Use of INFIC data base for amino acid requirement studies

The International Network of Feed Information Centers (INFIC) database contains amino acid profiles of over 15000 feedstuffs prepared by various techniques by the countries of the world. Preliminary filtering of appropriate feedstuffs which might be used in fish feed formulations has generated a data base of over 100 commonly used ingredients. Many of these have digestibility coefficients for protein and some have amino acid digestibility coefficients listed. The data base is faulted by the variety of techniques used to measure amino acid profiles, and by many ingredients which have not had digestibility coefficients for the protein component determined. This data base is now being re‐examined by the National Research Council to generate more exact values for the indispensable and dispensable amino acids present in feedstuffs. It is anticipated that the base will be further improved by cooperating laboratories specifically interested in amino acid profiles of various fish feed formulas. Regardless of these deficiencies, the existing INFIC data base and the scheduled improved one should provide fish feed formulae, chemical amino acid profiles, for least cost and for research diet functions. These data will form a first proximation for satisfying dietary requirements for various fish species used in nutritional requirement studies.