After a two-week dry-run of a 20-ton daily capacity feed mill and tests on buoyancy and moisture of the pellets, the first locally-formulated Aqua Feeds using available materials is now ready for actual test-feeding to determine if it produces better tasting with more fats.
The tests will involve a Catfish Farm, Tilapia Fishpond and Bangus in fish cages and will start 15 days prior to harvest, according to Filipino-American farmer-scientist Rocky French who leads the team which formulated and produced the feeds.
Unofficially named “Taste Enhancer,” the French-formulated Aqua Feeds aims to improve the taste of the fish and add more fats and will be fed two weeks before harvest.
“I noticed that the locally grown fish, including Catfish, does not carry enough fats in the belly and so much is still desired on the taste,” said Rocky French.
“The reason could be the adulteration of the feed materials which affects the quality of the feeds,” he said.
Last week, French discovered that the Rice Bran used in local feed formulation was mixed with hammer-milled rice hulls.
The other day, he again found out that the corn bran was also adulterated.
“Our feed formulation will not include adulterated feed materials not only that is cheating but also because it will ruin the quality of the fish,” French said.
Yesterday, journalist Winchell Campos, who is helping French in the project, sent photos showing that the feeds had a moisture of 10.6, well within the desired 10 to 11 per cent moisture content.
The buoyancy, a very important factor in the production of non-floating feeds, was also tested and proved to be ideal giving the fish enough time to take it before it sinks.
Except for the imported micro-minerals, the “Taste Enhancer” Aqua Feeds uses local available materials which French intends to supplement later with Malunggay Leaves Powder, Munggo Beans and Peanuts.
Using local materials would make the “Taste Enhancer” Feeds more affordable to the fish farmers and contribute to the boosting of fish production in the country.
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