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ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to screen and evaluate the effects of different grain starches namely millet starch (DT^sub 1^); rice starch (DT^sub 2^); guinea corn starch (DT^sub 3^); wheat starch (DT^sub 4^) and maize starch (DT^sub 5^) as feed binders for onfarm aqua-feed respectively. Starches obtained from these grains in addition with other feed ingrethents were used to formulate five (5) isonitrogenous diets at 35% crude protein. The starches were incorporated into the diets at 5% inclusion levels. The evaluation of the physical parameters revealed that there were significant difference (P<0.05) in pelletability, hardness, dustiness, water stability and friability among the treatments (diets). The diet with wheat starch (DT^sub 4^) had the highest values of pelletability, water stability and lowest dustiness value. Similarly, the diet with millet starch (DT^sub 1^) had the lowest value for pelletability and highest value for dustiness. From this study, it revealed that the promotion of starch sourcing from natural carbohydrates (grains) could produce alternatives to conventional binders especially synthetic binders. It also revealed that among the grain starches screened and evaluated, wheat grain starch (DT^sub 4^) is superior to others and could be recommended as binder for on-farm aqua-feed.
KEY WORDS: Grain Starches; Feed Binder, AQUA-Feed, Pelletability Water Stability.
INTRODUCTION
The largest cost component in aquaculture production is feed, which constitute between 40-60% of the total operation costs of the farm. The major characteristics which affect the quality of fish feed include, colour, pellet size, shape, bulk density, water absorption and solubility, hardness or softness, resiliency, buoyance and water stability (Kazamzadeh, 1989). Pelleted feeds for terrestrial animals can be produced without applying a pelleting binding aid (binder). But producing pellets for aquatic animals (fish inclusive), the use of binder is a most. In aquaculture, mash feed will not only lead to leaching of nutrients in the feed but also pollute the water. Binders are products that are used to bind, glue or hold the various feed ingrethents together in order to maintain pellet integrity (Baudon and Hancock, 2003). They are firming agents that are added to fish feed to improved the quality of pellets, water stability, hardiness and bulk density.
Starch is a biopolymer which comprises of two types of macro-molecules; namely amylase and amylopectin (Brouillet-Fourmann ef...