Monday, January 25, 2016

HOW TO PREPARE CHEAP HIGH QUALITY CATFISH FEEDS {PART 1}

 Without doubt the high cost of feeding catfish is a major challenge for catfish farmers. From experience, the cost of feeding accounts for no less than 70% of the total cost of producing a kilogram of catfish. part of the reason is that the bulk of the feed used in feeding the fish are imported. besides, they are also products of higher technology {feed extrusion}, which is costly.. the exchange rate of most local currencies, which are weaker, compared to the dollar is also a critical challenge. therefore it paramount for every farmer to look for alternative local feed options that are both cheaper and of high quality. 

these feeds will not completely replace the local or imported floating feed but will help to cut down drastically, the cost of feeding. it is my advice that it should be used in combination with the floating feed. this is especially after three months of stocking when the stark feeding more aggressively and in higher quantity.

  HOW TO PREPARE A FARM MADE WET CATFISH FEED.


Ingredients: Chicks starter feed; trash fish - waste dry or fresh fish,  (5kg); fish premix (1 table spoonful) and palm oil.

Materials needed: Big cooking pot; fire; transparent polythene bag - bread type; big plastic or metal basin; big cooking spoon or small dip plastic plate.

Method:
Open the feed bag (25 kg) and use a sieve with small holes to filter the feed.

Grind the rough particles to powder; also grind the trash fish to powder.

Mix the feed together with the grinned feed particles, fish trash and fish premix thoroughly.

To prepare each set of feed that will last 2 days only, measure the required quantity, add 2 spoonfuls of palm oil (per kg of feed) and add enough water as if you want to prepare moi moi. Mix thoroughly again

After mixing double the polythene bag and serve the mixed feed into  it. Close the mouth, place in the pot and cook until it is hard like moi moi. Drop and allow to cool.

To feed, cut to pieces; the size suitable for the fish. Give them this feed first  and later follow up with the floating feed.


OTHER AVAILABLE OPTIONS;  You can either add blood meal to the fish trash  or use the blood meal as an alternative. besides, you can also use soya cake in place of blood meal or fish trash


                                                           PLEASE NOTE 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 is available for now.