Recent improvements in catfish hatcheries not only changed the type of catfish to be raised but also how they are raised

Authors: Chatakondi, Nagaraj

Submitted to: American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2015
Publication Date: 8/16/2015
Citation: Chatakondi, N.G. 2015. Recent improvements in catfish hatcheries not only changed the type of catfish to be raised but also how they are raised. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting. P. 864.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Disease, low survival, and increased feed costs coupled with an influx of cheap foreign catfish declined the US farm-raised catfish production by over 50% in the last decade. Farm efficiency can be improved by development and use of catfish with enhanced performance characteristics. Hybrid catfish produced by crossing channel catfish females with blue catfish males is a superior fish that exhibit heterotic growth, survival, feed conversion and fillet yield compared to commonly raised channel catfish. Based on research and on-farm field trials, farm production can be doubled and feed efficiency improved 25-35% by raising hybrid catfish in catfish ponds. Hybrid catfish can tolerate reduced water quality, common stressors and raised in high densities, aptly suitable for intensive production systems. In the last 6 years, hormone-induced spawning, hatching techniques, and availability of genetically improved parental species have increased production from fewer than 30 million to more than 175 million fry in catfish hatcheries. This presentation will highlight the recent improvements in hatchery production of hybrid catfish in commercial hatcheries, which has prompted 60% of the catfish farms to raise hybrid catfish in the US farm-raised catfish industry.