Germplasm Release: ARS sets release of Delta Select broodfish, fingerlings

Authors: Bosworth, Brian; Waldbieser, Geoffrey - Geoff

Submitted to: The Catfish Journal
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2019
Publication Date: 12/1/2019
Citation: Bosworth, B.G., Waldbieser, G.C. 2019. Germplasm Release: ARS sets release of Delta Select broodfish, fingerlings. The Catfish Journal. 33(6):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. A channel catfish strain referred to as the Delta Select was developed by three generations of selection for increased growth and carcass yield. Trials at WARU have shown improvements of about 25% in growth rate and 0.9% in meat yield relative to the unselected population the fish were derived from. 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 0.9% increase in carcass yield, if realized across the industry, would produce an additional 3 million pounds of fillets worth approximately 12 million dollars annually. The germplasm release was publicly announced in the November/December issue of 'The Catfish Journal; 33(6):23'. The release was conducted during March of 2020 and affected a large proportion of the catfish fingerling producers as 12 of 15 of the hatcheries accounting for the majority of channel catfish fingerling production in the U.S. received WARU-selected germplasm. The release of the Delta Select channel 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. A channel catfish strain referred to as the Delta Select was developed by three generations of selection for increased growth and carcass yield. Trials at WARU have shown improvements of about 25% in growth rate and 0.9% in meat yield relative to the unselected population the fish were derived from. 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 0.9% increase in carcass yield, if realized across the industry, would produce an additional 3 million pounds of fillets worth approximately 12 million dollars annually. The germplasm release was publicly announced in the November/December issue of 'The Catfish Journal; 33(6):23'. The release was conducted during March of 2020 and affected a large proportion of the catfish fingerling producers as 12 of 15 of the hatcheries accounting for the majority of channel catfish fingerling production in the U.S. received WARU-selected germplasm. The release of the Delta Select channel catfish germplasm will allow U.S. catfish farmers to be more competitive in a global market.