A technical overview of feeding management in Epinephelinae groupers grow-out farming

Abstract

Epinephelinae groupers are aquaculture species with high commercial value in Asian countries, including Malaysia. However, feed cost in the grow-out farming of groupers is very high (the latest report in 2020 was 86% of the total production cost) hence appropriate feeding management is necessary to minimize feed wastage and to promote fish optimum growth. This study reviewed the information available on the conventional feeding management practiced in groupers' grow-out farming (feeding frequency, food ration, and the best timing for feeding based on groupers' feeding rhythm), and potential improvement was recommended. In brief, it was found that daily frequent feeding (at least once daily), appropriate daily food ration estimation, and the best feeding timing at dusk and dawn (outside of human's routine working hours) are the challenges in the feeding management of groupers' grow-out farming. To overcome these challenges, the development and application of demand feeder in groupers' grow-out farming have been recommended.