Introduction

Extensive research on the nutrient requirements and feeding behavior of channel catfish has provided the foundation for efficient, cost-effective diet formulation and feeding strategies, both of which are vital to the success of the catfish farming industry.

Nutrition

Channel catfish require a complete and digestible diet, as natural pond organisms contribute only a small portion of their nutritional needs beyond the early life stages.
To date, forty essential nutrients have been identified for their normal growth and metabolic functions.

• Protein: The most expensive component in catfish diets, with required levels ranging from 25% to 50% depending on life stage. A protein content of around 28% is sufficient for market-size fish fed to satiation daily.

• Digestible Energy/Digestible Protein (DE/DP) Ratio: An optimal DE/DP ratio of 10–11 kcal/gram promotes growth. Ratios above this range increase fat deposition; ratios too low result in inefficient protein use.

• Carbohydrates: At least 25% digestible carbohydrates (mainly from grains) are included to provide energy and bind feed pellets, ensuring buoyancy and stability.

• Fat: Fat levels are maintained at 5–6% to avoid excessive fat accumulation in fish flesh, balancing energy supply without compromising product quality.

• Vitamins and Minerals: Feeds are fortified with vitamin and trace mineral premixes, and phosphorus supplementation is enhanced through the use of microbial phytase.

Feed Composition

Catfish feeds are primarily plant-based, utilizing soybean meal, cottonseed meal, corn, and wheat by-products.

• Fry: Fed finely ground meals with 45–50% protein in hatcheries; 40% protein meal feeds in nursery ponds.

• Fingerlings: Fed small floating pellets (1/8 inch) containing 35% protein.

• Food fish: Fed larger floating pellets (5/32 to 3/16 inch) with 28–32% protein. Some producers shift to slow-sinking feeds during winter.

Medicated feeds containing FDA-approved antibiotics (Terramycin®, Romet®, Aquaflor®) are used when necessary to treat bacterial infections.

Feeding Management

Feed represents over 50% of total variable costs in catfish farming, making efficient feeding practices crucial to profitability.
Feeding strategies vary based on farming system, fish size, water quality management, and farm staff experience.

• Feeding Frequency: Once daily, seven days a week during warmer months is standard practice. Feeding twice daily benefits fingerling growth but shows no advantage for grow-out fish.

• Feed Allowance: Should not exceed 100–120 pounds per acre per day for conventional ponds, or around 300 pounds per acre per day for split ponds and highly aerated systems.

• Feeding Method: Feed is distributed evenly over the pond surface using mechanical blowers, ideally with the prevailing wind to maximize fish access and minimize wastage.

Overfeeding should be avoided to protect water quality and prevent unnecessary cost increases.

References:

• MSU Publications: A Brief Overview of Catfish Nutrition, Reducing Catfish Feed Cost, Plant-Based Catfish Feeds, Feed Conversion Ratio for Pond-Raised Catfish, etc.

• SRAC Publications:

  • Feed Ingredients and Feeds for Channel Catfish 

  • Feeding Catfish in Commercial Ponds 

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