SRAC Publication No.

1806
February 2013
VI
PR

Feed Ingredients and Feeds

for Channel Catfish
Menghe H. Li1 and Edwin H. Robinson1

In the southeastern United States, channel catfish are classified as either protein or energy feedstuffs. In animal
generally cultured in earthen ponds at relatively high den- feeds, those containing 20 percent protein or more are
sities. The intensive culture system requires that the fish generally referred as protein feedstuffs, and those con-
be fed a nutritionally complete diet that provides nutrients taining less than 20 percent protein are energy feedstuffs.
and energy at or above the required levels for optimum Protein feedstuffs are further divided by the source,
growth and feed efficiency. This is mainly because the either animal or plant. There are many feedstuffs that
amount of natural food in the pond is relatively small may be nutritionally suitable for use in catfish feeds, but
compared to the total nutrient requirements of the fish, relatively few are readily available on a timely basis and
except in early stages of life (fry and small fingerlings). at reasonable cost. Although we will consider all types of
Feed represents the largest variable cost in catfish feedstuffs, we will focus mostly on protein feedstuffs, as
production. While the need for more economical feeds is protein is the most costly fraction of catfish feeds.
clear, it is imperative that catfish feeds are formulated to
be cost-effective, not just less costly. This can be achieved Protein feedstuffs
by carefully selecting and blending various traditional and The primary protein sources used in catfish feeds are
alternative feedstuffs that are suitable for use in catfish oilseed meals, such as soybean meal and cottonseed meal;
feeds. It is important that using less expensive alternative peanut meal and canola meal also can be used. Compared
feedstuffs not degrade the nutritional and physical quality to animal proteins, most plant proteins, except for soybean
of the feed, fish growth, processed yield, and product qual- meal, are deficient in lysine, the most limiting essential
ity. In this publication we examine various feed ingredi- amino acid in catfish feeds. Also, certain plant proteins
ents that are or could be used in catfish feeds, as well as contain antinutritional factors and toxins (see SRAC
feed formulation guidelines and various types of feeds. Publication No. 5002, Mycotoxins in Aquaculture Feeds).
Some antinutrients, such as trypsin inhibitor, are inacti-
Feed ingredients vated by heat during extrusion, but others, such as phytate,
are unaffected by heat treatment. Other processing meth-
Commercial catfish feeds are a mixture of feedstuffs
ods may be used to reduce levels of some antinutrients.
and vitamin and mineral supplements that provide
Although there are exceptions, animal proteins are gener-
adequate amounts of essential nutrients and digestible
ally considered to be of higher quality than plant proteins,
energy. To be suitable, dietary ingredients must be highly
primarily because they typically contain more indispens-
digestible, easily handled in the manufacturing process,
able amino acids and do not contain antinutritional factors
able to withstand the rigors of the manufacturing process,
(see SRAC Publication No. 5003, Principles of Fish Nutri-
available on a consistent basis, economical, and con-
tion). Animal proteins that have been used in catfish feeds
tain sufficient nutrients. Although all feedstuffs contain
include fish meal, meat and bone meal, blood meal, meat
energy, protein, and other nutrients, they are usually
and bone/blood meal blend, poultry by-product meal, and
Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Mississippi State University
1
catfish offal meal. These animal proteins, especially fish
meal, are more expensive than plant proteins. Although of mechanical or solvent extraction. It contains about 45
there have been conflicting reports, properly balanced to 47 percent protein and must not contain more than
diets with all-plant proteins can provide satisfactory 7 percent crude fiber. Peanut meal is highly palatable to
growth of catfish raised in ponds from advanced finger- catfish and has no known antinutritional factors, but it is
lings to market size. prone to become contaminated with mold, which pro-
Soybean meal, dehulled, solvent-extracted, is duces aflatoxins. It is seldom used because of its sporadic
obtained by grinding the flakes remaining after remov- availability.
ing most of the oil from dehulled soybeans by a solvent- Canola meal, solvent-extracted, consists of the meal
extraction process. It contains about 48 percent high- obtained after removing most of the oil (by mechanical or
quality protein and is the predominant protein source solvent extraction) from the whole canola seeds. Canola
in catfish feeds. Soybean meal has the best amino acid refers to varieties of rapeseed specially bred to contain
profile of all common plant protein sources and is highly much lower levels of the toxic glucosinolates and erucic
palatable and digestible to catfish. Antinutritional factors, acid. Canola meal contains about 38 percent protein. Up
such as trypsin inhibitor, are destroyed or reduced to to 25 percent canola meal can be used to replace part of
insignificant levels with heat that is applied during the the soybean meal in feed. It is rarely used in catfish feeds
extraction process. Levels of soybean meal up to 50 per- because it often is not cost-effective and is in limited sup-
cent have been used in commercial catfish feeds with- ply.
out detrimental effects. In recent years, its use has been Fish meal is the clean, dried, ground tissues of unde-
reduced somewhat because of increasing cost. composed whole fish or fish cuttings. Sometimes part of
Cottonseed meal, solvent-extracted, is obtained by the oil has been extracted. Fish meal generally refers to
finely grinding the flakes that remain after removing most products from marine sources, and the most common fish
of the oil from cottonseed by a solvent-extraction process. meal used in the U.S. is menhaden meal. Fish meal con-
It generally contains about 41 percent protein, but must tains 60 to 80 percent protein of excellent quality that is
not contain less than 36 percent. It is highly palatable to highly palatable to catfish. It is also rich in energy, essen-
channel catfish. Cottonseed meal contains free gossypol tial fatty acids, and minerals. It has been used at levels of
and cyclopropenoic acids, which can be toxic at high up to 60 percent in catfish fry feeds, up to 15 percent in
levels; however, in commonly available cottonseed meal fingerling feeds, and up to 12 percent in food fish feeds.
these compounds are generally well below toxic levels. Because of its high cost, little, if any, fish meal is used in
Cottonseed meal has generally been used in catfish feeds commercial catfish feeds except for fry feeds.
at a level of 10 to 15 percent, but levels up to 30 percent Porcine meat and bone meal is the rendered product
with lysine supplements can be used to replace part of the from pork processing, exclusive of any blood, hair, hoof,
soybean meal in catfish feeds. hide trimmings, manure, or stomach contents (except in
Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is the amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing
product obtained after removing ethyl alcohol by distilla- practices). It contains approximately 52 percent crude
tion from the yeast fermentation of grain or grain mix- protein. Its protein quality is inferior to whole fish meal
ture. The predominant product in the U.S. is the DDGS because it contains less lysine. Although it is a good
from corn. The product contains approximately 27 per- source of minerals, its high ash content may limit its use
cent protein and is highly palatable to catfish. Because oil because of possible mineral imbalance. The maximum
is of higher value, some of the DDGS is solvent-extracted level of meat and bone meal recommended for catfish
to remove part of the oil for human consumption and feeds is 15 percent of diet.
biodiesel production. Studies have shown that levels of Porcine meat and bone/blood meal blend is a
DDGS up to 40 percent, with lysine supplement, can be mixture of meat and bone meal and blood meal from
used in catfish feeds without affecting fish growth. How- pork processing. The two ingredients are mixed to mimic
ever, DDGS from yellow corn contains a relatively high the nutritional profile of menhaden fish meal (at least in
level of yellow pigments (mainly lutein and zeaxanthin), regard to lysine). The blended product provides 60 to 65
which may be deposited in the catfish product and make percent protein (an excellent protein source for catfish
it unacceptable to the typical consumer. A level of 10 to 20 feeds) and is generally used as a replacement for fish meal.
percent may be used as long as the yellow pigments in the Poultry by-product meal consists of the ground,
finished diet do not exceed about 7 ppm. rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered poul-
Peanut meal, mechanical- or solvent-extracted, is try, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines.
a ground product of shelled peanuts composed of the It does not include feathers, except in such amounts as
kernels and hulls (fiber) or oil left in the ordinary course might occur unavoidably in good processing practices.

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Feed-grade poultry by-product meal contains approxi- meal, corn grits, hominy feed, and other corn products,
mately 60 percent protein and is an excellent product for or by the wet milling process to manufacture corn starch,
use in catfish feeds. However, it is not available on a regu- syrup, etc. The product contains 18 to 20 percent protein.
lar basis at a reasonable cost per unit of protein. It has less yellow pigment than corn gluten feed and corn.
Hydrolyzed poultry feathers is the product resulting It can be used in catfish feeds at levels up to about 35
from the treatment under pressure of clean, undecomposed percent of diet. The digestible energy of corn germ meal is
feathers from slaughtered poultry. It is free of additives. At lower than that of corn grain.
least 75 percent of its crude protein must be digestible by Rice bran is the bran layer and germ of the rice, with
the pepsin digestion method. It is high in protein (85 per- only such quantity of hull fragments and broken rice as
cent), but deficient in several essential amino acids, espe- is unavoidable in the regular milling of edible rice. It is
cially lysine. Hydrolyzed poultry feathers are rarely used high in fat, which limits its use in catfish feeds. Because
in catfish feeds because of the low levels of essential amino of its high fat content and a potent lipase enzyme, rice
acids and low palatability to catfish. bran oxidizes rapidly and becomes rancid under normal
storage conditions. Rice bran can be stabilized by heat
Energy feedstuffs and pressure treatment to inactivate the lipase enzyme.
Energy feedstuffs used in commercial catfish feeds are No more than 5 percent of full-fat rice bran may be used
primarily grains (corn and wheat) and grain by-products in catfish feeds. Solvent-extracted and stabilized rice bran
(corn gluten feed, corn germ meal, wheat middlings, and can be used at higher levels (up to 15 percent). It is rarely
rice bran), animal fat, and fish oil. used in catfish feeds because it is not regularly available
Corn has traditionally been used as the main energy and because some feed manufacturers report that it is
source in catfish feeds. Corn improves the expansion of highly abrasive to feed processing equipment.
feed pellets during extrusion, resulting in a pellet that Fats and oils from animals or plants are highly
floats. Because of recent dramatic increases in its price, concentrated sources of energy and contain essential fatty
less corn is being used in catfish feeds. However, a mini- acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Animal fats and oils used
mum of 15 percent corn should be included in the feed to in catfish feeds include catfish offal oil, menhaden oil, and
ensure proper expansion and floatability of feed pellets. poultry fat. Plant oils can be used, but are generally too
Wheat is a good source of energy for catfish and a expensive. Supplemental fat/oil is generally sprayed on the
good pellet binder, but it is generally more expensive than finished feed pellet at a rate of 1 to 2 percent, primarily to
corn and is seldom used in catfish feeds. However, wheat reduce feed dust or “fines.”
by-products such as wheat middlings are typically used.
Wheat middlings consist of fine particles of wheat Vitamin and mineral supplements
bran, shorts, germ, flour, and some of the offal from the Commercial catfish feeds are supplemented with a
milling of wheat. Depending on cost, wheat middlings vitamin premix that provides all vitamins in quantities
are generally used to replace corn and/or wheat in catfish necessary to meet requirements and compensate for losses
feeds. It can be used at levels up to 25 percent of diet. caused by feed processing. Phosphorus and trace min-
Corn gluten feed is the part of the shelled corn that eral supplements are commonly added in catfish feeds to
remains after the extraction of the larger portion of the ensure that mineral requirements are met.
starch, gluten, and germ in the wet milling manufacture
of corn starch or syrup. It typically contains 21 percent Supplemental amino acids
crude protein (it is referred to as an energy feedstuff here The essential amino acid requirements of fish are gen-
because it is mainly used to replace the energy feedstuffs erally met with a diet that contains a mixture of feedstuffs
corn and wheat middlings in catfish diets). Corn gluten with complimentary amino acid profiles. If the mixture is
feed is usually competitively priced relative to corn and deficient in certain amino acids, synthetic amino acids are
wheat middlings. Catfish feeds can contain up to 30 per- supplemented. Catfish can efficiently utilize supplemental
cent corn gluten feed without detrimental effects. Unlike amino acids. Lysine and sulfur-containing amino acids
high-protein corn gluten meal, corn gluten feed contains (methionine and cystine) are the most limiting essential
a level of yellow pigments similar to that in corn grain. amino acids for most fish. In catfish feed formulations
Corn gluten feed is less digestible than corn grain. using commonly available feedstuffs, lysine is typically
Corn germ meal is ground corn germ, which consists the only amino acid that needs to be supplemented in
of corn germ with other parts of the corn kernel from the diet. Supplemental lysine can be used up to about 0.4
which part of the oil has been removed. The product is percent of the diet.
obtained by the dry milling process to manufacture corn

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Feed additives specifications set, it is essential that the formula be double-
Currently, no feed additives are used in catfish feeds checked to ensure that the ingredient composition is practi-
except the phytase enzyme that is used by some feed cal and that the nutritional requirements are satisfied.
mills. The enzyme breaks down the bound form of phos-
phorus (phytate) in the main feed ingredients, making it Table 1. Nutrient specifications for least-cost formulation of a
available to the fish. It can completely replace the inor- 28 percent protein feed.
ganic phosphorus supplement if the main feed ingredi-
Nutrient Minimum Maximum
ents provide a minimum of 0.6 percent total phosphorus.
Phytase must be applied post-extrusion because it can- Crude protein (%) 28 28
not withstand the high temperature associated with the Crude fat (%) − 6
manufacture of extruded feeds. Crude fiber (%) − 7
Available lysine (%)
1
1.43 −
Feed formulations Available methionine and cystine2 0.65 −
(%)
Catfish feeds are generally formulated using computer
Available phosphorus (%) 0.30 0.40
programs based on specifications for including all required
nutrients and energy needs and for ensuring that the diet is Digestible energy (kcal/g) 2.6 2.8
highly palatable and digestible. Measures are also taken to Yellow pigments 3
(ppm) − 7
ensure that the diet has high water stability and floatability 1
Minimum available lysine should be 5.1 percent of the dietary protein.
2
Minimum methionine and cystine should be 2.3 percent of the dietary
and is manufactured at the least cost. To formulate least- protein.
cost feeds, the following information is needed: 3
Lutein and zeaxanthin.
■■ Nutrient requirements of fish
■■ Nutrient and energy concentra-
tions of feed ingredients Table 2. Ingredient specifications for least-cost formulation of a fingerling or
■■ Nutrient and energy digestibility food fish feed.
and availability from feed ingredi- Nutrient Minimum Maximum
ents
■■ Price and availability of feed ingre- Soybean meal, dehulled, solvent 20 −
extracted (%)
dients
Corn grain (%) 15 −
■■ Levels of antinutrients or undesir-
able compounds present in the Cottonseed meal, solvent-extracted (%) − 25
ingredients Wheat middlings (%) − 25
■■ Nutritional and non-nutritional Corn gluten feed or corn germ meal (%) − 30
restrictions Distillers dried grain with solubles 1
(%) − 20
In formulating least-cost catfish feeds, Rice bran, solvent-extracted (%) − 15
nutritional and non-nutritional specifi- Animal protein feedstuff2 (%) − 15
cations can be set to include an exact, a Supplemental fat 3
1.5 3
minimum, or a maximum amount of an Mono- or dicalcium phosphate (%) Meet requirement
ingredient or nutrient. There are several for phosphorus
specifications that need to be considered Vitamin premix Meet all vitamin
(Tables 1 and 2), but if too many speci- requirements
fications are used, the program may not Trace mineral premix Meet all trace
be capable of calculating a formula, or it mineral requirements
will produce a formula that is not practi- Phytase enzyme4 (FTU5/kg) 500 500
cal. To calculate a formula for catfish, it 1
Yellow pigment levels can vary greatly among different sources, and dietary yellow
is necessary to set nutrient specifications pigments should be monitored if distillers dried grains with solubles are used.
only for protein, available lysine, and total 2
Animal proteins used in catfish fingerling feeds include menhaden fish meal, poultry
by-product meal, porcine meat and bone meal, and porcine meat and bone/blood meal
and available phosphorus. In addition, blend.
vitamin and trace mineral premixes are 3
Sprayed on the finished feed to reduce feed dust.
added to ensure that the requirements for 4
Can be used to completely replace mono- or dicalcium phosphate supplement. Total
phosphorus should be maintained at 0.6 percent or above if phytase is used.
these nutrients are met. Regardless of the 5
FTU = phytase unit.

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Types of feeds
Several types of feeds are available for commercial
catfish production. They vary in nutrient and ingredient
compositions, forms, and pellet sizes, depending on fish
ages, sizes, and stages of culture. Fry and fingerling feeds
contain higher protein than food fish feeds because small
fish have a higher protein requirement than large fish.

Fry feeds
In the hatchery, catfish fry (once the yolk sac is
absorbed) are typically fed a trout or salmon starter diet
containing about 50 percent protein supplied mainly by
marine fish meal. Once stocked into the nursery ponds, Figure 1. Various types of catfish feeds. Top left, fry feed (powder); top
they are fed finely ground feed powder (Fig. 1) from cat- right, fingerling feed (3 mm in diameter, floating); bottom left, food fish
fish fingerling or food fish diets. During this early stage feed (5 mm, floating); bottom right, slow-sinking feed (4 mm).
of life catfish fry depend mainly on natural foods (large
zooplankton, insect larvae, and small insects) for normal
growth and survival. Fry feeds are used as supplements bone meal, meat and bone/blood meal blend, or poultry
until they reach a size of 3 to 5 cm. by-product meal), corn, wheat middlings, animal fat/fish
oil, and vitamin and mineral supplements.
Fingerling feeds
Small fingerlings are fed small floating pellets (3 mm Food fish feeds
in diameter) containing 32 to 36 percent protein (Fig. 1). Channel catfish grown from advanced fingerlings to
A typical fingerling feed contains soybean meal, cot- market size are typically fed a 28 or 32 percent protein float-
tonseed meal, animal proteins (such as porcine meat and ing diet approximately 5 mm in diameter (Fig. 1). Evidence

Table 3. Examples of ingredient compositions for catfish fingerling and food fish feeds
Ingredient 36% protein 32% protein 32% protein 32% protein 28% protein 28% protein 28% protein
fingerling food fish1 food fish food fish food fish food fish food fish
Soybean meal (48%2) 51.05 44.10 33.25 30.60 32.90 25.35 22.30
Cottonseed meal (41% ) 2
10.00 10.00 25.00 25.00 10.00 20.00 20.00
Porcine meat & bone 10.00 5.00 − − 5.00 − −
meal3 (52%2)
Corn grain 20.00 20.00 18.21 15.00 25.00 20.00 15.00
Wheat middlings 5.50 18.20 − 10.82 24.32 11.08 24.10
Corn gluten feed 4
− − 20.00 − − 20.00 −
DDGS (27% )
5 2
− − − 15.00 − − 15.00
Dicalcium phosphate 0.25 0.50 1.00 1.00 0.50 1.00 1.00
Lysine HCl − − 0.34 0.38 0.08 0.37 0.40
Vitamin mix6 Included Included Included Included Included Included Included
Trace mineral mix6 Included Included Included Included Included Included Included
Animal fat/oil 7
3.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
1
Can also be used to feed fingerlings.
2
Crude protein.
3
Can be replaced by poultry by-product on an equal protein basis.
4
Can be replaced by corn germ meal on an equal protein basis.
5
Distillers dried grains with solubles. Yellow pigment levels should be closely monitored.
6
Meets requirements for all vitamin and trace minerals.
7
Catfish oil, menhaden oil, poultry fat, or a mixture of these oils or fats is used post-pelleting to control feed dust.

5
shows that a properly balanced 28 percent protein diet can feed. Some producers prefer feeding a slow-sinking feed
provide the same level of growth as a 32 percent pro- because brood fish may be hesitant to feed at the surface.
tein diet with little impact on processed yield and body
nutrient composition. Because of the high cost of animal Overwintering feeds
proteins, food fish diets are made up of all plant feed- During the winter, when water temperatures are
stuffs. Traditional high-cost ingredients such as soybean above 50 °F (10 °C), catfish should be fed a slow-sinking
meal and corn are being replaced partially by alternative feed containing 28 or 32 percent protein according to
ingredients such as cottonseed meal, corn gluten feed, winter feeding schedules based on water temperatures (see
corn germ meal, and DDGS. SRAC Publication No. 181, Feeding Catfish in Commercial
Ponds, for details). Slow-sinking feeds (by extrusion) are
Brood fish feeds typically fed during the winter because it is thought that
Channel catfish brooders are usually fed a 32 percent catfish may be reluctant to feed at the surface during cold
protein food fish feed or 36 percent protein fingerling weather.

SRAC fact sheets are reviewed annually by the Publications, Videos and Computer Software Steering Committee. Fact sheets are revised
as new knowledge becomes available. Fact sheets that have not been revised are considered to reflect the current state of knowledge.

The work reported in this publication was supported in part by the Southern Regional
Aquaculture Center through Grant No. 2010-38500-211422 from the United States
Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.