Catfish Feed Deliveries

Catfish Feed Deliveries
ISSN: 1944-9267

Released January 22, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA).

December 2012 Catfish Feed Deliveries Up 42 Percent from Last Year
Total catfish feed delivered in the United States during December 2012 was 5,633 tons, up 42 percent from December
2011, and down 49 percent from the previous month. Foodsize catfish feed delivered totaled 5,376 tons, up 37 percent
from the corresponding month a year ago. Feed delivered for fingerlings and broodfish totaled 257 tons, up 757 percent
from the corresponding month a year ago.
December feed delivered to Alabama catfish growers for foodsize fish totaled 2,280 tons, up 24 percent from last year.
Alabama accounted for 42 percent of the total foodsize catfish feed delivered to United States farmers.
The other major States with catfish feed deliveries for foodsize fish in December and their comparison to the previous
year were Arkansas with 186 tons, up 44 percent; Louisiana with 83 tons, up 177 percent; and Mississippi with 1,027
tons, up 35 percent.

Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered – United States
Thousand tons
100
80
60
40
20
2011

2012

0
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered – United States: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ................................................
February ..............................................
March ...................................................
April .....................................................
May ......................................................
June .....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ................................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

1,045
4,631
17,797
29,131
47,896
73,483
80,905
92,282
65,023
37,703
11,407
3,930

5,658
7,298
25,500
35,452
60,871
69,170
68,983
73,592
53,594
35,393
10,589
5,376

Cumulative

541
158
143
122
127
94
85
80
82
94
93
137

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

1,045
5,676
23,473
52,604
100,500
173,983
254,888
347,170
412,193
449,896
461,303
465,233

5,658
12,956
38,456
73,908
134,779
203,949
272,932
346,524
400,118
435,511
446,100
451,476

541
228
164
140
134
117
107
100
97
97
97
97

Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered – United States: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ................................................
February ..............................................
March ...................................................
April .....................................................
May ......................................................
June .....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ................................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

76
328
568
1,177
2,172
4,038
5,831
8,210
3,734
2,311
1,176
30

176
314
1,260
1,608
2,702
4,155
5,693
4,735
2,990
1,855
541
257

Cumulative

232
96
222
137
124
103
98
58
80
80
46
857

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

76
404
972
2,149
4,321
8,359
14,190
22,400
26,134
28,445
29,621
29,651

176
490
1,750
3,358
6,060
10,215
15,908
20,643
23,633
25,488
26,029
26,286

232
121
180
156
140
122
112
92
90
90
88
89

Catfish Feed Deliveries (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered – Alabama: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ...............................................
February ..............................................
March ..................................................
April .....................................................
May .....................................................
June ....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ...............................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

212
1,647
7,597
10,192
18,168
27,706
27,527
32,038
21,310
12,706
4,924
1,841

2,718
3,142
8,287
11,469
20,613
22,218
23,155
26,594
15,120
11,372
3,872
2,280

Cumulative

1,282
191
109
113
113
80
84
83
71
90
79
124

212
1,859
9,456
19,648
37,816
65,522
93,049
125,087
146,397
159,103
164,027
165,868

2,718
5,860
14,147
25,616
46,229
68,447
91,602
118,196
133,316
144,688
148,560
150,840

1,282
315
150
130
122
104
98
94
91
91
91
91

Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered – Arkansas: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ...............................................
February ..............................................
March ..................................................
April .....................................................
May .....................................................
June ....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ...............................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

52
462
1,431
2,548
3,924
5,970
6,792
7,042
5,766
3,097
603
129

269
485
2,471
3,155
5,417
5,741
4,981
4,888
4,096
2,710
498
186

Cumulative

517
105
173
124
138
96
73
69
71
88
83
144

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

52
514
1,945
4,493
8,417
14,387
21,179
28,221
33,987
37,084
37,687
37,816

269
754
3,225
6,380
11,797
17,538
22,519
27,407
31,503
34,213
34,711
34,897

517
147
166
142
140
122
106
97
93
92
92
92

Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered – Arkansas: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ...............................................
February ..............................................
March ..................................................
April .....................................................
May .....................................................
June ....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ...............................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2011

2012

(tons)

(tons)

10
96
133
131
403
658
676
1,361
912
605
125
-

2012 as
percent
of 2011

Cumulative

(percent)
4
50
298
197
239
351
595
758
731
603
64
57

40
52
224
150
59
53
88
56
80
100
51
(X)

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

10
106
239
370
773
1,431
2,107
3,468
4,380
4,985
5,110
5,110

4
54
352
549
788
1,139
1,734
2,492
3,223
3,826
3,890
3,947

40
51
147
148
102
80
82
72
74
77
76
77

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.

Catfish Feed Deliveries (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered – Louisiana: 2011-2012
By month
Month

2011
(tons)

January ................................................
February ..............................................
March ...................................................
April .....................................................
May ......................................................
June .....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ................................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2012 as
percent
of 2011

2012
(tons)
18
83
298
348
493
537
339
503
272
154
48
30

Cumulative

(percent)
8
30
124
367
459
416
318
318
210
145
55
83

44
36
42
105
93
77
94
63
77
94
115
277

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

18
101
399
747
1,240
1,777
2,116
2,619
2,891
3,045
3,093
3,123

8
38
162
529
988
1,404
1,722
2,040
2,250
2,395
2,450
2,533

44
38
41
71
80
79
81
78
78
79
79
81

Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered – Mississippi: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ................................................
February ..............................................
March ...................................................
April .....................................................
May ......................................................
June .....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ................................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

209
1,456
5,746
12,757
21,465
33,344
40,684
46,342
32,582
16,991
3,155
758

1,706
2,246
11,317
16,571
29,818
35,308
34,891
35,941
28,455
16,918
3,946
1,027

Cumulative

816
154
197
130
139
106
86
78
87
100
125
135

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

209
1,665
7,411
20,168
41,633
74,977
115,661
162,003
194,585
211,576
214,731
215,489

1,706
3,952
15,269
31,840
61,658
96,966
131,857
167,798
196,253
213,171
217,117
218,144

816
237
206
158
148
129
114
104
101
101
101
101

Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered – Mississippi: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ................................................
February ..............................................
March ...................................................
April .....................................................
May ......................................................
June .....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ................................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

4

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

47
204
365
1,000
1,657
3,277
5,036
6,642
2,526
1,590
1,029
13

149
155
740
1,251
2,277
3,693
4,992
3,814
2,053
1,049
393
125

Cumulative

317
76
203
125
137
113
99
57
81
66
38
962

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

47
251
616
1,616
3,273
6,550
11,586
18,228
20,754
22,344
23,373
23,386

149
304
1,044
2,295
4,572
8,265
13,257
17,071
19,124
20,173
20,566
20,691

317
121
169
142
140
126
114
94
92
90
88
88

Catfish Feed Deliveries (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered – Other States East of the Mississippi River: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ...............................................
February ..............................................
March ..................................................
April .....................................................
May .....................................................
June ....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ...............................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

88
304
1,362
1,505
1,338
1,914
1,914
2,113
1,667
1,932
728
181

89
320
1,001
1,275
1,525
1,678
2,138
1,725
1,732
1,113
262
102

Cumulative

101
105
73
85
114
88
112
82
104
58
36
56

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

88
392
1,754
3,259
4,597
6,511
8,425
10,538
12,205
14,137
14,865
15,046

89
409
1,410
2,685
4,210
5,888
8,026
9,751
11,483
12,596
12,858
12,960

101
104
80
82
92
90
95
93
94
89
86
86

Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered – Other States West of the Mississippi River: 2011-2012
By month
Month

January ...............................................
February ..............................................
March ..................................................
April .....................................................
May .....................................................
June ....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ...............................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

466
679
1,363
1,781
2,508
4,012
3,649
4,244
3,426
2,823
1,949
991

868
1,075
2,300
2,615
3,039
3,809
3,500
4,126
3,981
3,135
1,956
1,698

Cumulative

186
158
169
147
121
95
96
97
116
111
100
171

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(tons)

(tons)

(percent)

466
1,145
2,508
4,289
6,797
10,809
14,458
18,702
22,128
24,951
26,900
27,891

868
1,943
4,243
6,858
9,897
13,706
17,206
21,332
25,313
28,448
30,404
32,102

186
170
169
160
146
127
119
114
114
114
113
115

Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered – Other States West of the Mississippi
River: 2011-2012
By month
Month

2011

2012

(tons)
January ...............................................
February ..............................................
March ..................................................
April .....................................................
May .....................................................
June ....................................................
July ......................................................
August .................................................
September ...........................................
October ...............................................
November ............................................
December ............................................

(tons)
18
6
5
18
4
95
97
14
4
2

16
73
109
28
26
29
35
55
70
129
58
64

2012 as
percent
of 2011

2011

(percent)

(tons)

(X)
(X)
606
467
520
161
875
58
72
921
1,450
3,200

Cumulative

2012 as
percent
of 2011

2012
(tons)
18
24
29
47
51
146
243
257
261
263

(percent)
16
89
198
226
252
281
316
371
441
570
628
692

(X)
(X)
1,100
942
869
598
620
254
181
222
241
263

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.

Catfish Feed Deliveries (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: All participating catfish feed mills are feed mills that produce and deliver catfish feed to bonafide
catfish producers. Survey data for catfish feed are collected from feed mills by the USDA-NASS Mississippi Field Office,
which is responsible for ensuring survey coverage is as complete as possible. Mills are contacted by mail, telephone, fax,
or internet. Diligent effort is made to ensure that all operations are accounted for in the estimate.
Estimation Procedures: The Catfish Feed Deliveries report refers strictly to catfish feed delivered to bonafide catfish
producers and excludes catfish feed delivered to producers of other species. The totals include both bagged and bulk feed.
Prior to summarization, questionnaires are compared to previous reports for comparability. Estimates are made for feed
mills whose reports are not available in time to be included in the release. Those mills are identified by an asterisk on page
6 of this release. Estimates are based on the mill's previous reports and current conditions. Published totals are a straight
summation of the individual reports and estimated data.
If a mill uses a fiscal accounting system, proration is used to convert reported data to a calendar month basis.
Two unusual features of this report are worthy of note: (1) cooperating feed mills are listed by name, and (2) it is
impossible for the public to infer the amount of catfish feed produced in each State. Since many mills deliver feed to more
than one State and to growers of other species, any inferences about overall production per State or per mill are not valid.
Revision Policy: Revisions may be necessary in the following month's publication pending a review of late reports
received from mills. Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve month-to-month relationships. Estimates for the
previous month are subject to revision in all States and regions monthly totals. In February, all monthly estimates for the
previous year are reviewed and subject to revisions. The review is primarily based on data that may have been received
after the original estimates were published.
Reliability: Estimates are based on data from cooperating catfish feed mills, and therefore have no sampling variability.
However, estimates may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplication, mistakes in reporting, recording, and
processing of data. These errors are minimized through strict quality controls in the edit and summarization process and a
careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.

Data were compiled in cooperation with the following feed mills:
Alabama Catfish Feed Mill, LLC
Carolina Fish Feeds
Delta Western
Fishbelt Feeds, Inc.
Flint River Mills, Inc.

6

Land O’ Lakes Purina Feed, LLC
Rangen, Inc.
SouthFresh Feeds
Star Milling Co.
Topwater Feed Mill

Catfish Feed Deliveries (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Terms and Definitions Used for Catfish Feed Deliveries Estimates
Broodfish - Fish kept for egg production, including males. Broodfish produce the fertilized eggs that go to hatcheries. The
most desirable size is 3 to 10 pounds or 4 to 6 years of age.
Catfish Feed - For the purposes of this report catfish feed is defined as feed delivered to bonafide catfish producers. Thus,
it is not the absolute total amount of feed produced or even sold by a mill. (Some catfish feed is sold to producers of other
species of fish.) The definition includes medicated feed. Catfish feed is designed to float on the surface of the water.
Catfish are fed this way from the moment they hatch. Therefore, they learn to go to the surface for feed. The result is a
clean nutritious diet for American farm raised catfish.
Catfish Feed for Foodsize Fish - Feed containing pellets larger than 1/8 of an inch.
Catfish Feed for Fingerlings/Broodfish - Feed containing pellets 1/8 of an inch or smaller.
Fingerlings – Fish weighing 2 to 60 pounds per 1,000 fish or 2 to 6 inches in length.
Foodsize Fish - Fish being grown commercially for human consumption. Optimum sizes at harvest depend on the market
but are generally no lower than 3/4 pound but near one pound.

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected]
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section .................................................................. (202) 720-4447
Cody Brokmeyer – Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised .............................................. (202) 690-3237
Charles Butler – Catfish Feed Deliveries ................................................................................................. (601) 965-4575
David Colwell – Cold Storage .................................................................................................................. (202) 720-8784
LaKeya Jones – Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production,
Census of Aquaculture, Honey, Egg Products, Mink ......................................................................... (202) 720-0585
Dawn Keen – Egg Products ...................................................................................................................... (202) 720-4448
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-8632
Miste Salmon – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery .............................................................................. (202) 720-3244

Catfish Feed Deliveries (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

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