Bell Perch to be Served at Purdue Fish Fry

For the third year in a row, Indiana-based Bell Perch's farm-raised yellow perch will be featured at Purdue University's Agricultural Alumni Fish Fry. The Indiana Soybean Alliance is providing the fish, which are fed a soybean-based diet. The event is set for February 5 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Purdue University’s Agricultural Alumni Fish Fry on Saturday, February 5, 2011 will once again feature Bell Perch, an Indiana farm-raised yellow perch, thanks to Indiana soybean farmers.
This is the third year that the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) has provided fish from Indiana-based Bell Perch — the nation’s largest yellow perch fish farm – to the menu for Purdue’s oldest and largest constituent alumni meeting which takes place on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
“It’s exciting to be able to feature soybean-fed Indiana-grown Yellow Perch again this year at the Purdue Fish Fry,” said Lynn Teel, ISA president and White County farmer. “Soybeans are a main feed ingredient for the entire livestock industry and we - Indiana soybean checkoff - work hard year round to support and help the pork, poultry, egg, dairy and beef industries grow, but it's just fun to be able to bring fish back to the Fish Fry.”
While other soybean checkoffs – including United Soybean Board – have been focused on international aquaculture for years, ISA’s decision to concentrate on building an in-state aquaculture industry is unique. ISA’s farmer-directors see an opportunity to grow a local market for soybeans through aquaculture. The investment of checkoff dollars could result in an increase in demand for Indiana soybeans closer to home, reducing transportation costs and therefore increasing profits.
“Indiana soybean farmers have been funding an aquaculture initiative at ISA for the last three years with the hopes of building an in-state aquaculture industry that utilizes their soybeans close to home,” said Dr. Steve Hart, ISA aquaculture director. “The Fish Fry is a great opportunity to showcase a domestically-raised fish that can be fed a soybean-based diet which provides the fish with a great high-protein alternative to expensive fish meal.”
ISA is currently funding species-specific feeding trials for yellow perch to determine the best percentage of soybean meal to include in their diet for optimal efficiency. This work is being done at Bell Aquaculture’s Albany, Ind. facility in cooperation with researchers at Purdue University. While research exists on replacing fish meal with soybean meal in other fish species, Indiana’s trials focus on yellow perch.
“It’s important to do the species-specific research so that the fish uses the feed as efficiently as possible,” said Hart.