Skretting launches a diet solution for African-farmed catfish

Skretting has launched its new diet solution called 'Optiline Catfish' intended for African catfish farmers across Nigeria. The aim is to achieve optimal levels of fish performance and farm efficiency.

This new diet has been formulated and manufactured in Nigeria and will replace Skretting's existing Essential diet. The formulation is composed of balanced protein, energy, and phosphorous levels.

The process to complete 'Optiline Catfish' has lasted more than 3 years, Leiner Lache, Global marketing manager for Warm Water Species at Skretting noted: "Developed over more than three years, with the input and ongoing support of many industry-leading stakeholders, Optiline Catfish is designed to provide maximum value for farmers of this fish and to support sustainable farming practices."

Also, he mentioned the need to satisfy an increasing demand market: "Through optimal growth and feed conversion when following specific feeding frequencies, this new diet will provide catfish farmers in Nigeria and beyond with the opportunity to achieve the cost-efficiencies that will make them far better placed to meet the rising market demand for healthy protein from a growing population.”

Nigeria, the world's largest producer of African catfish

Nigeria is the world's largest producer of African catfish, according to an analysis conducted by FISH4ACP and the country's Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

For this reason, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) joined a new plan to support farmed catfish in this country in 2023. The goal is to make African catfish production more resilient, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

In this regard, Skretting's digital platform AquaSim will help producers to provide the new diet in the right quantities and at the right time reducing farms' environmental impacts.

Finally, Formulator Manager at Skretting Nigeria Omoyele James, explained: "'Optiline Catfish' aims to improve the economic viability of African catfish farming and was developed as a direct response to the customers' need for cost-oriented solutions. Validation trials have shown the feed’s positive impact on fish welfare and FCR, with great feedback from our customers. We are very excited to bring this solution to the African market."