Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Where to get 35% CP catfish feed?

Another poster mentioned good results feeding 3" or larger BG on 35% CP catfish feed. I have only seen the 32%. It's about $19 plus tax per 50 pound bag. If the 35% doesn't cost a lot more, I will feed that. I have been feeding Optimal Jr in addition to 32% catfish feed, but it's $55 per 40 pounds.

John
We have had real good luck with Cargill 4512 45% protein. Used a 36% protein also from Cargill bought at tractor supply($12 for 25#) with not so good luck. Went back to the 4512

The 4512 is 50# for $39

I feed exactly what Pat feeds. 4512 from Overton's. My fish devour it

I had thought of tying the Optimal, but my fish are healthy and fat. Why change what's working. Plus it's way more expensive.

I've been using the TSC feed as well. Mainly because of the price. I have not seen the cargill feed anywhere around me. Lots of purina and land o lakes feeds at our coops. They could probably get the cargill I would think. I'm finally getting some AM500 tomorrow so I'm excited to see the difference. I've never fed the purina fish feeds. Although our show calf eats purina. lol. With fish meal being the top ingredient I hope to have a better response. I fed two bags of optimal last year and they loved it. But I can get 50# of AM500 for around 40 dollars and its 10 miles from me.

All I see around here are the TSC feeds and the 32% catfish pellets. The Farmers Coop and the local independent only have 32%. I wonder what brand the 35% catfish feed is? No Cargill around that I know of.

Our coops have to order the purina feed. Apparently I'm the only one in this part of the state that has ever asked or inquired about it. The Dequeen Coop said the only other folks to use it were from Oklahoma and that was a year or so ago. That is at least three counties, Hempstead, Howard, and Sevier. When you start hearing that, and you look at all the ponds in SW Arkansas, it makes you wonder how many actually manage their ponds like we on this site try to do. I know they could be doing a number of other things...but it does make me curious. I've been amazed at what my fish have done in such a short time since doing some of the things I have learned from this site.

Many thanks to ALL the experts that help those of us that would just be shooting into the dark trying to have nice fisheries!!!

When I ordered a bag of AM Grower 400 last year, my local Coop manager said I was the first ever to order that. It took 6 weeks to come and cost $65. Most people who buy catfish feed just throw out a few handfuls every day or two during the warm months. If they miss a few days here and there, no concern.

The stores only carry feeds that sell consistently. I buy a bag of CC food at least every month. Most others only a couple of bags a summer.

Off topic, but those same people who buy an occasional bag of feed sometimes feed dog food. They also follow the instructions from the fish truck and stock 250 CC in a 1/2 acre pond. They don't check often enough to realize they had a fish kill when nothing comes to feed anymore.
I know some of them, and have tried to gently educate, but they don't seem to really hear.

John, the member who discussed his research didn't want to publicly disclose brand names. His study is linked in a prior post in that thread. Perhaps if you could read the study you would understand the brands used and could seek them out yourself and do your own trial.

I am only asking where to find some 35% protein catfish pellets. All I have ever seen is 32%. Last year I mixed Optimal BG and catfish pellets. But, If I could find one food that works for both BG and CC at 35% protein, I would only buy one feed. Right now I am feeding 32% pellets mixed with a little Optimal BG Jr.

John
TSC has 25# sacks of multi species fish food that is 36%protein

This is a very tough problem to address. Findings we had may not even be consistent over time because manufacturers can and do adjust formulations based on economic considerations. Additionally the feed-stuffs used to make the diets can differ markedly in quality from batch to batch. Add to that how the distributor, retailer and you the feeder cares for feed. Those issues combined what natural forage provide makes for relatively difficult to predict outcome resulting from using a particular feed.

My trout farmers with lots of raceways in parallel will occasionally do a trial where they compare two diets fed to multiple groups of fish. Unless you have lots of ponds, the easiest way to match that is to use cages.

Jim, good to see you back!!