2016
Aquaculture Critical Control Points
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Export/Trade
Keywords:
Aquaculture
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Terry Hanson, Auburn University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
1630-512-5211
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

Rising fish feed costs require increased efficiency, capture and reuse of nutrients. This project explored development of warmwater fish diets which seek both efficiency in assimilation into fish biomass and at the same time, functionally enhance solids collection by coagulating fish fecal material. An extruded, floating ration with a binder helped improve solids capture and removal. Hybrid catfish were the best species for this study, as they demonstrate desirable feed efficiency and production traits in densely stocked IPRS production systems. Previously, fish excretion has been left in the pond environment to be assimilated through naturally-occurring biological and chemical processes. Nutrient removal data were collected, entered into a database and used to analyze nutrient collection.

Key Audience:
Aquaculture feed producers, engineers

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

1. We expect to be able to develop economical, fully functional solids removal gear that can be fitted to
floating and ground-based IPRS units.

2. We expect to be able to accurately illustrate the impacts on fish and the pond environment when solids
removal is conducted by an automated evacuation system.

3. We expect make an accurate economic comparison and analysis of the feed including the guar within the
IPRS producing fish at both experimental and commercial levels.

4. We expect to be able to determine the utility and efficacy of a solids removal system and the physical and
nutritional qualities of those collected solids and possible means and ends for their re-utilization.

5. We expect to model a partial mass balance of the fish, plant, biogas production that can be used for
planning future soy-based feed fish operations.

6. We expect to be able to determine the efficiency and value of what was once called a waste item from fish
production systems. A cost-benefit analysis will be conducted on the anaerobic digestor capital costs
compared to the benefits derived (biogas; horticultural inputs such as organic fertilizer; and
vegetable/ornamental products).

7. We will communicate findings to the fish grower community in the mid-south, nation and world as well as to USB/USSEC and the scientific community through presentation of data at professional meetings.

Final Project Results

Updated February 18, 2021:

View uploaded report PDF file

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.