Maximise Aquaculture Growth: via Feed Frequency
June 12th, 2008 by AndrewA new technical article has been published which explores the relationship between growth rate and feeding frequency. Clearly automated feed delivery provides the capability required to feed fish with almost any frequency. Therefore, it is logical that you would choose the frequency that delivers the most desirable outcomes.
The article is entitled Effects of Fish Size and Feeding Frequency on Channel Catfish Production by Dr Ed Robinson and Dr Ronnie Li, research professors - Delta Research and Extension Center, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station - Mississippi State University.
Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) raised in ponds are typically fed daily to apparent satiation to obtain maximum growth. However, under certain economic circumstances, catfish producers may feed less than daily to reduce feed cost and minimize economic losses.
Robinson and Rushing (1994) compared different feeding strategies (once daily, every other day [EOD], once every third day [ETD] to satiation, and once daily to half satiation) for pond-raised channel catfish. They reported that maximum production was achieved by…
To read the complete article please click here.
What happens if fish are fed more frequently?
Are the findings similar across species?
What is optimal practice with Southern Blue Fin Tuna for sashimi, for instance?
Is it possible to feed fish on demand?
What are the feed frequency practices in the chicken meat and pork industries, by comparison?
Tags: automated feed, catfish, feed, mississippi, Tuna, US
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June 12th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Andrew, the FAO has recently published a study: Economics of aquaculture feeding practices in selected Asian countries.
The study may be downloaded here.
The case studies identify the principal input costs, assessed the economic rates of return (gross and net margins), returns to labour, land and capital, gross and net total factor productivity, break-even prices and production and returns on capital for each feeding strategy.