Aquaculture Nutrition Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Fish feed constitutes 50-60% of total cost in aquaculture production.
• Understanding fish feed and nutrition is crucial for:
  • Better growth potential of fish.
  • Improved fish management.
• Topics covered in the series:
  • Basic fish nutrition and requirements.
  • How to make feed from scratch.
  • Fish feed ingredients and nutrients.
  • Feed production processes.
  • Designing tests for feed assessment.

Example Species: Nile Tilapia

• Nile Tilapia is chosen for its:
  • Commercial importance.
  • Simplified nutritional requirements.
• Characteristics of Nile Tilapia:
  • Freshwater fish, widely farmed in Asia and Africa.
  • Second most consumed fish in China.
  • Good protein source for food security.
  • Grows best in 26-28°C (warm water).
  • Omnivorous diet (can consume both plants and animal nutrients).

Major Components of Tilapia Feed

1. Starch

   • Active form of energy.
   • Common sources:
     • Corn
     • Wheat
     • Rice
     • Corn starch
     • Potato starch

2. Proteins

   • Sources:
     • Plant-based:
       • Soybean meal
       • Guar meal
       • Corn gluten
       • Potato protein concentrate
       • Wheat gluten
       • Peas
       • Sugarcane byproducts
     • Animal-based:
       • Fish meal
       • Blood protein meal
       • Feather meal
       • Seafood byproducts
       • Fish silage
       • Single cell protein, krill meal, insect meal

3. Fats

   • Sources:
     • Fish oil
     • Soybean oil
     • Rapeseed oil
     • Sunflower oil
     • Algal oil

4. Additional Ingredients

   • Required for optimal nutrition:
     • Fiber
     • Vitamins
     • Minerals
     • Amino acids
     • Other functional/micro-ingredients

Ingredient Selection Criteria

• Several factors affect ingredient selection:
  • Quality:
    • Varies by region and ingredient.
    • Important to use senses (touch, smell, appearance).
    • Study documentation carefully.
    • Check moisture levels.
    • Be aware of anti-nutritional factors.
  • Price and Availability:
    • Consider the economic feasibility of ingredients.

Conclusion

• This introduction sets the stage for more detailed discussions on feed formulation and production in future sessions.