The quest to optimize feeding practices for Indian Major Carps (IMC) takes centre stage, driven by scientific inquiry and innovation. IMCs, renowned for their omnivorous dietary preferences, demand a meticulous approach towards feed formulation to ensure optimal growth and nutritional value.
Recent scientific investigations delve deeply into the intricate facets of feed management for IMCs, illuminating the pivotal role of feed ingredients in shaping the quality, safety, and nutrient content of farmed fish. This research underscores the importance of selecting aquafeed ingredients based on three critical factors: quality, quantity, and cost-effectiveness. It emphasizes the necessity of creating nutrient-rich compositions while mitigating the presence of anti-nutrients or contaminants that could hinder nutrient absorption.
In the diverse aquaculture landscapes of South Asia, feeding strategies for IMCs are delineated into three distinct categories. Firstly, intensive culture systems predominantly utilize industrially produced pelleted feed to optimize feed efficiency and production yields. Secondly, semi-intensive culture systems employ a hybrid approach, combining industrial and farm-made feed mixtures to achieve a balance between cost-effectiveness and nutritional adequacy. Lastly, traditional or extensive culture systems rely solely on farm-made feeds, comprising locally available ingredients tailored to meet the nutritional needs of fish.
Farmers play a pivotal role in crafting farm-made feeds, leveraging locally available resources to formulate nutritionally balanced diets for IMCs. Primary protein sources such as mustard oil cake, groundnut oil cake, and soybean meal are supplemented by energy-rich cereals like rice bran, maize, and wheat. Non-conventional feed ingredients such as meat meal and poultry by-products further augment the dietary spectrum, ensuring a comprehensive nutritional profile.
Supplementary feeding practices complement farm-made feeds, addressing specific nutritional requirements and maximizing growth potential. The integration of omega-3 enriched ingredients underscores a commitment to enhancing fish quality and sustainability, driving innovation and experimentation in feed formulations.
Moreover, farm-made feeds emerge as a cost-effective and resource-efficient solution, particularly beneficial for aquaculture start-ups. By harnessing locally available resources and creating employment opportunities, farm-made feeds exemplify a holistic approach to sustainable aquaculture development.
As the aquaculture sector continues to evolve, collaborative efforts between research institutions, aqua-farmers, and feed manufacturers remain paramount. Through joint undertakings aimed at optimizing feed formulations and disseminating best practices, the full potential of IMC aquaculture can be realized, ushering in a new era of productivity and sustainability in the aquafeed sector.
