HOW TO DETERMINE THE QUANTITY OF FEED REQUIRED TO FEED A FISH FROM STOCKING TO HARVEST

As a rule, the size of fish you should raise is dictated by market requirements or demand. The Nigerian market for example value catfish sizes which ranges from 500 grams (0.5 kg) to 2,000 grams (2kg). However, it is fish sizes of 800 grams and above that attracts higher value and farm gate price per kilogram of fish. Thus, while the farm gate price for a fish weighing one kilogram (1kg) is about five hundred naira (N500) or more as the case may be, two or three fishes collectively weighing one kilogram is sold for as low as between N400 and N450 per kilogram weight. As a result of this inconsistent pricing, it is therefore advisable for you to manage your stocking and feeding rate appropriately in order for you to attain bigger fish size at harvest.

Following the common practice, for you to get a fish weighing about one kilogram at harvest you need to apart from getting your stocking rate right (see recommended stocking rate), also feed each fish with at least one kilogram of feed, from stocking to harvest. Therefore for every 100 catfishes stocked, you need to feed them with between 100 kilograms and 111 kilograms of feed. this will eventually translate to fish weighing 900 grams and 1kg respectively.

For many farmers this feeding rate is unaffordable. As such you can opt for a more pocket friendly rate of 4.5 (four and half) or 5 (five) bags of feed weighing 15kg each per 100 fishes. This amounts to 67.5kg or 75 kilograms of feed for 100 fishes. At an average feed conversion ratio of 1 kg feed to 0.9 kg fish, what you should expect is a total fish weight of about 60.75kg or 68kg at harvest for every 100 fishes fed with either 67.5kg or 75 kg of feed at a recommended feeding rate of 4.5 or 5 bags of feed per 100 catfishes. This will translate to 45 bags or 50 bags of feed per 1000 catfishes.

However, if you want to improve on the total weight of your fish, you can feed them with available supplementary feedstuff such as animal offal (fish, poultry and animals intestines and other body parts). Please note that all offal to be fed to your fish must be cut to size and cooked slightly, to prevent disease outbreak.

FEED CONSUMPTION CHART

The feed consumption chart is a feeding guide that shows you in advance the number of bags or kilograms of feed you may need to feed your fish on a monthly basis. The feed consumption chart as shown here is designed for different feeding rates. Depending on how deep your pocket is, you may decide to adopt the feeding rate of 45 bags (675kg), 50 bags (750kg) or 67 bags (1000kg) of feed per 1000 fishes stocked. As earlier mentioned, the chart is only a guide. You should use it to manage the feeding process. For instance, they may not be able to consume all the feeds allocated for the first and second month of stocking, but as from the third month and particularly from the fourth month, they may consume and even exceed the quantity earmarked for those months. Thus by the time of harvest they should have consumed all the bags of feed indicated for the quantity of fish stocked and for the recommended feeding rate you have adopted.

To start with, when feeding, you should ensure that the fishes are fed to satiation (to a point when they no longer rush the feed) but do not over feed them. Do not  just dump all the feed you want to give them into the water at once, feed them either as they eat or give them a little and move on to the next pond or tank and come back to the starting point to give them more feed if they have exhausted the feed earlier given to them. Do this continuously until they are all tired of eating. As soon as you notice that there is still feed in a pond or tank after going round, do not feed that tank or pond again. It is an indication that they are tired of eating. Of course as the day passes by, they should be eating slightly more feed but if they eat less, then something is wrong. You should then try and find out.

TABLE SHOWING MONTHLY FEED CONSUMPTION CHART PER 1000 FISH STOCKED, AT THE DIFFERENT RECOMMENDED FEEDING RATE OF 45 BAGS, 50 BAGS AND 67 BAGS

MONTHS	NO. OF BAGS
1ST	2	2	2
2ND	4	4	4
3RD	6	7	8
4TH	9	10	13
5TH	11	12	17
6TH	13	15	23
TOTAL	45	50	67

This table explains the feed allocation for every 1000 catfish stocked based on a recommended feeding rate of 45 bags ((675kg), 50 bags (750kg) and (67 bags) of feed per 1000 fishes. For example, if you use floating feed and follow the recommended stocking rate and other management parameters, you should be able to harvest a total fish weight of about 675 kg from the 1000 fish stocked and fed with 750 kg of feed. Please note that the average feed conversion ratio for most floating feed is not less than 1kg feed to 900g (0.9kg) fish weight.  You can use this as a basis for determining the performance of the fish. It is wrong to judge the performance of your fish based on the numbers of fishes stocked. It should be based on the quantity of feed they are fed with. This is one of the main reasons why you should have a record of the quantity of feeds bought and fed to your fish from stocking to harvest.

APPLICATION OF THE FEED CONSUMPTION CHART

The feeding chart will help you to know from the beginning the quantity of feed that is required for the proposed quantity of fishes that you want to stock. Furthermore, it will also help you to know the quantity of feed they will require on a monthly basis so that you can prepare adequately to replenish your feedstock beforehand. You can plot your feeding chart to reflect the monthly feed requirement for the fishes at a glance.

Another very good aspect of the feed consumption chart is that it can also help you to know in advance the total weight of fish you should expect to harvest, relative to the quantity of feed fed to the fish. Like earlier mentioned, if your stocking rate is right and you follow all other recommended water and fish management parameters, the minimum average floating feed conversion ratio is 1kg feed to 0.9kg (900grams) fish.

By floating feed one is mindful to say that this assertion does not cover all floating feeds. Coppens, Multifeed, Ziglar feed and Vital feed are some of the floating feeds being referred to. This is however without prejudice to other floating feeds, local and foreign, which the author has not used and as such cannot speak for or against. You can try them out on your own; they might even give you better results.

The table below shows the minimum expected total weight of fish to expect at harvest, relative to the total quantity (in kilograms) of feed fed to the fish and not the quantity of fishes stocked.

The tables below show the quantity of feed in bags and in kilograms that is required to feed the equivalent numbers of fishes(at  different recommended feed consumption rates) from stocking to harvest as well as the  expected total weight of fish at harvest.

TABLE SHOWING TOTAL FEED REQUIREMENT FOR DIFFERENT QUANTITY OF FISHES STOCKED AT A CONSUMPTION RATE OF 45 BAGS PER 1000 FISH STOCKED AND EXPECTED TOTAL WEIGHT OF FISH AT HARVEST.

QUANTITY OF FISH STOCKED	MINIMUM REQUIRED BAGS OF (15KG) FEEDS	MINIMUM REQUIRED KILOGRAMS OF FEED	MINIMUM EXPECTED TOTAL WEIGHT OF FISH AT HARVEST (KG)
100	4.5	67.5	60.75
500	22.5	337.5	303.75
1,000	45	675	670.5
3,000	135	2,025	1,822.5
5,000	225	3,375	3,037.5

Once again, contrary to popular opinion of most catfish farmers, it is quantity (weight in kilograms) of feed fed to your fish that matter the most at harvest and not the quantity of fishes stocked. The total weight of fish that you harvest at the end of the day is a reflection of the total quantity (weight) of feed that you gave them, less 10% of the feed weight. this is why you need to keep record of the feed you bought and gave to them. this will help you to compare notes.

Please be reminded that the information as contained herewith is based on the climatic and environmental conditions in Nigeria, which is a tropical country. Meanwhile, I will be quick to add that this article is an excerpt from the operational manual for commercial catfish farming titled AN ILLUSTRATED STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH GROW OUT FARMING, also written by the author since 2003 now updated up to 2015. It will be useful to you; a beginner or an experienced farmer as a working and reference document. The soft copy (to be sent via email) cost 4,000 naira, while the hard copy (to be sent via courier) goes for 6,500 naira. If you are interested please call: 08023620926; 09030301242 or send email to: festus.okpako88@gmail.com; festus,okpako@yahoo,com or foodscienceng@gmail.com

PAYMENT DETAILS: Festus Okpako, first bank current account number 2006146470

Other available manuals:

# AN ILLUSTRATED STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH HATCHERY FARMING. PRICE: 6,000 naira (soft copy); 8,000 naira (hard copy)

# A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH DISEASE MANAGEMENT

 PRICE:4,000 naira (soft copy); 6,000 naira (hard copy).

Please be reminded that all SOFT COPIES will be sent via email and HARD COPIES, via courier, 

HOW TO DETERMINE THE FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY, FEED CONVERSION RATIO AND GROWTH RATE OF YOUR FISH

WHAT IS FCE & FCR

As a fish farmer, there are two important parameters that you can use to determine the performance of your fish and the feed you are using to feed them, these two parameters are Feed Conversion Efficiency, FCE, and Feed Conversion Ratio, FCR. Food conversion efficiency, FCE is the ability of the fish to convert the feed eaten to body flesh or weight, while feed conversion ratio, FCR is the difference between the actual quantity of feed eaten by the fish and the equivalent weight it gained over a given period of time; for example, from stocking to harvest.

The FCE is dependent on the quality of the fish, (fingerlings/juveniles) stocked and the condition or environment it is raised while the FCR is primarily a function of the quality of the feed and to some extent the quality of the fish, (fingerlings/juveniles) stocked and the condition or environment it is raised. A good percentage of every quantity of feed given is expected to be converted by the fish into body weight. However while in some cases this might be the case, in mainly others, this is not. Hence it is very important for you to monitor the growth rate, food conversion efficiency and food conversion ratio of your fish, right from the beginning. This is how to go about it.

How to determine the fish growth rate

The growth rate is an expression of the feed conversion efficiency and feed conversion ratio. The feed conversion ratio in particular gives you an idea as to what to expect at harvest. Ordinarily, it should be consistently not less than 0.9; and how do you ensure this?

Beginning from the first day of feeding, take a record of all the feed you bought and fed to them up to the day of harvest and sales. The record here relates to the quantity (weight) of feed bought and their cost price over time. This is a very important aspect of commercial catfish farming as it will enable you to determine whether you made profit or loss. On a monthly basis, you can get a sample population of your fish.  To determine the food conversion efficiency and food conversion ratio of the fish, divide the total weight in kilogram of the feed given to them within the month by the real weight gained by the fish within the month. If the figure obtained is 0.9 or below, the FCE is high and FCR low.

For example you bought 2,000 catfish juveniles with an average weight of 8g and a total weight of 16,000 grams: 2000 X 8  (16 kg) and after 1 month of stocking and feeding with 15kg, (15,000 grams) of feed, a sample population of 100 fish weighing 1400 grams (1.4kg) fishes were collected and based on calculations (1400g ÷ 100) a new average weight of 14g was recorded. The FCR will now be calculated thus

Initial estimated total weight                   =          2, 000 x 8g   =   16,000g or 16kg

Current estimated total weight                 =         2, 000 x 14g =   28,000g or 28kg

Current Estimated weight gain                 =         28,000g – 16, 000g =     12,000g

FCR     = Food Quantity Fed                  =         15,000g  = 1.25: 1

   Estimated Weight Gained                    12,000g

Or for easy understanding: 12,000 ÷ 15, 000 = 0.8: This figure paints a picture of 1kg feed being converted to 0.8kg (800g) of fish weight

On the other hand, the figure, 1.25: 1, means that for every 1.25kg of feed consumed by the fish, they were able to convert it to only 1kg of weight of flesh or fish weight. This is fair but it did not meet the minimum expectation. As such it needs to be improved upon. For most floating feeds, the projected FCR is between 1 to 1 and 1.11 to 1. That is between 1kg feed weight to 1kg fish weight  and 1.11 kg feed weight to 1kg fish weight. You should strive to attain this by following the laid down recommendations in the manual.

If the above monthly calculation is not feasible for you, you may decide to opt for the post-harvest calculation of your FCE; and this is how to go about it. Before you stock your fingerlings/juveniles, pour them in a sieve to drain water from them. Thereafter, weigh them on a scale, write down the figure obtained on your record book and pour the fish into the rearing tank/pond.

Beginning from the first day of feeding, take a record of all the feed you bought and fed to them up to the day of harvest and sales. In order for you to determine the FCE, you should first deduct the fish weight you recorded prior to stocking from the total weight obtained at harvest. There after divide this figure with the total quantity of feed that you fed them. What you get is a reflection of the performance of both the fish and the feed given them. Ordinarily, following the recommended or standard feed conversion ratio of most feed; especially floating feed, any figure you obtain that ranges from 0.9 to 1.0 is assumed to be good; and this should be your target. Anything below 0.9 is not good.

Please note that one very importance of this calculation is that right from beginning it will provide you with vital information that may determine the direction and eventual outcome of your investment. Irrespective of the figure obtained on a monthly basis, you should keep on improving on it, by working on the major factors that determine the FCE & FCR.

HOW TO IMPROVE THE FCE & FCR

a.                   Make sure that your water is not at any time polluted; that is smelling

b.                   Your water pH should be between 6.5 and 9. If lower, add sodium bicarbonate to the water

c.                   Reduce your stocking rate by 20%. Spread fish to other empty tanks/ponds

d.                   In addition to a 70% water change every 2 days, do water flow through rate each next day after the water change at rate of 2 litre per minute for 3 - 5 hours.

e.                   Make sure that the feed crude protein level is within the earlier recommended range. Add good growth promoters like superliv, fish premix, spirulina, etc to the feed if you are producing it by yourself.

f.                    Minimize stress and eliminate conditions that can lead to disease outbreak. Treat diseases before they become troublesome.

g.                   Make sure that the fish is properly sorted and graded.

h.                   Enough quality feed should be provided and feeding schedule maintained.

In our next discussion we are going to consider how to prevent and manage catfish diseases when they do occur.

Please be reminded that the information as contained herewith is based on the climatic and environmental conditions in Nigeria, which is a tropical country. Meanwhile, I will be quick to add that this article is an excerpt from the operational manual for commercial catfish farming titled AN ILLUSTRATED STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH GROW OUT FARMING, also written by the author since 2003 now updated up to 2015. It will be useful to you; a beginner or an experienced farmer as a working and reference document. The soft copy (to be sent via email) cost 4,000 naira, while the hard copy (to be sent via courier) goes for 6,500 naira. If you are interested please call: 08023620926; 09030301242 or send email to: festus.okpako88@gmail.com; festus,okpako@yahoo,com or foodscienceng@gmail.com

PAYMENT DETAILS: Festus Okpako, first bank current account number 2006146470

Other available manuals:

# AN ILLUSTRATED STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH HATCHERY FARMING. PRICE: 6,000 naira (soft copy); 8,000 naira (hard copy)

# A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH DISEASE MANAGEMENT

 PRICE:4,000 naira (soft copy); 6,000 naira (hard copy).

Please be reminded that all SOFT COPIES will be sent via email and HARD COPIES, via courier, 

HOW TO ENSURE GOOD HEALTH AND RAPID GROWTH FOR YOUR FISH

The cardinal objective of any commercial catfish farmer is to raise fast growing fish that are at the same time healthy. This objective seems easy but for the experienced farmer, it is not. There are a few but important things that you must do; especially right from the beginning. Ordinarily, when properly managed, the fish will be in good health and grow both uniformly and rapidly. In order to ensure these, the following has to be taken care of.

Spacing. Higher than necessary stocking rate can only guarantee one thing and that is failure. The fish need adequate space to grow well and be in good health. Therefore, as a beginner, you need to take seriously the recommendation stocking rate for fish tank, cage and pond. Ordinarily, it ranges from 5.5 fishes per square foot (at 1 foot water depth or better still 1 cubic foot)  fishes for tanks and troughs/vats to 3 fishes for medium to large earth ponds

Sorting and Grading. Sorting and grading should be done at least twice; at the end of the first month of stocking and at the end of third month of stocking.

Others: Water change should be regular and as recommended.

·                     Feeding time, quantity and strategy should be adhered to

·                     Feed fish with a feed whose crude protein content is not less than 40% for the first three months and should not be less than 30% by the sixth (6^th) month.

·                     Snack meals such as animal wastes should be parboiled and given at intervals if available

·                     If you are compounding your own feed, adequate growth promoters such as methionine, lysine, fish premix etc. should be added to the ingredients

Medication: this is another important factor that should not be over looked. Most fish coming from hatcheries are disease carriers; and as such, they will not grow well, irrespective of their feeding. Besides, when there are adverse conditions in your fish tank/pond, they might easily fall prey to disease outbreak. In medicating your fish, there are options that you can chose from but each has its own advantage and peculiarity. Water medication is much common but not as effective as feed medication. Whichever the option, there are procedures that you must follow to make your treatment effective. Meanwhile, the treatment has to take place within the first one to two weeks after stocking.

In our next discussion we are going to consider feed conversion efficiency, feed conversion ratio and how you can monitor the growth of your fish

Please be reminded that the information as contained herewith is based on the climatic and environmental conditions in Nigeria, which is a tropical country. Meanwhile, I will be quick to add that this article is an excerpt from the operational manual for commercial catfish farming titled AN ILLUSTRATED STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH GROW OUT FARMING, also written by the author since 2003 now updated up to 2015. It will be useful to you; a beginner or an experienced farmer as a working and reference document. The soft copy (to be sent via email) cost 4,000 naira, while the hard copy (to be sent via courier) goes for 6,500 naira. If you are interested please call: 08023620926; 09030301242 or send email to: festus.okpako88@gmail.com; festus,okpako@yahoo,com or foodscienceng@gmail.com

PAYMENT DETAILS: Festus Okpako, first bank current account number 2006146470

Other available manuals:

# AN ILLUSTRATED STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH HATCHERY FARMING. PRICE: 6,000 naira (soft copy); 8,000 naira (hard copy)

# A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO COMMERCIAL CATFISH DISEASE MANAGEMENT

 PRICE:4,000 naira (soft copy); 6,000 naira (hard copy).

Please be reminded that all SOFT COPIES will be sent via email and HARD COPIES, via courier,