Feeding Methods for Catfish Farming

Breeding is one of the most technical aspects of catfish farming is that farmers must understand the breeding methods/techniques suitable for their farms. To be honest, there is no one method that can be said to be the best. The current situation of the farm will determine the breeding method that suits your needs. I suggest you use a feeding method that can take advantage of your advantages. After a comprehensive analysis of variables such as pond type, pond size, fingerling size, stocking density, feed type, and available feeding facilities, the best method for farm feeding can be derived. In order to maximize profits, appropriate feeding methods must be adopted.

Spot Feeding

Spot feeding refers to the method of feeding at a specific point/part of the pond in a specific breeding season. The catfish are trained to a specific location in the pond, ensuring that they are regularly fed at that specific location until the fish gets used to it. Setting a feeding point for fish is a gradual process. The farmers can feed in a circle first, and then move from the selected location to the side of the pond. The selected location should not be too shallow, so that the fish can choose their food freely. Spot feeding is a common method of feeding catfish and has many advantages.

Some of the advantages are:

  • This method can help farmers monitor the catfish feeding process and gain first-hand knowledge of pond fish.
  • It helps farmers reduce waste, especially when using sinking pellets. This is because it knows when to continue or stop feeding.
  • The health of a school of fish can be judged at a glance when they gather for food. Any fish that cannot be integrated with other fish must face challenges that need to be paid attention to by farmers.
  • It is a method suitable for water resources management and pollution control.

Multiple-Spot Feeding

Multi-point feeding is a feeding method in large dams and densely populated ponds, because a single feeding point may not be enough in such a large body of water. In other words, more than one foraging point was created around the pond, maintained regularly, and used for simultaneous foraging. For example, multi-point feeding means that two or more people, in different locations, use the same feed at the same time to feed the pond.

Broadcasting Feeding Method

Broadcasting Feeding method is actually the best feeding method for small fish, because small fish know little about the environment. To ensure that every fish has access to feed, there is feed everywhere on the pond or dam instead of creating a spot. When using floating feed pellets, this method is the best. This is also one of the best feeding methods in a very large dam or a carved area of river, fish farming and artificial feeding use canoes or other smaller boats.

Dump Feeding Method

Dump feeding method refers to a fish feeding technique in which unconventional catfish feed is poured into a pond. This method is suitable for situations where supplementary feed is needed in catfish farming.