Profit Breakthrough with All-Male Giant Freshwater Prawn Farming
Giant Freshwater Prawns: Hardy and High-Performing
Giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) are highly adaptable to freshwater environments, and have also been domesticated for brackish water farming with impressive growth performance. Compared to black tiger shrimp and whiteleg shrimp, this species offers several advantages — easier to farm, faster growth rates, less susceptibility to disease, and rapid adaptation to varied environments and water sources.
Promoting All-Male Giant Freshwater Prawn Farming
Giant freshwater prawns are widely farmed in Vietnam. Notably, male prawns grow faster and reach larger sizes than females. Males can reach up to 32 cm, while females typically only grow to 25 cm. Males also demonstrate dominant, “alpha” behavior — with the largest males often outgrowing others in the same environment.
During the early stages, both sexes grow at similar rates up to 30–40 grams. Beyond that, males accelerate in growth and can reach twice the weight of females. Mixed-gender farming leads to uneven growth, lower productivity, and reduced female survival due to competition. As a result, gender conversion techniques to produce all-male populations have gained popularity in recent years.
According to MSc. Nguyễn Khắc Lâm, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Aquatic Breeding Center:
“Once females mature, they begin using energy to develop eggs rather than grow. That’s why we initiated all-male prawn farming in early 2018.”
Following a survey, the center selected Lê Thanh Commune, Mỹ Đức District, Hanoi as a pilot location due to its suitable soil and water conditions.
Strong Economic Returns
By stocking only male prawn juveniles, Mr. Nguyễn Hữu Sơn in Lê Thanh achieved remarkable results: prawns reached 25 pcs/kg at just 130 days, compared to the usual 150–160 days. He stocked at 7–8 prawns per square meter, feeding with 25–30% protein pellets.
In his earthen ponds, Mr. Sơn carefully monitored water quality, maintaining pH at 8–8.5 and ensuring toxic gas levels stayed within safe thresholds. He used aerators and probiotics to keep the environment stable.
“I regularly apply probiotics to stabilize the water and boost shrimp immunity. I haven’t used antibiotics at all,” he shared.
Thanks to this approach, he cut 50% of medication and disinfection costs, improved digestive health, and enhanced feed conversion efficiency. All-male stocking also resulted in faster and more uniform growth.
Shorter Grow-Out Cycle, Better Market Prices
“We planned for a 6-month grow-out cycle, but prawns already hit 25 pcs/kg before that,” said MSc. Nguyễn Khắc Lâm. “At this size, market prices are significantly higher than other shrimp species.”
After just over 4 months, survival rates exceeded 80%, with prawns averaging 30 grams. Expected yield is 1.2–1.4 tons/ha.
“At the current price of 300,000 VND/kg, we anticipate around 1 ton of harvest. After expenses, profit is expected to exceed 200 million VND per hectare,” said Mr. Sơn.
The Hanoi Aquatic Breeding Center provided 100% of the seed cost, 30% of the feed, and technical guidance throughout the process. The center also partnered with companies for product procurement, and feedback from businesses has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I highly appreciate the results of all-male prawn farming. The prawns from Mỹ Đức are uniform and have good coloration,” shared Mr. Trần Minh Vân, Director of Minh Phu International JSC.
Conclusion: Higher Yields, Better Profits, and Greater Diversity
The introduction of all-male prawn juveniles helps prevent natural mating, resulting in larger harvest sizes and higher prices. This model reduces grow-out time, diversifies farming practices, and increases income for local aquaculture producers — all while promoting sustainable and profitable farming.
Source: aquaculture.vn
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Ngày đăng : 17/06/2025
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