Control of reproduction in aquacultured species has benefited worldwide; can this strategy benefit U.S. farm-raised catfish too

Authors: Chatakondi, Nagaraj

Submitted to: Catfish Farmers of America Research Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2014
Publication Date: 2/27/2015
Citation: Chatakondi, N.G. 2015. Control of reproduction in aquacultured species has benefited worldwide; can this strategy benefit U.S. farm-raised catfish too. Catfish Farmers of America Research Symposium. P. 43.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Natural pond spawning of channel catfish is unreliable, unpredictable, and is dependent on environmental conditions. Male and female broodfish are typically held in the same pond for 2 or 3 years. Approximately 30-50% of the females and 10 percent of the males present in the pond participate in the mating process to produce spawns. It is hypothesized that randomly bred naturally produced progeny may have reduced genetic variability, appear to be less fit, and hence prone to stressors and disease prevailing under pond conditions, compared to controlled spawned (selectively bred) channel or hybrid catfish progeny. The present study was conducted in the ‘Delta’ strain of channel catfish at USDA ARS Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit, Stoneville, MS. Three breeding strategies: natural pond spawning of channel catfish (N Channel catfish), hormone-induced half-sib channel catfish (HI Channel catfish), and half-sib hybrid catfish (HI Hybrid catfish) were compared for reproductive and subsequent progeny performance traits. Seven families were evaluated per strategy, and four replicates per family were compared for performance traits. Fecundity and egg quality of N Channel catfish were higher than HI channel catfish and HI hybrid catfish. However, percent survival of N Channel catfish at 5, 30 and 400 days was lower (P<0.05) under controlled, pond tank, and Edwarseilla ictualuri (ESC) test conditions (Figure 1). The performance traits (growth and feed conversion) did not vary among the progeny produced by three breeding strategies. The results of this study suggest that HI Channel catfish and HI hybrid catfish improved fry production with improved survival under three environments. Hence, control of reproduction in channel catfish would facilitate timely hatchery production, improved survival and higher production performance.