Formulation and processing of hatchery diets for channel catfish

Production type diets were developed to support tank reared channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, until they were large enough to accept conventional pelleted feeds. Alternative ingredients to fishmeal were evaluated through a series of feeding trials using diets formulated by computer. Several animal and vegetable protein concentrates partially replaced fishmeal without significant reductions in growth or changes in carcass composition. Ingredients which supported especially good growth of fish included fish, poultry by-product, soybean and cottonseed meals; brewers yeast; wheat grain and beef tallow. Ingredients previously thought to be essential or included in the past for their “unidentified growth factors” were apparently not necessary when balanced diets were manufactured under proper quality control. No diet was found superior to that composed of fishmeal, wheat, tallow and a micronutrient premix preserved with antioxidants and propionic acid.