Looking For Something New? How About Frogs

Looking For Something New? How About Frogs AG WORLD Ag World 19-4-21 "If you're looking for an unusual new live-stock enterprise, you may want to consider raising frogs," says Ken Holyoak, owner of Ken's Hatchery, Alapaha, Ga., who's come up with a complete new system that he says makes frog farming a profitable alternative on any farm. Holyoak came up with a specially-designed tank for frogs and a first-of-its-kind feed ration. He sells yearling frogs that have been trained to eat the feed. "I've spent 33 years doing every kind of research project possible to come up with a way to make frog farming practical. I know for sure that if you don't get every-thing right you won't be successful raising them," says Holyoak. "My biggest break-through was in coming up with a feed that makes frogs grow fast and a way to train them to eat it. Frogs are normally insect-eaters, but it would be impractical to grow frogs commercially with insects for food. Frogs that eat our feed grow faster and larger than wild frogs. While it may take 2 to 3 years to grow wild frogs, we can grow trained yearlings to adult weight in only 180 days." Holyoak says frogs can be raised in car-ports, back yards, basements, or old barns. His tank is 4 ft. wide, 3 1/2 ft. high, and 6 ft. long and accommodates up to 75 frogs at a time. A hose hooked up to the tank keeps the water fresh. The tank has places for frogs to dry off, hide, and feed. "Frogs need to be inside where it's warm or they'll hibernate," says Ken. "Insulation can be laid over the top of the tank and a heat bulb mounted inside to keep it warm." According to Holyoak, there's a "tremendous demand" for frogs both for research and food purposes. "People enjoy raising frogs because it's fun to watch them eat and swim, and there's a big demand for fresh, quality frog legs, which are one of the most popular delicasies available. However, it's rare to find them in restaurants or super-markets because DDT wiped out much of the frog supply in the U.S. years ago and they never recovered. It's getting to the point where frog legs have become very expensive. I look for us to turn that around." Holyoak sells a complete, small frog farming system for less than $1,000. He also sells plans to build your own system beginning at $100. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ken's Hatchery and Fish Farms, Inc., Rt. 1, U.S. Hwy. 129 North, Box 449, Alapaha, Ga. 31622 (ph 912 532-6135).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.