cage culture), we found significant differences in the overall health score, particularly at farm F due to a disease outbreak (Kruskal-Wallis, = 0.01). Skin and fin scores varied across farms, indicating their potential as indicators of tilapia health. Environmental assessments revealed differences in transparency between the two culturing systems (Mann-Whitney, = 0.02). During the harvesting process, tilapia behaviours indicated poor welfare across all farms. However, no statistically significant difference in overall welfare scores was found between the two culturing systems. Correlations were observed between nutritional, environmental, and health indicators, with negative correlations between fish density and water transparency ( = -0.87, = 0.02), presence of inhabitants ( = -0.78, = 0.04), feeding behaviours ( = -0.78, = 0.04), and swimming behaviours during capture ( = -0.98, = 0.001). These findings provide valuable insights to enhance tilapia-farming practices and welfare in Thailand.
福利评估在水产养殖业中日益重要，泰国的利益相关者对其重要性的认识也在不断提高。在本研究中，我们对泰国罗非鱼养殖场进行了福利评估，重点关注健康、环境、行为和营养指标。比较半集约化（土池）和集约化养殖方式（网箱养殖），我们发现总体健康得分存在显著差异，特别是在养殖场F，由于疾病爆发（Kruskal-Wallis检验，P = 0.01）。各养殖场的皮肤和鳍的得分有所不同，表明它们有可能作为罗非鱼健康的指标。环境评估显示两种养殖系统的透明度存在差异（Mann-Whitney检验，P = 0.02）。在收获过程中，罗非鱼的行为表明所有养殖场的福利状况都很差。然而，两种养殖系统在总体福利得分上没有发现统计学上的显著差异。观察到营养、环境和健康指标之间存在相关性，鱼类密度与水透明度之间呈负相关（r = -0.87，P = 0.02），与栖息生物的存在呈负相关（r = -0.78，P = 0.04），与摄食行为呈负相关（r = -0.78，P = 0.04），与捕获期间的游泳行为呈负相关（r = -0.98，P = 0.001）。这些发现为改进泰国的罗非鱼养殖实践和福利状况提供了有价值的见解。
