Zambia Agribusiness Society - ZAS Feeds and Feeding the Fish
The objective of feeding fish is to provide the nutritional requirements for good health, optimum growth, optimum yield and minimum waste within reasonable cost so as to optimize profits (Schmittou et al., 1998). Every farmer should be particular about the quality of feed fed to the fish because it is the feed that determines the:
- Nutrient loading (and ultimately carrying capacity) in the pond, hence water quality within the culture system
- Fish growth rate
- Economic viability of the enterprise. 60-70% of variable production costs in a normal production cycle is due to feed.
- Health status of the fish