CATFISH FEED FORMULATION IN NIGERIA

Nutrient requirements and feeding
characteristics of channel catfish
have been extensively researched.
This research has provided the
basis for the formulation of
efficient, economical diets and for the development of feeding
strategies - both of which have
been instrumental in the success of
the catfish industry. Nutrition Catfish farmers are able to feed a
nutritionally complete diet that
provides required levels of
nutrients and energy in a readily
digestible form. It is essential to
provide a complete diet because catfish can synthesize only a small
portion of the required nutrients
and the quantity of nutrients from
natural food organisms in the pond
is relatively small. Forty nutrients
have been identified as necessary for the normal metabolic function
of channel catfish. Based on current knowledge, a
digestible energy to crude protein
(DE/P) ratio of 8.5-10 kcal/gram is
adequate for use in commercial
catfish feeds. Ratios above this
range may lead to increased fat deposition and if the energy ratio
is too low, the fish will grow
slowly. Catfish feeds contain grain or grain
by-products that are rich in starch.
In addition to providing an
inexpensive energy source, starch
helps bind feed ingredients
together and increases expansion of extruded feeds so that the feed
pellets are water stable and float in
the water. A typical catfish feed
contains 25 percent or more of
digestible carbohydrates. Lipid levels in commercial catfish
feeds rarely exceed 5-6 percent.
About 3-4 percent of the lipid is
inherent in the feed ingredients,
with the remaining 1-2 percent
being sprayed onto the finished pellets to reduce feed “fines”.
Both vegetable and animal lipids
have been used for pellet coating. Considerable work has been
conducted over the last 10 years
concerning the level of dietary
protein and amino acids needed for
cost effective growth. Data from
these studies indicate that the dietary protein requirement for
various life stages of catfish ranges
from about 25-50 percent. Recent
studies have indicated that a
protein level of 28 percent is
adequate for growout when fish are fed to satiation. Catfish feed are generally
supplemented with a vitamin
premix to meet dietary
requirements and to compensate
for losses due to feed manufacture
and storage. Catfish feeds are also supplemented with phosphorus
and a trace mineral premix.
However, there is evidence that
supplemental trace minerals may
not be need in diets using animal
proteins. Feeds There are various types of catfish
feeds. The type being used at any
particular time is a function of size
of fish being fed, whether the fish
are feeding at the surface or in the
water column, and if an antibiotic is incorporated. Catfish fry in hatcheries are fed
finely ground meal- or flour-type
feeds containing 45-50 percent
protein. Fines or crumbles from 28
or 32 percent protein feeds for
food fish growout are suitable for fry stocked in nursery ponds until
they reach 1-2 inches in length.
Larger fingerlings should be fed
small floating pellets (1/8 inch
diameter) containing 35 percent
protein. Advanced fingerlings (5-6 inches) and food fish are generally
fed a floating feed of
approximately 5/32 - 3/16 inch in
diameter containing 28-32 percent
protein. Some producers switch to
a slow-sinking feed during the winter. Antibiotics are administered to
catfish through incorporation in
feeds. Depending on the particular
antibiotic chosen, the feed may
either be floating or sinking. Feeding Despite considerable research,
feeding catfish is far from an exact
science. It is a highly subjective
process that differs among catfish
farmers. The variation in feeding
practices is a product of numerous factors such as cropping system,
fish size, ability to manage water
quality, experience of feeding
labor, and difficulty in estimating
fish inventory. In general, fish should be fed once
a day as much feed as they will
consume without adversely
affecting water quality. However,
depending on water quality
variables and the health of the fish, it may be advisable to restrict the
daily feed allowance or to feed less
often. Long-term feed allowance
should not exceed 100-125 pounds
per acre per day. Most catfish producers feed once a
day, 7 days a week during the
warmer months. Although feeding
twice a day may slightly improve
growth of fingerlings, the logistics
of multiple feedings on large catfish farms make it impractical. Feed is typically blown onto the
surface of the water using
mechanical feeders. Feeds should
be scattered over as wide an area
as possible to provide equal
feeding opportunities for as many fish as possible. Feeding with
prevailing winds allows the feed to
float across the pond and
minimizes the amount of feed
washing ashore. Overfeeding
should be avoided since wasted feed increases production costs.
call us on 08032861326

Share this: