"Post-EMS future is bright" - GOAL 2016
Although EMS is complicated “finally we are beginning to understand it,” and the future is bright, according to Robins Mcintosh, senior vice president at Charoen Pokphand Group.
“The future is bright, we understand the disease now, and Thailand is already demonstrating it,” he said.
Since the disease decimated the industry, many lessons have been learnt, Robins said, and once implemented these changes can result in success.
For example, the process starts in the hatchery with healthy post larvae, he said. “Without healthy post larvae, genetics don’t mean very much.”
Once it is understood starts in the hatchery and there is a need for high quality PLs, then there is also the need for completely new biosecurity implementation in order to get success.
As an example, the industry needs to focus on ensuring clean brood stock, clean PLs, a clean farm, and a clean water source.
Mcintosh also championed the use of a “Shrimp Pond Toilet” which can be used to quickly flush sludge, old feed and molts from pond.
In addition, by changing the layout of CP’s Lamae farm, for example, the company has seen significant benefits, Mcintosh said.
The company has boosted the number of primary treatment ponds at the site, as well as reservoirs, while also significantly decreasing the number of culture ponds. “And with change; today’s farm has greater profits than before AHPNS,” said Mcintosh. The company reduced the number of culture ponds from 77 to 38 and between 2014 and 2016 saw costs per kilo fall from $13.90 to $3.25 per kilo.
Profits also jumped (see below). “Next time we are faced with a disaster, recovery will be quicker, now we will have the tools in place to respond,” said Mcintosh
