Top 3 Best Catfish Feed Formula to Boost Your Fish Growth
In this article, we are going to introduce to you what we call the “best catfish feed formula(s)”. We will make available four different formulas so you can be picking each formula one after the other during production.
Catfish feed formulation has been an area of difficulty and challenge to many farmers due to the knowledge gap. Lack of experience makes it difficult to make fish feed at home due to the exorbitant cost of foreign feeds.
Producing your own feed locally will reduce the cost of feeding by 40%. Feeding constitutes the largest portion of the cost of production covering about 70% of money spent by the farmers. See our article on the cost of feeding 1000 catfish to have an idea of what we are discussing.
Production of feeds would be easy when farmers know the formula that will serve them the best. Farmers also need to know how to play around with the local ingredients to reduce the amount spent on imported feeds. When you understand this, you will enjoy all the benefits of catfish farming.
You will agree with me that it is important that a farmer understands the tactics or secrets that it entails to produce fish feed. Feeds are not produced just for production’s sake but they are produced in order to meet the nutritional requirements of the fish.
It is important to understand the types of ingredients needed to produce high quality fish feed. Today, we are going to look into the formula or formulas best for producing quality feed for your catfish. The formulas we have can be sourced in the local market near you.
Best Formula(s) for Catfish Feed
Quality feed should contain some essential nutrients which are required for fish optimal growth and performance. The four most important nutrients that must be present while formulating any kind of feed are protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals, and fats and oil.
Each of the tables below represents a formula for catfish feed that will best serve your need. You can be selecting one after the other for production. Any formula you want to make use of and you want to produce high than the kg we have already given, what you need to do is to multiply to suit your need.
Why are we doing this?
The reason is for you to reduce the amount you spend on purchasing imported feeds. Foreign fish feeds are now expensive due to inflation caused by insecurity in the country.
Formula 1
| Ingredients | Quantity (kg) |
| Soybean meal | 30kg |
| Maize | 25kg |
| Groundnut cake | 20kg |
| Fish meal (75%) | 25kg |
| Methionine | 0.1 |
| Lysine | 0.1 |
| Fish premix | 0.5 |
| Vitamin C | 0.1 |
| Salt | 0.2 |
| Dicalcium phosphate (DCP) | 1 |
| Total | 105 kg |
Formula 2
| Ingredients | Quantity (kg) |
| Cassava flakes (Garri) | 0.5kg |
| Broiler super starter | 1.5kg |
| Extracted GMC | 1kg |
| Wheat offal | 0.5kg |
| maize | 1.5kg |
| Soybean meal | 1.5kg |
| Fish meals | 1kg |
| Vegetable oil | Small quantity |
| Total | 8 kg |
Formula 3
| Ingredients | Quantity (kg) |
| Cassava flakes (Garri) | 10kg |
| Broiler super starter | 50kg |
| Soybean meal | 10kg |
| Vegetable oil | ½ kg |
| maize | 5kg |
| Total | 80 kg |
Compulsory Nutrients for Feed Production
Fish feed quality is necessary for the growth and optimal performance. There are four important nutrients that must be present while formulating any kind of feed are protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals, and fats and oil.
1. Protein
This is the most essential of all the nutrients because that is what the fish needs the most for its growth. The nutrient for building body tissue and replacement of damaged tissue. It also facilitates the growth of the fish. It can be obtained from plant and animal sources. Groundnut cake and bloodmeal, fish meal, soybean meal and methionine are source of protein.
2. Carbohydrate
This nutrient is equally needed in fish for energy production. Catbonhydrate provides the energy needed by catfish for living. Grains of cereals, corn, and cassava are the major source of this nutrient.
3. Vitamins and minerals:
The growth, health, and body process of the catfis are controlled by vitamins and minerals. Examples of vitamins include vitamin C, vitamin B-complex, while that of minerals iron, copper, magnesium, calcium e.tc
4.Fat and oils:
Fat contains vital fatty acids and also enhances energy in the feed. Example is Palm kernel cake (PKC), vegetable oil and groundnut oil
Conclusion
The journal into catfish farming is smooth when you operate with the right tools and feed. Feeding constitutes 70% of the expenditure in fish farming. Therefore, it is important to learn how to make catfish feed so as to reduce cost. That’s the reason we offered top 3 formulas for catfish farming for you to maximize profit and achievement desired fish growth in your farm.
Share this post if you ❤️ the information.
I am about to lease a fish farm
Thank you for educating me
Am just about to start keeping fish
Thank you very much for the lesson.. please what’s GMC?
It means Ground Nut Cake (Kwilikwili)
Please kindly send me your email address or phone number. Thank you.
marywilfarms@gmail.com
what is the crude protein contained in the formula given above, please?
The quantity in the formulae above is to feed hoe many fishes?
When you produce with the quantity provided then you see how far it goes before you can multiply the quantity to suite what you want.
Thanks for this information. I want to start fish farming business i would love to be in touch concerning some ingredients.. jossy.livinstone@yahoo.com
At your service
This is great because i have been longing for an intro and i have gotten it now. I want to start up a fish farm so pls i will be needing your guidiance wen neccessary.
Thank
Wow! God bless you.
Wow! God bless you ma/Sir.
Thank you for the knowledge, please permit me to ask this question, concerning the soya bean, are we using the raw one?
The raw one is good but use more of the processed ones
Thanks for this information. Pls do we choose any of these formulas or we use all? If all,at what stage do we apply each
Use one after the other
It is 2.05 am. I am blessed to come across this article thank you. Just recently I am thinking of catfish farming.
I
Good you love the article
Good job, but what is the feed binder in the formulas? Also, do these formulas float or sink.
What other ingredients can be used in place of any of those aforementioned?
This is very educative thanks for been there for starters
God bless you ma for this wonderful information. please what’s the quantity of water to be added in mixing those ingredients?
not much water
Can one use fried groundnut and soybeans instead of their cake?
If yes, what quantity for the first formula.
Of course yes. The same quantity as stated in the formulas
Thanks for your frank and straightforward informations.
Can I undertake a hand-on-deck training course with you, if so, at what cost and duration?.
Regards
Chris Aghaulor .
Will get back to you on that
Thanks for teaching me how to stock a concrete pond. Will be falling on you for more education. God bless you.
Please the name of the machine to make it pellets thanks
Google it na
Thanks a lot for this. Please can I use palm kernel cake instead of groundnut cake cos I can’t find groundnut cake in my area PH
Not at all. They serve different purposes
Thanks for all info pass to me. I am grateful. But on sales u said 2500. I don’t think that is the price. What we sell now 1200 if the buyers don’t work on u if not 950.
The current selling price per kg is 1200 – 1500 for fresh ones while smoked ones attract higher price
Madam, thanks for the information so far given.
But whether stating the crude protein arrived using each formula, it will be dangerous applying same for feed formulation.
The knowledge of Cp of feed for each stage of catfish is very important
I suggest as follows:
Fries – Post fingerlings ,Cp 47%
Juvenile – Post Juvenile, Cp 47%
Jumbo – Cp 42%
Melange – Cp 42%
Table size and above, Cp 42%
Many thanks for insightful education on fish farming. Please what exactly is needed for correct feed formulation at different stages of the fish. I am starting 80k fishpond. I am afraid of formulating my own feed as it may not meet the nutrition requirements of the fish.
All the things listed in the post are needed for formulation of feed at all times