Aquaculture feed with feed considerations
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Before developing a suitable feed formula, it's essential to first identify the species of fish being raised and their growth stage. This helps determine the appropriate levels of nutrients such as protein and energy in the feed. Fish require sufficient protein for growth, but it's equally important to maintain a balanced ratio between energy and protein. An imbalanced ratio—either too high or too low in energy relative to protein—can negatively affect fish growth and health.
When formulating feed, the relationship between nutrient content and the fish’s feeding capacity must also be considered. The feed should provide enough nutrients to meet the fish’s dietary needs while ensuring they feel full. In general, protein-rich ingredients tend to be more expensive than energy-based ones. Therefore, reducing the proportion of protein in favor of energy sources may lower costs in the short term, but it can lead to poor growth performance and long-term inefficiencies.
Choosing feed ingredients should follow the principle of quality, affordability, and stability. It's best to use a variety of raw materials whenever possible, as this helps ensure a balanced profile of essential amino acids, meeting the fish’s nutritional requirements. However, moldy or contaminated materials should be strictly avoided, as they can introduce harmful bacteria and toxins, leading to diseases in fish.
Although some ingredients like cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal are cost-effective and rich in protein, they contain anti-nutritional factors such as gossypol and glucosinolates. These substances can hinder fish growth if used in excess, so their inclusion should generally not exceed 10%. Some farmers prefer cheaper by-products like oil cakes and meat meal, but these often contain impurities such as animal skin, which can interfere with the grinding and pelleting process. Moreover, the fats in these materials are typically saturated and prone to rancidity, which can cause health issues like fatty liver disease in fish. To avoid such problems, the use of these materials should be limited to below 5%.
The processing technology also plays a crucial role in feed quality. The typical self-mixed feed process includes crushing, mixing, and pelletizing, with conditioning steps before granulation. The particle size is important—raw materials should pass through a 40-mesh sieve, and no more than 20% should remain on a 60-mesh sieve. Proper conditioning involves mixing feed with steam to gelatinize starch, improving digestibility and pellet quality. The amount of steam added is usually around 5% of the total feed weight, and the temperature should be above 85°C, especially for fish feed due to its high protein content.
Pellet size should match the fish’s mouth size, ideally less than half the width of the fish’s gape. Lastly, using feed additives is essential to enhance digestion, regulate metabolism, and support overall health. Vitamins and minerals, in particular, are critical but require careful balancing. Due to their complexity and small dosages, it's recommended to use pre-mixed vitamin and mineral blends from reliable manufacturers, tailored to the specific species and growth stage of the fish.