Linear Programming Technique In Zebrafish Feed Formulation For A Better Growth And Colour Enhancement

Abstract

Feed formulation is a combination of different ingredients with variety of nutrients to formulate a type of food that contains complete nutrient needed by living things. It is to ensure that they receive enough nutrients for their healthy growth and survival. In aquaculture field, major concerns among aquaculture nutrition researchers only focus on the growth and survival of the fish but neglecting the cost of feed production. The conventional method in formulating fish feed is often time-consuming, expensive and species dependence. Early mathematics researchers had attempted to solve diet formulation problem with mathematical modelling. Mathematical model is an approach that can provide precise composition required in fish feed with aquaculture knowledge as background, which can provide precise nutrient requirement depends on specific species and minimizes the cost of operation when compared to the use of commercial pellet. Early researchers have applied mathematical modelling in formulating feed and took a long time to obtain a complete feed if hand-operated desk calculators are used. Transition of modern era leads to highly sophisticated computer systems that simplifies the complicated problem involved in feed formulation problem. However, the research about application of mathematics modelling in aqua feed especially for ornamental fish, which centred on reducing feed production cost and alternative ingredients replacement are hard to be found in Malaysia.