Survey on Commercial Fish Feed Ingredients and Feeds Available in Sylhet Sadar

Abstract

This study investigates the present status of commercial fish feed ingredients and feeds for aquaculture production in Sylhet Sadar Upazilla. The study was carried out for six months from May to October 2014. A survey was conducted to collect data on fish feed ingredients and commercial feeds of study area. A total 15 fish feed sellers (10 from Kalighat and 5 from Kazir Bazar) and 15 fish farmer (3 fish farmer of each selected villages - Ghupal, Janagail, Ausha, Mirpur and Tultighor) were randomly selected and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. Results show that fish feed seller and fish farmer use two types of feeds; direct raw ingredients and processed commercial fish feed. The raw ingredients which are available in study area can be divided into two groups on the basis of their origin namely- plant origin and animal origin. We have identified 7 plant origin feed ingredients (rice bran, rice flour, wheat bran, wheat flour, maize bran, soybean grits and mustard oil cake) and 5 animal origin feed ingredients (fish meal, bone meal, meat meal, dry fish meal and meat and bone meal). Some farmers use poultry viscera and poultry droppings from their own poultry farm. Nine (9) commercial fish feeds were identified which are Mega, Saudi Bangla, Paragon, ACI, Agrovet, CP, Aftab, AIT and Quality. Results also show that rice bran, maize, soybean, rice flour, fish meal, rapeseed meal, meat meal, bone meal vitamin mix and mineral mix are used in commercial fish feed preparation. The price of commercial feed varies according to their types (nursery, starter, grower and finisher). The retail price varies from TK 52 to 60 per Kg of nursery feed, TK 44 to 50 per Kg of starter feed, TK 39 to 46 per Kg of grower feed, TK 35 to 43 per Kg of finisher feed. The wholesale price also varies company to company which ranges from TK 720 per bag of 20 Kg up to TK 1500 per bag of 25 Kg. In this study the proximate composition of commercial feeds are found in their packaging and labelling a similar pattern of moisture, protein, lipid and fibre. In this source, moisture content of nursery, starter, grower and finisher of every company varies within 10-12%, except Aftab contains a higher percentage of 16. The analyzed feed of different companies used in Sylhet Sadar region has 5-8% of lipid and fibre composition in common. Both lipid and fibre has a minimum 5% to a maximum 8% each in the starter to finisher feeds of varying companies. A maximum of 35% protein is found in CP’s feed and rest of the company provides 30-34% protein in starter feed. Highest Protein percentage found in nursery feed and lowest in finisher feed.