Making catfish feed at home 3
Like 2 Dislike 0 Published on 4 Sep 2016
Due to the high cost of catfish feed in Nigeria I have decided to start making my own feed. Making homemade fish feed. Fish feed is one of the most expensive inputs for fish farming. Moreover, the homemade feed is useful when specific diets are needed to improve fish growth and also to reduce cost.
Homemade catfish feed preparation Feed Preparation
There is no single way for the preparation of formulated fish feeds; however, most methods begin with the formation of a dough-like mixture of ingredients. Ingredients can be obtained from feed stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and specialty stores such as natural food stores, as well as from various companies that may be found through the internet.
The dough is started with blends of dry ingredients, which are finely ground and mixed. The dough is then kneaded and water is added to produce the desired consistency for whatever fish is going to be fed. The same dough may be used to feed several types of fish, such as eels and small aquarium fish.
Pelleting or rolling converts the dough into pellets or flakes, respectively. The amount of water, pressure, friction, and heat greatly affects pellet and flake quality. For example, excess water in the mixture results in a soft pellet. Too little moisture and the pellet will crumble.
Proteins and especially vitamins are seriously affected by high temperatures. Therefore, avoid storing diet ingredients at temperatures at or above 70°C (158°F) and do not prepare dry feeds with water at temperature higher than 92°C (198°F).Feed Preparation
There is no single way for the preparation of formulated fish feeds; however, most methods begin with the formation of a dough-like mixture of ingredients. Ingredients can be obtained from feed stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and specialty stores such as natural food stores, as well as from various companies that may be found through the internet.
The dough is started with blends of dry ingredients, which are finely ground and mixed. The dough is then kneaded and water is added to produce the desired consistency for whatever fish is going to be fed. The same dough may be used to feed several types of fish, such as eels and small aquarium fish.
Pelleting or rolling converts the dough into pellets or flakes, respectively. The amount of water, pressure, friction, and heat greatly affects pellet and flake quality. For example, excess water in the mixture results in a soft pellet. Too little moisture and the pellet will crumble.
Proteins and especially vitamins are seriously affected by high temperatures. Therefore, avoid storing diet ingredients at temperatures at or above 70°C (158°F) and do not prepare dry feeds with water at temperature higher than 92°C (198°F).
Feeds are formulated to be dry, with a final moisture content of 6–10%, semi-moist with 35–40% water or wet with 50–70% water content. Most feeds used in intensive production systems or in home aquaria are commercially produced as dry feeds. Dry feeds may consist of simple loose mixtures of dry ingredients, such as “mash or meals,” to more complex compressed pellets or granules. Pellets are often broken into smaller sizes known as crumbles.