Fish Nutrition and Feed Technology (2+1)

Unit 18 - Feed Management

18.2.Ration size

Ration size or feeding rate defines the amount of feed made available to the cultured organisms. An optimum ration is one, which gives the best growth and FCR and minimum wastage. Under feeding or over feeding should be avoided to harness the good potential growth.

Ration size is variable and depends on the species, size, age and temperature. The ration size is calculated as a percentage of the biomass present.

Estimating Ration Size

Various methods are used to estimate ration size. These include calculations based on the use of feeding charts, feed equations and growth predictions. The methods used vary for different species and culture systems and in practice many farmers use a combination of methods to determine daily feed requirements.