Farmed Fish Feeds: Use of Non-Conventional Feed as Fishmeal Replacement in Nigeria

Abstract

Fish feeds are an integral part of commercial and personal aquaculture, which provides a balanced diet and nutrition for farmed fish. High cost and competition with human food of fish feed is a major concern amongst the livestock and aquaculture feed industries. The objective of this paper is to analyze the current state of understanding on the use of non-conventional feed to replace normal fish feeds in Nigeria using information from secondary data. The mastery and use of substitute sources of fishmeal at all stages of fish development is crucial to reducing the demand on aquatic resources caused by the use of fishmeal in fish feed. Non-conventional feed ingredients are not usually the traditional ingredients used for commercial fish feed production. Many unconventional sources are of very good nutrient profiles which when incorporated into feeds can meet parts of the protein and energy requirements of the fish. Most of these indigenous fish feed resources are non-competitive in terms of human consumption, their prices are relatively very low and sometimes are of no cost value. They are usually byproducts or waste products from agricultural industries, domestic waste, and wild plants, thus their utilization as feed resources can help to reduce the cost of fish feeds and fish production in Nigeria.