How to make fish feed for catfish in Nigeria?

1. Catfish Feed Production Process in Nigeria (Floating & Sinking Pellets)

Catfish feed production line in Nigeria—floating fish feed extruder and pelletizing system

Floating fish feed production line for catfish processes feed ingredients and additives into nutritionally balanced, water-stable pellets to improve farm profitability.
Depending on the species and production goals, the catfish feed manufacturing process (sinking pellet line) can range from grinding and particle-size reduction to steam pelleting or extrusion for floating pellets. Catfish feeds must be granular, water-stable, and—often—float.
Most commercial catfish feeds are extruded. If certain additives are heat-sensitive, use steam pelleting for sinking pellets. Before shipping, post-spray oil/fat to cut fines and improve palatability.

Grinding section — Reduce ingredients to spec using a catfish feed hammer mill for optimal starch gelatinization and pellet quality.
Mixing section — Thoroughly blend macro & micro ingredients; options include horizontal fish feed mixers (ribbon, paddle, dual-shaft) with liquid-spray ports for oil, enzymes, or molasses.
Pelleting/Extruding section — Choose fish feed extruder machines or SZLH series ring-die pelleting machines. Wet-type extruders (with steam) offer higher throughput; dry-type are cost-effective for small scale.
Pellet drying section — For dry-type extrusion, use a belt dryer to target safe moisture; for wet-type, a gas dryer is recommended.
Packaging section — Automated weighing & bagging ensures clean presentation, easy transport, and lower labor cost.

High market demand — Catfish is a key protein source; consistent consumer demand supports steady farm sales.
Government support — Policies, loans, subsidies, and training help upgrade aquaculture capacity.
Natural resource advantage — Favorable climate and abundant surface water benefit aquaculture expansion.
Rising investments — Local and international capital improves efficiency, technology adoption, and yields.
Export potential — With quality assurance, Nigerian catfish can supply regional and global markets.

Nigerian catfish aquaculture farm—pond systems and feed management

Ingredient base — Predominantly plant-based (soybean meal, cottonseed meal, corn & wheat by-products), with fish meal/animal protein in fry diets.
Processing — Use a fish feed pellet/extruder machine to produce size-specific, floating or slow-sinking pellets matched to fish size and season.

Hatchery fry — 45–50% protein, finely ground powders/flours.
Pond fingerlings/juveniles — ~40% protein; some producers use 28–32% for certain growth phases when natural pond food is adequate.
Advanced/market fish — 28–32% protein floating pellets (≈5/32–3/16"); some switch to slow-sinking feed in winter.

Floating fish feed pellets for catfish—extrusion line and pellet samples

Commercial catfish feeds usually follow fixed formulations due to ingredient availability and mill logistics rather than purely least-cost optimization.
Least-cost formulation requires reliable data on ingredient prices, nutrient specs, requirements, and constraints.

40% hay powder, 30% silkworm pupae, 10% vegetable cake, 20% barley — feed coefficient ≈ 3.
40% green hay, 30% cotton cake, 10% bean cake, 5% rapeseed cake, 5% silkworm pupae, 5% fish meal, 5% wheat — feed coefficient ≈ 3.
47.5% bean cake, 35% fish meal, 1% yeast, 16.5% inorganic salts, etc. — feed coefficient ≈ 2.26.

Catfish feed extruder and pelletizer—equipment for Nigerian catfish farms

Machines for making catfish feed — Use catfish feed extruder machines and pelletizers to produce floating or sinking pellets from local, cost-effective raw materials.
Profitability — Demand outpaces supply; with good management, farms may break even within months.
Decide farm size — Start small (tanks/ponds) and scale; ensure reliable water supply and environmentally sound siting.
Feeding strategy — Feed once daily to satiety without harming water quality; twice-daily feeding can increase growth but is often impractical at scale.
Health & environment — Monitor early disease signs; use approved treatments (e.g., copper sulfate, formalin, hydrogen peroxide, povidone iodine) responsibly.
Key challenges:
1. Capital intensity
2. Land acquisition
3. Labor requirements
4. Technical know-how gaps
5. Pest pressure
6. Cannibalism among fish

Catfish pellet extruder—floating fish feed production for aquaculture

Cost & profit example (China) — ~10,000 catties/acre × ¥3/catty ≈ ¥30,000 revenue; costs ≈ ¥10,000 (fry, feed, utilities, labor); profit ≈ ¥20,000 per acre.
Breeding cycle — Farmed catfish can reach ~2 kg in a year; typical production cycle ≈ 80–90 days, enabling up to two crops/year.

Breeding environment — Pollution-free site; water temp 18–28 °C, pH ~7.5, dissolved oxygen > 5 mg/L to accelerate growth (>50 kg/m³ possible).
Pond construction — Example: 80 m × 8 m × 0.6 m flow-through ponds with inlet/outlet and aeration; hatchery loop for fry supply.
Management — Use formulated feeds or natural prey (trash fish, prawns, zooplankton, algae); prevent fin rot, parasites, and enteritis with sound biosecurity.