Now this is a thread I can certainly contribute to!
I have personally extruded almost all of the Optimal released in 2016.� I can absolutely guarantee the formulation has not changed a bit over the course of the year (enter dads "if it aint broke dont fix it" quote).� Just to quell any concerns, inconsistancies are absolutely not do to any formulation changes.
That being said, I do believe there might be some inconsistancies between bags... especially if purchased a month or so apart.� Traditional feed mills have giant extruders that can pump out 10+ tons of feed per hour.� Generally, they will produce a bunch of feed based on forcasts and then ship it out and wait for it to sell.� Because it was all produced at the same time, it should all look nearly identical.
In our mission to produce the freshest and highest quality feeds available, we take a different approach.� We have a small mill that produces around 1000 pounds per hour. Instead of making 6 months worth of feed at one time...we make fresh batches of feed quite regularly.
Extrusion is a very dynamic process.� Running an extruder is less like operating a microwave and more like making pottery. Little changes can alter the size, shape, float, color, and even the smell of the feeds. Those nuances might be noticable when comparing a batch side by side, but I am confident the performance remains the same.
Historically, there has been a rift between feed suppliers and feed users.� Feed suppliers just made feed with their ultimate focus being more on margins than the end-user's feedback.� Optimal Fish Food is trying to heal that divide.� Formats (like Pond Boss) allow a great opportunity to work together to create feed that not only works, but helps create all those special moments that make this Pond Boss community special.� We truely want people to smile when they throw feed out to their eager fish boiling the surface of the water.
I cannot help much with how to create a pond, or how many fish to stock, or what all these crazy acronyms mean (i did find a handy guide;)...but I will happily answer questions on extruding fish feed, assessing feed performance, or anything Optimal!
