November | December 2014

EXPERT TOPIC: Feed and feeding practices for Catfish in India

The International magazine for the aquaculture feed industry

International Aquafeed is published six times a year by Perendale Publishers Ltd of the United Kingdom.All data is published in good faith, based on information received, and while every care is taken to prevent inaccuracies, the publishers accept no liability for any errors or omissions or for the consequences of action taken on the basis of information published. ©Copyright 2014 Perendale Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior permission of the copyright owner. Printed by Perendale Publishers Ltd. ISSN: 1464-0058

INCORPORAT ING F I SH FARM ING T ECHNOLOGY

36 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | November-December 2014

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Welcome to Expert Topic. Each issue will take an in-depth look at a particular species and how its feed is managed.

CATFISHEXPERT TOPIC

1

November-December 2014 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 37

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2

Global: Channel Catfish

Interest in channel catfish began when the United States Fish and Fisheries Commission began stocking fish col-lected from the wild in the 1870s.

Channel catfish were native primarily to the Mississippi River Valley but were widely introduced throughout the nation by the Commission. Spawning was first achieved in 1890 in aquaria, at which time it was learned that the male guards the eggs during incuba-tion. Pond spawning was first observed in 1914 at a government hatchery. Spawning nests (nail kegs) were first used in 1916 and the numbers of fingerlings produced per stocked female increased. Indoor hatching of channel catfish eggs in troughs equipped with paddlewheels to move the water in a manner that simulates the fanning of the eggs by the male fish was first accomplished in 1929.

Commercial aquaculture was first consid-ered to be economically practical in the late 1950s. Catfish farming developed rapidly dur-ing the 1960s and 1970s as improvements in pond management, disease identification and control, and prepared feeds were developed

and adopted by farmers. The commercial industry developed in the southern United States within the original range of the spe-cies. At least 90 per cent of the farmed fish are produced in the Mississippi River Valley region.

Main producer countries Channel catfish have been introduced into

Europe, Russian Federation, Cuba and por-tions of Latin America. The primary interest in many countries appears to be recreational fishing.

Production systemsChannel catfish are reared in ponds, cages,

and circular tanks or linear raceways in both the United States and China. Monoculture dominates in the U.S., while both monocul-ture and poly-culture with traditional species such as carp occurs in China. Formulated feeds are employed in both nations. The details presented below refer to channel cat-fish culture in the United States of America.

Market and tradeThe market has been impacted by an

influx of unrelated species of catfish from Viet Nam in recent years. This has led to intense competition with domestic channel catfish in the marketplace to the extent that prices paid to many producers do not offset production costs. Predictions are that some producers may be forced out of catfish farming, though legislation to require country of origin branding may provide some relief. Country of origin labelling may aid in moving retail grocery stores and restaurants towards a preference for domestic catfish. There is also a movement by the catfish farmers to encourage legislation that would place a tariff

on imported catfish. Prices in the marketplace are fairly stable.

Status and trendsWhile the catfish industry is quite mature,

research continues on disease control, nutri-tion, genetic improvement, and other aspects associated with the farming of the species. Research is also being conducted to reduce the level of nutrients in pond effluents by developing diets that are better utilised by the fish.

The future of the catfish industry in the United States is unclear. Until the situation with respect to imported exotic catfishes is resolved, it is difficult to determine whether the industry will grow in the future, remain at its current level, or decline.

The market for channel catfish in the United States is well developed. Once con-sidered a product of interest only in the southern states, catfish can now be found in restaurants and on menus in grocery stores throughout the nation. Consumers see it as being a healthy choice food. Market expan-sion may be possible through development of new product forms and value added processing.

Main issuesSince channel catfish are produced almost

exclusively on private land there are few environmental issues associated with produc-tion of the species. In cases where ponds or intensive culture facility effluents enter public waters, there is an issue of eutrophication that is being addressed, in part, through development of feeds that are better utilised by the fish. The issue of potential eutrophica-tion also exists with respect to cage culture.

Source: www.fao.org

2Catfishes are the second major

group of freshwater fishes. India, being a mega-diverse country, harbors 197 species of catfish.

Catfishes, owing to their unique taste, are considered a delicacy for the fish consum-ers, but production of different indigenous catfishes through aquaculture is unexplored in India, although aquaculture contribution of some of the catfish varieties like Ictalurus, Silurus and Clarias spp. has been exemplary in the World scenario.

Aquaculture in India has become an industry since late eighties with several entrepreneurs taking up aquaculture with carps, catfishes and prawns. Of late, the Government of India has also identified catfish farming as a National Priority and has placed emphasis on diversifica-tion of culture practices. The major chunk of catfish, however, comes from capture resources, which includes air-breathing as well as non-air-breathing varieties. Air-breathing catfishes have greater potentiality to utilise shallow, swampy, marshy and derelict water-bodies for aquacul-ture, whereas non-air-breathing catfishes can be well suited to normal pond environment.

Cultivable catfish speciesThere are six catfish species are cultured

in India (Table 1). Among six, only two catfish species viz. Pangas and African catfish culture is intensified in the country due to its higher production rates by using various local as well as commercial feeding methods.

Clarias batrachus: Amongst the catfishes, Clarias batrachus, an obligatory air-breath-ing catfish known as magur is the most preferred indigenous catfish in India. The culture of magur obtained impetus by the standardisation of its breeding and grow-out farming techniques at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), an ICAR fishery research institute, Bhubaneswar. The fish is currently propagated on a large scale along the north-eastern regions, main-ly the State of Assam.

Heteropneustes fossilis: It is commonly known as singhi or stinging catfish, has a great potentiality as a candidate species for aquaculture. The presence of accessory res-piratory organ helps this to thrive well in shallow and derelict waters with poor oxygen. It contributes to about 15 per cent of inland landings,

mostly from eastern regions and some few south Indian states.

Ompok species: Ompok bimaculatus, O.pabda

Table.1: Commercially cultured Catfish species in India.

Sl. No. Family Common Name Scientific Name

1 Clariidae Magur Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus)

2 Clariidae African catfish or Thai magur Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

3 Heteropneustidae Singhi or stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

4 Siluridae Butter catfish Ompok bimaculatus

5 Pangasiidae Pangas Pangasius pangasius (Hamilton)

6 Pangasiidae Sutchi catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

Feed and feeding practices for Catfish in Indiaby B. Laxmappa, Fisheries Development Officer, Department of Fisheries, Mahabubnagar-509001. Telangana, India, e-mail: laxmappaboini@gmail.com

38 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | November-December 2014

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and O. malabaricus are the three medi-um-size catfishes under family siluridae. They have great importance as food

fish and have good demand among the consumers.

Pangasius pangasius: It is the only species of the genus pangasius found in India water-bodies. It is mainly an estuarine habitant, displaying long migration from estuarine to upper stretch of river.

Pangasianodon hypophthalmus: It is com-monly known as pangas in India, sutchi catfish in Thailand or Pla Sawai, Patin in Malaysia, tra or basa catfish in Vietnam. It is one of the swift growing catfishes under pangasiidae family is widely cultured in Asian countries. Vietnam being the largest producer of this fish enjoys its dominance of supplying sutchi catfish and its fillet to European market. This exotic cat-

fish entered to India through West Bengal and seed has been transported to different parts of India. As shrimp-farming activity in Andhra Pradesh was affected due to disease, many farmers of Andhra Pradesh diverted their farming activity towards this catfish culture.

Clarias gariepinus: It is commonly known as African catfish or Thai magur and the culture of this species was banned in India under Environment Protection Act. But many fisher-men are still cultivating this banned catfish illegally in village ponds to make a quick buck. The banned catfish is reared clandestinely in certain states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana etc. in India.

Table 2: Farm made feed (with locally available ingredients for striped catfish(Pangas) in India

Average body

weight(g)

Feeding %

No. of feeding/

day

Name of the feed

100-300 3-4 2-3 Boiled corn dough’s, cooked

rice bran, Confectionery waste products

etc.

300-500 3-4 2-3

500-800 2-3 1-2

800-1000 2-3 1-2

>1000 1-2 1-2

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Feeding practicesThe Pangas catfish P. hypophthalmus was first introduced into India

in 1997 in the state of West Bengal from Bangladesh. Farmers are overwhelmingly culturing pangas catfish using improved management methods and improvised, supplementary feeds available commercially along with locally available farm made feeds (Table 2). Because of its remarkable growth rate, this fish is being cultured in many states particu-larly the Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala and Orissa in the country. Initially its farming was carried in limited area in the state of West Bengal later on this was cultured on large scale in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh is the major produc-ing state for pangas catfish particularly in Krishna and West Godavari districts. The farm area is ranging from 4 ha to 40 ha. It has been found that there is a shift of culture practice from carps to Pangasianodon catfish in considerable areas in Andhra Pradesh. Due to closure of shrimp ponds on account of dis-ease, farmers had to suffer heavy losses and they also adopted pan-gas farming alternatively in the same areas. The culture production of P. hypophthalmus is 15 to 20 t/ha/year which is higher than carp production (8-10 t/ha/year) in the same areas. It is estimated that

Table 3: Generally suggested feeding rates for industrial pellets for striped catfish (Bharat Lux Indo Company)

Sinking pellet (18-20% crude protein)

Extruded floating pellet (28% crude

protein)

Fish size (g)

% body weight

per day

Fish size (g)

% body

weight per day

<100 3.0 <100 3.0

101–300 2.5 101-150 2.5

301–500 1.8 151-200 2.0

501–700 1.5 201-250 1.8

701–900 1.3 251-500 1.5

>900 1.0 501-1000 1.0

40 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | November-December 2014

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presently over 700,000 tonnes of Pangas catfish is produced in the country per annum.

In commercial culture of Pangasianodon farmers are using both pelleted and extruded feeds (Table 3 & 4). The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of these feeds can be improved to a range of 1:1 to 1:2 while common FCRs reported by farmers are in the range from 1:1 to 1:3. The floating feed is the modern way of feeding in contrast

with the traditional way using farm made feeds comprising remains agricultural ingredi-ents. The feed composition ranges from 25 to 28 per cent crude protein for grow out pond. Some farmers are also using chicken wastes for pangas culture as in the case of African catfish due to low feeding costs.

Clarias gariepinus is usu-ally fed waste intestines and skin of chickens so it grows fast (Table 5). The magur can grow fast than compared to local carp’s fish with low feeding cost. The fish can be produced cheaply in a short

span of time. Catfish ponds were stinking, but a bigger problem is what they do to the immediate environment.

ConclusionEfforts should be made to improve Pangasianodon culture through

the adoption of Better Management Practices (BMPs) as has been

Table 4: Generally recommended feeding table for high protein extruded floating feed(26% crude protein) for striped catfish (Growel Feeds Private Limited)

Average body

weight(g)

Average feed(g)

No. of feeding/

day

0-50 3.3 2-3

50-100 4.8 2-3

100-250 5.8 2-3

250-500 8.4 2-3

500-750 9.4 1-2

750-1000 10.5 1-2

1000-1500 11.0 1-2

>1500 12.0 1-2

November-December 2014 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | 41

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done in shrimp farming. A number of immedi-ate management measures would be useful at striving to achieve BMPs. Since conventional feeds do not perform significantly, improve-ment in feed quality is urgently warranted, if current Pangasianodon farming is to sustain.

There is need for suitable adoptive measures. Wet feeds should be totally discouraged in the culture.

Use of floating pellets is desirable for bet-

ter growth, meat quality and health. In case of polyculture mash feeds of good quality may also be used through bag feeding in addition to floating pellets. Under monoculture, manur-ing of culture pond may not be required; however, agriculture lime should be applied

@ 100 kg ha-1depending on the pH of pond soil and water. For polyculture ponds, fertilization using organic/inorganic manures could be followed as per the soil fertility.

The slaughterhouse waste they feed the catfish is strewn all around and shows an extreme disregard for hygiene. The waste strewn all around attracts dogs, which gradu-

ally become aggressive and start hunting for meat. They become uncharacteristi-cally ferocious and chase humans. Catfish farmer’s heat up the feed using plastic and

rubber waste particularly damaged vehicles tyres. The dark, toxic fumes can be smelt from a long distance which is harmful to the environment.

Proper feed storage facility should be pro-vided at the farm site with proper ventilation and fumigation. The feed should be stacked on raised wooden platforms without touching the walls to avoid mould. The feed should be used within three months from the date of production. Feeding should be suspended one/two days prior to harvest. It is necessary to have a nationwide campaign to improve sanitation and ensuring quarantine warranty, environmental purity and food safety.

ReferencesHand Book of Fisheries and Aquaculture

2011 – Published by ICAR, New Delhi.Singh AK and Lakra WS. 2012: Culture

of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus into India: Impacts and Present Scenario. Pak. J. Biol. Sci.

Table 5: Common feed given for Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) in India

Average body

weight(g)

Feeding %

No. of feeding/

dayName of the feed

0-10 4-5 2-3 Rice bran

10-25 3-4 2-3 Spoiled & discarded cooked eggs

>30 3-4 Once in 3 days

Chicken waste raw & boiled

42 | INTERNATIONAL AQUAFEED | November-December 2014

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LINKS

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Utlisation of Roasted Guar Korma

– as alternative for fishmeal and soybean meal in shrimp diets

VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6 2014 - NOVEMBER | DECEMBER

INCORPORAT ING F I SH FARM ING TECHNOLOGY

Fish Farming Technology supplement

- Seal defense, Temperature stress

Hydrolyzed yeast– as a source of nucleotides and digestible

nutrients in shrimp nutrition

Biomin’s World Nutrition Forum– "Meeting the needs of the present while improving the

ability for future generations to meet their own needs"

Securing the future– Aquaculture growth and

role in global food production

IAF1406.indd 1 12/11/2014 15:19

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