Many fish farmers in Kentucky are limited-resource and are often faced with challenges when trying to obtain medicated feed to treat internal bacterial infections of their fish. The lack of infrastructure in Kentucky (feed mills, supply sources, etc.) cause fish farmers to choose treatment options other than medicated feed due to difficulties in obtaining it, and ordering medicated feed can be expensive due to ordering small quantities with high shipping costs. According to previous survey studies, the majority of fish farmers in limited-resource states mentioned that it takes approximately 11-15 days for the medicated feed to arrive, which is after the peak of the disease mortalities, and high losses have occurred and/or the fish may no longer be eating. It is against this backdrop that our team, through the collaborative efforts with antibiotics manufacturers – Merck Animal Health, Phibro, AquaTactics and the University of Kentucky’s Division of Regulatory Services - is conducting this study. This project focuses on registering Kentucky State University Aquaculture Research Center (KSU ARC) as a veterinary feed directive (VFD) distributor. Its priority will be to assist limited resource farmers in Kentucky gain more access to medicated feed (containing either Aquaflor, Romet or Terramycin) in an expeditious manner after they have obtained a VFD from their veterinarians.
This research would provide survey feedback from stakeholders on the effectiveness of fish health services via medicated feed treatment options to limited resource fish farmers in small-scale aquaculture-producing states, like Kentucky. The outcome of these research findings may assist in reducing economic losses currently witnessed by Kentucky farmers and foster the growth and sustainability of fish farming in the state.