Germplasm Release: ARS Stoneville releasing 'Delta Elite' broodfish, fingerlings.

Authors: Bosworth, Brian; Waldbieser, Geoffrey - Geoff

Submitted to: The Catfish Journal
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2020
Publication Date: 4/1/2020
Citation: Bosworth, B.G., Waldbieser, G.C. 2020. Germplasm Release: ARS Stoneville releasing 'Delta Elite' broodfish, fingerlings.. The Catfish Journal. 34(2):23.

Interpretive Summary: The mission of the Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit (WARU), USDA-ARS, includes development of improved catfish germplasm for release to U.S. catfish farmers. Two blue catfish strains referred to as the Rio Grande and the Delta Elite were evaluated and developed at WARU. The U.S. catfish industry has transitioned from being based on 100 % of production of channel catfish to currently about 60% blue catfish x channel catfish hybrid production. Therefore evaluation and release of blue catfish germplasm is important to the U.S. catfish industry. Evaluations indicate the Rio Grande strain and hybrids produced from this strain have from 10 to 20 % faster growth and 0.5 to 1 % higher carcass yield than other blue catfish strains. The Delta Elite is a composite created by crossbreeding the four best strains of blue catfish of seven strains evaluated at WARU and provides U.S. catfish farmers with a more genetically diverse strain of blue catfish. Increased growth rate will reduce the time to harvest and increase the pounds of fish produced which will improve production efficiency and profits for catfish farmers. The germplasm release was publicly announced in the November/December issue of 'The Catfish Journal, 34(2):23'. The release was conducted during April of 2020 and affected a large proportion of the catfish fingerling producers as 7 of 8 of the hatcheries accounting for the majority of hybrid catfish fingerling production in the U.S. received WARU germplasm. The release of the Rio Grande and Delta Elite strains of blue catfish germplasm will allow U.S. catfish farmers to be more competitive in a global market.

Technical Abstract: The mission of the Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit (WARU), USDA-ARS, includes development of improved catfish germplasm for release to U.S. catfish farmers. Two blue catfish strains referred to as the Rio Grande and the Delta Elite were evaluated and developed at WARU. The U.S. catfish industry has transitioned from being based on 100 % of production of channel catfish to currently about 60% blue catfish x channel catfish hybrid production. Therefore evaluation and release of blue catfish germplasm is important to the U.S. catfish industry. Evaluations indicate the Rio Grande strain and hybrids produced from this strain have from 10 to 20 % faster growth and 0.5 to 1 % higher carcass yield than other blue catfish strains. The Delta Elite is a composite created by crossbreeding the four best strains of blue catfish of seven strains evaluated at WARU and provides U.S. catfish farmers with a more genetically diverse strain of blue catfish. Increased growth rate will reduce the time to harvest and increase the pounds of fish produced which will improve production efficiency and profits for catfish farmers. The germplasm release was publicly announced in the November/December issue of 'The Catfish Journal, 34(2):23'. The release was conducted during April of 2020 and affected a large proportion of the catfish fingerling producers as 7 of 8 of the hatcheries accounting for the majority of hybrid catfish fingerling production in the U.S. received WARU germplasm. The release of the Rio Grande and Delta Elite strains of blue catfish germplasm will allow U.S. catfish farmers to be more competitive in a global market.