16 Sep Fish Feed Pellet Production in Nigeria

I. Feasibility of Fish Feed Pellet Production in Nigeria

I. Significant Fish Farming in Nigeria
● Fish, a very rich source of animal protein, plays an important role in the diet of the people of Nigeria. Fish and fish products provide more than 60% of the total protein intake in adults especially in the rural areas.
● Employment generation: Fish production occupies a very significant position in the primary sector providing direct employment for over a million people.
● Source of income: Fish farming is a lucrative business. Many fish farms are established yearly to produce fish, rivers and streams are continuously utilized as regular fish ponds, generating revenue to the individualfish farmer and other resource holder.
● Government support: Nigeria government has carried out the proactive policy on fish farming. The implementation of a new import quota regime for fish has been published. The aim is to stimulate the country to become self-sufficient in fish production over the next four years through a 25 percent annual fish import cut.
Therefore, the importance of the fishing industry to the sustainability of animal protein supply in the country cannot be over-emphasized. Therefore, fish farming has high prospects in Nigeria.

2.Feed Pellet Making for Cost Reduction & Efficiency Improvement
High-quality production of fish feed is very crucial to the development and sustainability of fish farming in Nigeria especially, in the rural areas. Fish requires high quality nutritionally balanced diet for growth and market size in the shortest possible time. Poor quality fish feed will result in stunted growth of fish, poor survival rate, and poor returns on-investment.
Cost Reduction
High quality is with high price. Premium fish feed is a major expenditure for fish farmers. The current situation of fish feed in Nigeria is: a lot of farmers in Nigeria depend on imported quality fish feed which are expensive and not affordable although there are also few commercial fish feed producers. This increases their cost of production and reduces their profit margin. Obviously, in order to reduce the cost, making fish feed pellets by themselves is always the profitable way.
Efficiency Improvement
Fish feed pellet making for its economic benefit is based on calculating the food conversion ratio. This is the amount of feed in kilogram that is required to produce 1kg of fish. Therefore a feed conversion ratio of 1:1 means that for one kg of food fed, one kg of fish was produced.
For fish feed pellet making, here recommend dry type fish feed machine with competitive price and capability of producing high quality feed pellets.

3.Local Raw Materials Available for Pellet Making
Local raw materials for fish feed in Nigeria are available such as maize, cowpeas, groundnut, melon, potato, cassava, banana, plantain, pawpaw, soyabean, millet, guinea corn, rice, palm oil, brewery wastes and etc.
Chemical composition of some Nigerian feeding stuffes (percent of dry matter)

II. Priority of Fish Feed Pellet

1. High Starch Gelatinization
Feed material goes through the processing of high temperature over short time in feed making machine, starch gelatinization degree increase can reach 80-99% for aquatic animals easily digest.
2. Better Digestion and Absorption
Pellets can breakdown quickly in the stomach of fish loses nutrients (during regurgitation), which contributes to better absorb nutrients.
3. Improved Water Stability
The floating pellets are more resistant to disintegration in water and a floating feed allows the fish farmer to observe the condition of the fish and the amount of feed consumed.
4. Water Absorption
Extrusion moisture content during processing can be controlled over a wide range, which helps to increase the water stability of the final feed. These pellets absorb more water, retains shapes for longer time and results in reduced losses of nutrients. It benefits pellet technical qualities and fish health.
5. Convenient for Density Control
It is entirely feasible for an extruder to produce floating feed, sinking feed and slow sinking feed by density control; that is more conducive to different fish species.
6. Fine Mechanical Resistance
Feed made using extrusion technology is more resistant to mechanical durability and produces fewer fines in the finished feed during transportation. It can reduce feed waste, water and air pollution.
7. Good to Aquatic Organism Health
Extrusion cooking provides hygienic feed processing and destroys the pathogens & other most viruses to avoid animal illness.

III. Fish Feed Pellet Production
1. Feed Formulation
Like other animals, fish need protein, carhohydrate, lipids, minerals and vitamins for growth and maintenance of physiological activities. For feed pellet making, feed formulation is vital. The main fish species for farming in Nigeria are Tilapia and Catfish. Here are some feed formulations for catfish and tilapia in Nigeria (% dry matter basis).
Ingredients used for fish feed production in Nigeria

2. Fish Feed Production Process

The main machines used in the complete fish feed production line: feed hammer mill→feed mixing machine→fish feed extruder→fish pellet drying machine→pellet packing machine.
● Feed hammer mill: the first used machine to grind raw materials into powder.
● Feed mixer: to evenly blend powdery material to prepare for direct pelletizing
● Fish feed extruder: there are two types of extruders: dry type fish feed extruder and wet type fish feed extruder, which both can force feed mash in the barrel through a restrictive die. Compare the two machines and then choose the right one for your feed pellet production. Here dry type fish feed extruder is strongly recommended, with lower price and high production performance.
● Pellet drying machine: to remove pellet moisture for pellet package. For small scale pellet production, you can dry these pellets naturally in the sun.
● Pellet packing machine: to automatically pack pellets for storage. You can also do this step by manpower if the production is in small scale.

We are the specialist in pellet machine manufacturing, has years of experience of fish feed machines developing and designing. The machines from our company are working well for making qualified pellet fish feed to ensure the profits of fish farmers. Moreover, our company has good cooperation with customers in Nigeriaand and export many pellet machines to Nigeria, and have clearer understanding of Nigerian fish farming market. Advise us of your demands, we will design the right solution for your fish feed pellet production!