In Vietnam, small scale fish farmers are finding it more profitable to make their own fish diets rather than rely on feed manufacturers. This is also a good idea from the farmer’s point of view because you cannot always rely on the feed manufacturer to make the food to your specifications. Already, there have been reports of manufacturers substituting fish proteins for cheaper proteins and the health of the farmed fishes suffer as a result. Apparently, feed mills change things all the time. The reasons may be that specific ingredients may be too expensive or unavailable, they may then substitute it with another, or reduce the inclusion rate.
One farmer, and likely several others, had experienced the effects of alleged feed substitution by a feed manufacturer such as muscle disease, poor immunity and more. This farmer had a great idea on how they could avoid this issue. They bypassed the local feed supplier and import their feed from overseas. The reason behind this is that the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) is very strict and one of the import requirements is that the ingredients must be reflected on the label and there must not be any changes. There was a lot of paper work to get through, but they’re now reaping the rewards from this ingenious idea.
It troubles me that feed manufacturers could do such things, thinking they can get away with it. Aquaculture in most of Australia tends to be a small industry and they tend to be lower on the priority list as clients. But this feed substitution also occurs in other animal feeds like poultry. Such malpractices will jeopardise the aquaculture industry and eventually, it would impact on the feed manufacturer in a trickle down effect. So, one way of avoiding the loss of control over what you’re feeding your farmed fish is to make your own fish food. This is the experience of the Vietnamese farmers as explained in the research paper below.
Aquaculture Research
Volume 44, Number 3 (February 2013)
Evaluation of potential feed sources, and technical and economic considerations of small-scale commercial striped catfish (Pangasius hypothalamus) pond farming systems in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam
Authors: Chau T Da, Le T Hung, Håkan Berg, Jan E Lindberg, Torbjörn Lundh
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Source: Aquaculture Research, Volume 44, Number 3 (February 2013)
Page Numbers: 427 – 438
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Abstract: A technical and socio-economic survey was conducted in Dong Thap, Can Tho and An Giang, provinces of Vietnam in 2009. The results showed that most of the small scale farmers of striped catfish (Pangasius hypothalamus) carry out fish pond culture, developed and operated by self-learned experience and from neighbours knowledge. The mean pond depth varied from 3.5 to 4.0 m, ranging from 2 to 6 m. Most of the fish farms have extremely high stocking density, with an average of about 40 fish m-2, in some cases up to 70 fish per m2. The average yields and net income of small-scales pond farming is about 21–27 kg per m2crop-1and US$ 0.184–0.329 kg-1crop-1respectively. These figures are not significantly different compared with large-scale pond farming. About 75%, 86% and 80% of fish farmers in Dong Thap, Can Tho and An Giang province, respectively, received positive net returns. Farm-made feed is still playing an important role because of higher net profit compared with commercial pellet feeds. Rice bran and trash fish are the main feed ingredients for farm-made feed formulations. Striped catfish farmers are now actively searching for locally produced plant protein sources as alternatives to marine trash fish or fish meal.
Citation: Chau T Da, Le T Hung, Håkan Berg, Jan E Lindberg, Torbjörn Lundh . Evaluation of potential feed sources, and technical and economic considerations of small-scale commercial striped catfish (Pangasius hypothalamus) pond farming systems in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Aquaculture Research, Volume 44, Number 3 (February 2013), pp. 427-438,
URL: http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4C58B37C12DF2D660F6B
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Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh
BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Vet Path), MANZCVS (Aquatics), MANZCVS (Pathobiology), DipPM.
Veterinarian | Adjunct Senior Lecturer Murdoch University | WAVMA President-Elect |
Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS)
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
Mobile Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services for fish and other aquatic creatures.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
