FEED FORMULATION

Lito A. Apelo

Fishermen’s Training Institute

Khabura, Sultanate of Oman

Factors to Consider in Farming

Fish Species Healthy fry/fish seeds

Optimum stocking density

Proper pond preparation

Correct water management

Feeds and feeding system

Pest/predator control and proper

fertilization

Proper stocking procedure

Food and Feeding Habits of

Fish Feeding habits of fishes differ from species to

species

Fishes can be classified according to what they often eat

They are herbivores when they eat mostly plant sources nutrients

They are carnivores if they eat more animal than plant sources

They are omnivores if they eat both plant and animal sources

Those that eat detritus are called detritivores

Most fishes are carnivores

Sea bass, shrimps and groupers are carnivores

Siganids(rabbitfish) are herbivores

Tilapia and milkfish are omnivores

Milkfish eat more during the day

Shrimps eat more during the night(Nocturnal)

Sea bass & milkfish gulp their food

Shrimps are nibblers

Thus the type of food, amount of food, frequency of feeding and time of feeding will depend on the specie being fed

Shrimps generally eat more at night-more food should be offered in the late afternoon or evening than during the morning feeding

Finfishes eat more during the day as the sun rises-more food should be given early in the morning

Shrimps nibble their food slowly, therefore pellets have to be more water stable

Feeds should be water stable such that they do not disintegrate readily and pollute the water environment

Leaching of nutrients is minimized by having a water-stable pellet

Fishes not only use their eyes to find food, but have chemoreceptors to locate them. Therefore, feeds should also be attractive if they are to be consumed in the right time

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS

OF FISHES

Protein and amino acids

Lipids and fatty acids

Carbohydrates

Vitamins

Minerals

Proteins and amino acids Most important for growth

Helps maintain life

Gives heat and energy

Estimated protein requirement for finfishes range between 30% to 55%

Amino acids are known as the building blocks for protein

There are 18 amino acids that form protein, of which, 10 are considered indispensable or essential for fish growth(if 1 is not present, the formation of protein can be delayed or reduced resulting in a poor or less effective diet)

SOURCES OF PROTEIN

Can be found in animals and plants

Animal protein sources include fish meal, fish heads, shrimp head, squid meal, squid liver, meat & bone meal, mussel meat, chicken entrails, snails and earthworm meals.

Plan protein sources include yeast, defatted soybean meal, cottonseed meal, sunflower seed meal, peanut meal and cowpea meal

Lipids and fatty acids

Gives energy and essential fat acids

needed for growth

Carriers of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E

and K

Finfishes need between 5-10% lipids

Shrimps need around 0.5-1%

cholesterol and 2-4% lecithin in their

diets

SOURCES OF FATS

Cod liver oil and other fish liver oils

Pollack residue oil

Squid oil

Soybean oil

Corn oil

Sunflower seed oil

Palm oil

Carbohydrates

Like fats, carbohydrates are “sparer's

of protein”-when there is a lack of

these 2 nutrients, protein is used for

energy instead of carbohydrates, for

growth

Also acts as binders in the diet

SOURCES OF

CARBOHYDRATES Corn flour

Potato flour

Sago palm starch

Wheat flour

Rice flour

Copra(coconut) meal

Rice bran

Corn meal

Bread flour

Algae and carrageenan are better used as binding agents rather than as primary source of energy

Vitamins

Required in small amounts

Are regulators of body processes

Needed for proper utilization of

protein, carbohydrates and fats

Helps build resistance to infection

Types of VitaminsWater soluble vitamins

Ascorbic acid(Vitamin C)

Thiamin

Riboflavin

Pyridoxine

Pantothenic acid

Niacin

Biotin

Folic acid

Cyanocobalamin

Myo-inositol

Choline

Lipoic acid

Fat Soluble

Vitamins A, D, E and K

Generally, lack of these vitamins in a

diet can cause poor appetite, slow

growth and low survival

Vitamin levels added to fish diets are

higher than required because

allowance should be made for

leaching out in water, destruction

during preparation and storage,

possible presence of anti-nutritional

factors in some feed ingredients and

the fact that vitamin contents of feed

stuffs are quite variable

Minerals

Needed for bone development, teeth,

scales and exoskeleton

Necessary for proper acid-base

balance in body fluids

In shrimps, a 1:1 ratio of calcium to

phosphorous is needed to prevent

“soft-shell” syndrome

Macronutrient minerals include:

Calcium

Phosphorous

Magnesium

Sodium

Potassium

Chloride

Trace minerals elements:

Iron

Copper

Manganese

Zinc

Iodine

Selenium

Cobalt

Chromium

Fish meal, whole grain cereals and meat meals are good sources of minerals. Iodine is obtained from seaweeds.

Complete Diet usually

contains: Protein source

Lipid source

Carbohydrates source

Vitamins

Minerals

Binder

Additives such as attractants,

antioxidants, enzymes, hormones,

fungicides, etc.

Most feed ingredients for fish are also used in poultry and livestock. Although there are many formulations available, there is no “Best” diet. The farmer can try as many formulations and compare their effectiveness under his own pond conditions.Feeding depends on the number of fish stocked. In the extensive culture method, fertilization for luxuriant growth of natural food may be sufficient, but as the stocking density increases, supplemental feeding might be needed.

It is wise to choose locally available

feed ingredients, as long as they are

available at all times and are cheaper to

use than commercial feeds. Ideally,

these feed ingredients should be

analyzed for their chemical composition

before they are to be included in the

diet.

END OF PRESENTATION….

THANK YOU…………………