Globally, aquaculture has been identified as the surest alternative to capture fisheries (fishing from open water bodies) and a potent entry point at increasing fish production, poverty alleviation and job creation. However, the greatest problem facing the development of aquaculture enterprise is inadequate and high cost of fish feed which accounts for more than sixty percent (60%) of the total cost of fish production at farm gate. Hence, adequate and cost-effective input such as affordable quality fish feed must be provided for commercially important tropical fish species like the African catfish and Nile tilapia to increase fish production and profitability in aquaculture enterprise in Africa. Unlike terrestrial animals (poultry and other livestock) feed formulation for aquatic animals is uniquely different and must essentially takes cognizance of the aquatic environment and nutritional requirements of cultured fish species.
AquaFeedApp software is developed as a game changer in fish feed formulation by the AquaFeedApp Research Group of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State through a TETFUND NATIONAL RESEARCH FUND GRANT of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The software is developed by fish feed formulation experts from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State led by Professor Emmanuel Adedayo Fasakin a Fish nutrition and utilization expert and the Department of Computing, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State led by Professor Adebayo Olusola Adetunmbi , an expert in Data Analytics. AquafeedApp is a one stop shop for Aquafeed formulation and fish nutrition solutions, especially cultivable fish species like the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus and Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus.
AquaFeedApp is a software that proffers solution by developing least cost, efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly fish feed formulation using appropriate deep-learning techniques. It is designed and developed using data from ingredient composition, cost, nutrient requirements, water quality, and physical parameters. AquaFeedApp addresses the major limitations of the existing less efficient fish feed formulating methods for tropical fish species by allowing the optimization of conventional and non-conventional feedstuffs, cost, water quality and serve as a predicting tool for the determination and evaluation of nutritional and environmental effects on target fish production indicators such as growth, feed conversion, feeding costs, body composition and waste emission.
AquaFeedApp also provides useful tool for utilisation of quality ingredients and different nutrient levels for feed formulators and feed companies to ensure optimum performance of cultured fish under their farming conditions. The software will enhance profitability of fish production, improve socio-economic status of fish farmers and advance more entry to fish farming enterprise thus creating jobs for the teeming population of youths in the country.
Applied nutrition is essentially what feed formulation is. As information is offered on the nature and quality of various feedstuffs as well as the information presented on the nutrient requirements of fish, a number of phrases and expressions are introduced that will be put to practical use. Correct application of these concepts depends on a clear knowledge of them. It is important to understand that some of these phrases have unavoidable built-in errors. This does not negate their value in the creation of feed. One must recognize that some are useful approximations of the values rather than the actual values.
