Catfish farming is a booming agricultural sector in Nigeria. With the increasing demand for affordable protein and the growing number of fish-loving households, it seems like a perfect business opportunity. But ask any experienced farmer, and you’ll hear the same truth: feed costs can make or break your catfish farm.
Understanding the Role of Feed in Your Budget
In Nigeria, feed accounts for up to 70% of the total production cost in catfish farming. Whether you’re using floating feed like Coppens or Blue Crown, or formulating local sinking feed, the cost per kilogram adds up fast—especially for large grow-out operations.
Let’s break it down with a rough estimate:
| Feed Type | Price per 15kg Bag (₦) |
| Foreign Floating | ₦96,000–₦70,000 |
| Local Floating | ₦38,000–₦25,000 |
| Local Sinking | ₦20,000–₦18,000 |
The Profitability Problem
Despite high demand for catfish in Nigerian markets, profit margins can be thin, especially when:
- Feed prices rise due to inflation or scarcity of ingredients
- Fish mortality occurs due to poor water quality or disease
- Substandard feed leads to poor growth rates and low weight gain
Imagine spending ₦1.650,000–₦1,350,000 on feed, only to harvest fish that barely weigh 700g after 5 months. You may struggle to break even, let alone make a profit.
Tips to Maximize Profit and Minimize Feed Waste
Here are tested strategies to reduce feed costs and increase profitability:
1. Start with Quality Fingerlings
Poor genetics = poor feed conversion. Invest in healthy, fast-growing fingerlings from trusted hatcheries.
2. Use a Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) Target
Always track how much feed your fish needs to gain 1kg of body weight. Aim for an FCR of 1.1–1.2. If you’re consistently above 1.5, it’s time to review your feeding strategy.
3. Combine Floating and Sinking Feed
Use floating feed in the early stages (0–8 weeks), then gradually transition to well-formulated local sinking feed. This blend saves cost while supporting healthy growth.
4. Adopt Smart Feeding Techniques
- Feed during cooler times of the day (morning and evening)
- Observe fish behavior while feeding—avoid overfeeding
- Adjust rations based on weather, water quality, and fish size
5. Explore On-Farm Feed Milling
If you have access to ingredients like fishmeal, maize, soybean, or wheat offal, consider formulating your own feed. With the right knowledge and equipment, this could cut feed costs by 30–40%.
Feed costs in catfish farming cannot be ignored, but they can be managed. Smart farmers who understand feed conversion, track expenses, and adopt efficient practices consistently stay profitable, even when market conditions are tough.
At Kenchu’s Farm Services, we help farmers like you master every stage of the catfish value chain—from pond setup to feed strategy. Need help reducing feed costs or want to learn how to make your own high-quality sinking feed? We’re just a message away. +2348144083554