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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330704
Research Project: Evaluating Nutritional Requirements, Identifying Alternative Ingredients and Improving the Production Environment for Hybrid and Channel Catfish Production

Location: Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit

Title: Complete feeds-intensive systems

Author
item LI, MENGHE - Mississippi State University
item ROBINSON, EDWIN - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2014
Publication Date: 6/1/2015
Citation: Li, M.H., Robinson, E.H. 2015. Complete feeds-intensive systems. Book Chapter. P. 111-126.

Interpretive Summary: Globally aquaculture continues to expand rapidly because of an increased demand for seafood. Not only is the industry expanding, but it is also intensifying in that most commercially viable fish are cultivated in high-density culture systems. Intensive culture of fish has typically been in raceways, cages, or net pens, but culture of fish in ponds or modified pond systems is also becoming intensive. In intensive culture systems fish are stocked so heavily that the contribution of natural food items (that may be present in the culture water) to the dietary needs of the fish is considered to be insignificant. Thus, they must be fed a feed that is nutritionally complete. Since feed cost in aquaculture can be as much as 70% of variable operating costs, cost-effective, nutritionally complete feeds are essential. In this chapter we examined several topics including the concept and importance of complete feeds, meeting nutritional requirements, formulation of complete feeds, as well as future trends. The information is intended to be largely conceptual, but specific examples of data taken from studies with selected fish (primarily channel catfish) will be used to illustrate various points.

Technical Abstract: Most commercially cultivated fish are raised in high-density culture systems where the assumption is that the contribution of natural foods to the nutrition of the fish is insignificant. Thus, intensively cultured fish must be fed a nutritionally complete feed. A short section on the concept and importance of complete feeds for intensive aquaculture is presented. Emphasis is on the next two sections, meeting dietary requirements (which include a brief survey of dietary requirements and feedstuffs) and formulation of complete feeds for intensively cultured fish. A short section on future trends is also presented.