Feeds and Feeding

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Feeds and Feeding
Ken Semmens Trout Culture Workshop 9/6/08
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Convert feed into fish flesh
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Feed Decisions - Procurement

• What company
• Melick
• Zeigler Silver, Gold, Platinum
• Silver Cup Steelhead, Salmon,
• Burris
• What formula Extruded Feeds
• Protein
• Fat
• What Pellet Size
• How much feed/shipment.

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Recent Cost

• Melick 42/16 is 0.546/lb delivered by Don
  Anderson.
• Silver Cup 45/16  .51/lb delivery
• Silver Cup 44/20  .53/lb delivery
• Silver Cup 44/25  .56/lb delivery
• Zeigler 42/16 (Gold)
• Slow sink 0.505/lb delivery
• Floating 0.5323/lb delivery

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From an old Zeigler Brochure
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Principle

• Protein content of the feed decreases as the fish
  get larger (Source Fish Hatchery Management 2nd
  ed.)

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Changes in protein and fat levels in trout feeds
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www.silvercup.com/feedsize.htm
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Buying and Storing Feed

• Dry
• Cool
• Protected from rodents.
• On pallets
• Order what you will need for a couple of months.
• Consider pooling purchases with a neighbor to
  minimize transportation costs.

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Feed Decisions - Distribution

• Storage
• Amount to Feed
• Satiation
• Schedule
• Feeding frequency.
• Feeding method
• Hand
• Demand Feeders
• Belt Feeders

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Feeding by Hand
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Demand Feeder
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Tools of the Trade
Demand Feeder
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Some Principles - System

• Amount which can be fed/day depends on how much
  oxygen is available.
• Cannot make up for days not fed.
• Potential production directly related to the
  amount of feed fed.

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Which is the best deal ?

• Need to know
• How well the feed works (Efficiency)
• Cost of the feed
• Delivery Cost
• Estimate Cost/lb of gain.

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Cost/lb of gain
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Efficiency

• Feed Efficiency
• Amount gained/ Amount fed.
• Practical Feed Conversion
• Amount fed/ Amount gained
• Influence of mortality

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Maximum Efficiency

• Highest weight gain and maximum feed efficiency
  are mutually exclusive.
• Trout fed about 75 of satiation will convert
  feed most efficiently.

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Schematic relationship between feed intake, fish
growth rate, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) .
(from Barrows and Hardy 2001)
Growth rate (percent gain/day)
Feed Conversion Ratio (g feed/g gain)
Feeding level (percent dry fish weight/day)
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Some Principles - Fish

• Trout will eat a certain number of calories each
  day.
• Amount of feed needed decreases with increased
  protein and fat.
• Small fish convert feed more efficiently than
  large fish.
• 1 lb of small fish will eat more than 1 lb of
  large fish. (Body Weight)

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Theoretical Feed Conversion

• Based on energy content of the feed.
• Trout need about 1700 Calories to gain 1 lb.
• Analysis of the feed (protein, fat and
  carbohydrate).
• Zeigler Gold 1817 calories/lb
• Silver Cup 44/20  1928 calories/lb
• Melick 42/16 1833 calories/lb

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Comparing Feed Costs
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Feeding Errors

• Wrong Feed
• Feeding too little
• Do not realize growth potential
• Takes longer to reach market size
• More size variation
• Feeding too much
• Wasted feed
• Dirty, higher risk from disease
• Less efficient.
• Presentation

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Feeding Plan
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Amount to feed

• Example worksheet (alt tab)

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Feeding Just Right

• Realize growth potential
• Able to predict fish size and number.
• Good efficiency
• No wasted feed
• Improve survival
• Minimize size variation.
• Minimize Cost/lb of gain
• Profit.

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