Use of Feed Additives in Animal Nutrition

Reducing the dependency of aquaculture on fishmeal and other important fish feed ingredients is key for sustainable development for the aquaculture industry. One of the major bottlenecks in the expansion of coldwater fish culture in the Kashmir valley is the availability of quality fish feed at low cost. The local fish farmers of the valley are mostly dependent on feed either outside J & K or on the State Fisheries Department J & K. The State Fisheries Department also procures feed ingredients from outside the State which results in high feed costs and increased cost of production and low economic returns to the farmers. Recognizing the importance of proper feeding in successful fish production, the present article gives an idea of how to formulate quality feed using locally available feed ingredients and some feed additives to make the feed more palatable and environmentally friendly. At the same time, the production of quality feed will create economic development among the poor sections of the society and employment generation for the uneducated/educated, skilled or unskilled sections of the society.