Growth, Yield, Dressout, and Net Returns of Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis Stocked at Three Densities in Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Ponds

Abstract— Alternative fish species that can be cultured together with catfish Ictalurus punctatus provide an opportunity to diversify caffish farms. A 2-yr study was conducted in 0.10-ha earthen ponds to evaluate the effect of bighead carp (BHC) stocking density on growth, yield, dressout yield, and net returns. Initially, bighead carp (average weight of 22 g) were stocked at rates of 380, 750, or 1,130 fishha in ponds with catfish. Caffish were cultured under commercial conditions by stocking caffish at a density of 12,500/ha, aerating nightly and feeding at an average rate of 82 kgha per d. Stocking rates for 2-yr-old fish were reduced to 77, 260, and 435/ha in the second growing season. There were no significant differences among treatments ( P > 0.05) in summer growth of bighead carp in either year. Bighead carp stocked at 1,130 fishha had significantly higher yields than those stocked at 380/ha, but did not reach minimum market size of 2.2 kg during the first year ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences ( P > 0.05) in caffish growth, yield, survival, or feed conversion ratios due to the bighead carp stocking densities. Partial budget analysis indicated that net benefits were positive for all three treatments over a range of prevailing prices of bighead carp. Bighead carp production in catfish ponds is economically feasible over a wide range of prices. Given the market risk of producing smaller fish at the higher density, the medium density is the preferred stocking density of fingerling bighead carp in catfish ponds.     

Effects of feeding rates on growth and production of Nile tilapia, common carp and silver carp polycultured in fertilized ponds

Abstract In an attempt to identify appropriate feeding rates for multispecies of fish raised in fertilized earthen ponds, the present work was conducted over a 19‐week experimental period to establish the growth performance, production and body composition of Nile tilapia, common carp and silver carp fed 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 3.0%, 5.0% biomass and to apparent satiation (treatments). Twelve ponds were stocked with a similar number and weight of each fish species. Two ponds were assigned to each of the treatments, and a 25% protein pelleted fish feed was used to feed fish at the specified rate of feeding. At the end of the experiment, growth, weight gain, survival, yield and body composition of fish groups were affected by the treatments. The economic effectiveness also varied among treatments. The most conspicuous attribute of the feeding rates was its lack of influence on growth (g day^?1), weight gain (g per fish), yield (kg ha^?1) or body composition of silver carp. The results of whole‐body proximate analysis indicated that various feeding rates had either an irregular pattern or no effects on the protein and ash gain per 100 g of fish body weight (bw) gain. The most notable exceptions were significant (P < 0.05) increases in body fat and gross energy gains in Nile tilapia, common carp and silver carp accompanied by decreases in percentages of moisture (but not in silver carp) as feeding rate increased. Among the six different feeding levels, feeding to apparent satiation (feed amount was equivalent to 2.67% of fish bw day^?1) appeared to be optimal, as it significantly (P < 0.05) supported the highest fish production, income and net profit compared with all other treatments except for the 3% feeding level, for which the differences in those measurements were comparable.     

Influence of duration of aeration on growth and survival of carp fingerlings during high density seed rearing

Impact of varied durations of aeration on growth, survival and production performances of catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita), fringe lipped carp (Labeo fimbriatus) and olive barb (Puntius sarana) were evaluated in outdoor concrete tanks (10 m × 5 m × 1.3 m) during fingerlings rearing. At a combined stocking density of 0.5 million fry/ha, provision of night time aeration for 4, 8 and 12 h was evaluated as the three treatments, T-I, T-II and T-III, respectively against control (T-c, without aeration). Overall survival and net biomass of the species increased among the treatments significantly as a function of aeration hours (T-c < T-I < T-II < T-III). Aeration for 8 and 12 h showed significantly higher survival, harvested body weight and SGR in all the carps than those with 4 h (T-I) and no aeration (T-c), suggesting 8–12 h of aeration requirement for fingerlings rearing at such high density. Further, no significant difference between survival levels in T-II and T-III groups suggested 8 h of aeration to be adequate. However, while species-wise performance showed 8–12 h night time aeration to be advantageous for catla and rohu, aeration for 4 h was adequate for fringe lipped carp and olive barb.     

Growth, Yield, Dressout, and Net Returns of Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis Stocked at Three Densities in Fertilized Earthen Ponds

Abstract.— Bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis have been raised in the United States for two decades and sold through the livehaul market, but their profitability in monoculture has not been evaluated. Three studies were conducted in 0.10-ha earthen ponds to evaluate the effect of bighead carp stocking density on growth, yield, dressout yield. and net returns. Initially, bighead carp (average weight of 0.36 kg) were stocked at rates of 500, 320, or 130 fish/ha with three replicates of each treatment. Stocking rates for 2-yr-old fish (average weight of 2.45 kg) were reduced to 320, 220, or 130 fish/ha in the second year. Net yields of bighead carp stocked at 500 fish/ha (963 kg/ha) were significantly higher ( P < 0.05) than net yields at the 320 fishha density (771 kg/ha), and these were significantly greater ( P < 0.05) than net yields at 130 fish/ha (369 kg/ha) in the first growing season. Net yields in the second growing season were not significantly different ( P > 0.05) among densities. There were no significant differences ( P > 0.05) among treatments in yearly growth which ranged from 11–17 g/d in the first and from 6–13 g/d in the second growing season. Dressout percentages for whole-dressed, steak, shank fillet, and shank fillets with white meat only did not differ with stocking density ( P > 0.05). Enterprise and partial budget analysis indicated that monoculture of bighead carp in fertilized ponds is profitable only in the short run at average livehaul market prices, because revenues exceeded variable but not fixed costs. The negative net returns, when all costs were accounted for, indicated that it is not profitable to construct ponds solely for monoculture of bighead carp.     

Effects of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) stocking and artificial feeding on water quality and production in rohu–common carp bi‐culture ponds

Previous research showed that stocking 1.5 rohu (Labeo rohita) and 0.5 common carp (Cyprinus carpio) m⁻² yields the highest production in small holder ponds in Bangladesh. The present study looked into the effects of additional stocking of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis nilotica) in fed or non‐fed ponds on water quality and fish production. A low, additional stocking density of 0.2 Nile tilapia m⁻² was tested. All treatments were executed in triplicate in 100 m² ponds and the duration of the experiment was 4.5 months. The results showed that tilapia addition increased nutrient concentrations and reduced total suspended solid concentration and phytoplankton biomass (P<0.05). Tilapia stocking resulted in additional production without affecting the growth and production of rohu and common carp. Supplemental feeding increased the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, phytoplankton availability and the growth and production of rohu and common carp (P<0.01). The combination of supplemental feeding and tilapia stocking resulted in a higher net yield than the other treatments (P<0.05). Stocking 1.5 rohu, 0.5 common carp and 0.2 tilapia m⁻² in fed‐ponds is a good culture combination for polyculture farmers in South Asia.     

Intensive polyculture of fish in freshwater ponds. I. Substitution of expensive feeds by liquid cow manure

In 1974 and 1975 nine experimental treatments of fish polyculture in stagnant water ponds without aeration were conducted at Dor. The polyculture was composed of common carp, silver carp, white amur (grass carp) and Tilapia. The treatments differed in stocking densities, feeding and manuring levels. The most productive treatment of the experiment, in which the fish were fed with protein-rich pellets, produced 50 kg/ha per day, probably a record for unaerated ponds of stagnant water. Two treatments (low and high stocking densities) fed exclusively with liquid cow manure produced an average yield of around 32 kg/ha per day. The yields of the treatments receiving high-protein pellets exceeded those of the treatments receiving grain pellets by 20 and 9.6 kg/day per ha, at high and low stocking densities, respectively, and in both cases the yield increments justified the extra cost of high-protein feed. The responses of the four fish species to the different levels of feeding and stocking densities were widely different. The common carp and white amur showed the greatest responses to increased feeding inputs while the silver carp and Tilapia, even at high densities, have done equally well at low feeding levels. Total body fat contents of the common carp were 20%, 15% and 6.2% when fed with high-protein pellets, grains pellets and liquid cow manure, respectively. Intermittent harvesting did not result in increased yields.     

Effect of Time of Feeding on Growth of Channel Catfish1

Channel catfish fingerlings were stocked into 16 0.04-ha ponds at a rate of 24,700 fish/ha on 5 May 1992. Four replicate ponds were used for each of the following treatments: 1) fed once daily at 0830h; 2) fed once daily at 1600h; 3) fed once daily at 2000h; and 4) fed on demand using demand feeders. Fish on the first three treatments were fed to satiation. All fish were harvested 145d after stocking. Results from this study showed that when channel catfish raised in ponds were fed once daily to satiation, time of feeding had no significant impact on water quality, feed consumption, feed conversion, weight gain, or body proximate composition. Fish fed on demand consumed more feed than fish fed once daily to satiation, but difference in weight gain was not significant. These data indicated that feeding time may not be critical for channel catfish production as long as fish are fed when dissolved oxygen is sufficient. Although feeding at night was not detrimental in this study, night feeding is not recommended on large ponds unless sufficient aeration is available to quickly provide oxygen in an emergency—and even then it would be problematic.     

微生态制剂对鲤、鲫和草鱼养殖池塘效益的影响

以枯草芽孢杆菌为主的主要用于促进鱼类消化生长的微生态制剂I、多种混合微生物主要用于调节水质的微生态制剂II,或是两者混合使用的方法,比较研究了黑龙江省及辽宁省池塘养殖的鲤（Cyprinus carpio）、鲫（Carassius auratus）和草鱼（Ctenophyargodon idellus）的增重率、饲料系数及药价等效益。结果表明,单种或者混合使用微生态制剂均对池塘养殖鲤及草鱼的增重率、饵料系数及用药价格有一定影响,同时使用两种微生态制剂提高鱼类增重率最显著,辽宁省和黑龙江省分别提高了423.57%和90%;而两省养殖池塘的药价也分别降低了29%和56.25%。微生态制剂I及混合同时使用两种微生态制剂均能显著降低饲料系数,辽宁及黑龙江分别降低0.35及0.05。结果可见,适当使用微生态制剂对辽宁草鱼及黑龙江池塘养鲤效益有较好影响,对减少用药、发展绿色养殖业具极大的推动作用。     

Yield characteristics of prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), with fish polycultures at low feeding rates

Abstract. As currently practiced, freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), aquaculture in Hawaii requires large inputs of supplementary feed, water and labour. The high cost of these inputs greatly restricts profit potential. An experiment was conducted to compare an alternative prawn production system which used lower feeding rates and fish polycultures to reduce inputs. Three treatments were run in quadruplicate: (1) control—prawns stocked at standard densities (11.5 per n2) in monoculture and fed standard prawn pellets at the commercial ration recommendations by New & Singholka (1982); (2) low feed—prawns at standard densities and fish [silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes), grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes), and grey mullet, Mugil cephalus (L.)] fed one-half commercial ration; and (3) maintenance feed—prawns at standard densities and fish fed one-tenth commercial ration. Although prawn yield characteristics (mean weights, harvestable sizes, survival, net yields) were not significantly different (P > 0.05) based on an analysis of variance in the three treatments over the approximately 9.5-month culture period, this lack of significance most likely resulted from interpond variability and the lack of a large number of replicates. The relatively poor survival (60–63%) of gray mullet and an almost twofold difference in prawn yields in the control and maintenance feed treatments suggest that there was in fact competition for resources in the nominally polyculture systems. Nevertheless, the wet weight yield of biomass from all species was twice as high in the low feed ponds as in the control ponds.     

Growth and Food Habits of Cage-Cultured Bighead Carp x Silver Carp Hybrids in Ponds of Varying Trophic Status

Four 20m³ cages stocked with 120 bighead carp x silver carp hybrids per cage were placed in each of four ponds varying in trophic status from mesotrophic to hypereutophic. Fish were cultured, without feeding, from 13 March to 1 Octorber 1987. Fish in the mesotrophic pond survived but lost weight (-0.37 g/fish/d). The mesotrophic pond produced insufficient food to sustain fish growth. Maximum fish growth rate occured in the two eutotrophic ponds (6.61vand 7/04 g/fish/d). Fish growth in the hypereutrophic pond was about one-half (3.64 g/fish/d) that in the two eutrophic ponds. Guy analysis of fish in the hypereutrophic pond revealed consumption of larger quantities (P < 0.05) of colonial blue-green algae that were apparently poorly digested and less (P < 0.05) zooplankton (primarily cladocerans) than was found in fish from the eutrophic ponds.     

主养草鱼池塘三种混养模式鱼类生长和效益的比较

为进一步提高我国广大池塘养鱼的产品质量、经济效益和改善其生态环境。本试验在武汉新洲973项目实验基地9个陆基鱼池中进行了三种不同混养模式鱼类生长和效益的比较研究,每种模式设3个重复。模式Ⅰ中放养草鱼、鲢、鳙和高背鲫;模式Ⅱ中放养草鱼、鲢、鳙、匙吻鲟和高背鲫;模式Ⅲ中放养草鱼、鲢和高背鲫。 结果表明：通过122d的养殖试验,模式Ⅱ中草鱼的生长不仅显著高于模式Ⅰ和模式Ⅲ（P<0.05）,而且其经济效益模式Ⅱ同样高于模式Ⅰ和模式Ⅲ。     

Effect of mixed feeding schedules with varying dietary protein levels on the growth of sutchi catfish, Pangasius hypophthalmus (Sauvage) with silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) in ponds

A 6‐month feeding trial was conducted in field condition using 10 farm ponds (400–600 m²) to investigate the effect of mixed feeding schedules on the growth of sutchi catfish, Pangasius hypophthalmus with silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. Fish were stocked at a ratio of 80:20 (sutchi catfish, 4.9±0.5 g: silver carp, 12.0±0.8 g) at the total rate of 25 000 ha^?1. Two diets of high protein (30%, HP) and low protein (16%, LP) were prepared using locally available feed ingredients. Five different feeding schedules of high‐protein diet continuously (HP), low‐protein diet continuously (LP), 1‐day low–protein/1‐day high‐protein diet (1LP/1HP), 7 days low–protein/7 days high‐protein diet (7LP/7HP) and 14 days low–protein/14 days high‐protein diet (14LP/14HP) were tested. The fish were fed twice daily at the rate of 15%, 10%, 8% and 5% of their body weight for first, second, third month and rest of experimental period respectively. Feeding rate was calculated only on the basis of sutchi catfish weight only and was adjusted every 2 weeks according to weight gain. Fish fed LP and HP on alternate day (1LP/1HP) resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher growth rate, feed utilization and production among the treatments. However, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the growth rates and production of fish fed HP regularly and fish fed 7 days LP followed by 7 days HP (7LP/7HP). Fish maintained on LP grew the least. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) values for sutchi catfish ranged between 2.04 and 2.79 with feeding schedule 1LP/1HP showing the best FCR. The total production of fish (including silver carp) ranged between 8310 and 12 422 kg ha^?1 6 months^?1 with 1LP/1HP feeding schedule resulting in the highest production and net profit. The study demonstrated that feeding fish continuously with HP is less economical. Thus, for profitable sutchi catfish culture with silver carp, farmers can use the mixed feeding schedule of alternate day feeding of LP and HP as a means of reducing feed costs.     

Limnological Factors Influencing Growth of Cage-Cultured Bighead Carp ♀ x Silver Carp ♂ Hybrids

Four 2-m³ cages each stocked with 120 bighead carp ♀ X silver carp ♂ hybrids were placed in each of four ponds varying in trophic status from mesotrophic to hypereutrophic. Fish were cultured, without feeding, from 13 March to 1 October, 1987. All fish survived but lost weight (-0.37 g/fish/day) in the mesotrophic pond. Maximum fish growth rate occured in the two eutrophic ponds (6.61 and 7.04 g/fish/day). Fish growth in the hypereutrophic pond was about one-half (3.64 g/fish/day) that in the two eutrophic ponds until a sudden thermal destratification and dissolved oxygen depletion killed all the fish. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that gross phytoplankton primary productivity accounted for 68% of the variation in fish weight gain (R² = 0.68; P < 0.0001) in all ponds. When eliminating primary productivity data from the statistical model, number of algal taxa comprising phytoplankton communities explained 49% of the variation in fish growth (R² = 0.49; P < 0.0001). Conditions of hypereutrophy believed to be detrimental to fish growth were: a decline in cladoceran density; a preponderance of blue-green algae, especially colonial forms with mucilaginous sheaths; a shift from numerous, relatively small plankton algal taxa to fewer but larger forms; degraded water quality.     

Relative growth,survival and harvestability of bighead carp,silver carp,and their reciprocal hybrids

Growth and survival in the primary rearing phase (42 days) for bighead carp, silver carp, bighead × silver carp (BHC × SC), and silver × bighead carp (SC × BHC) in ponds and concrete tanks stocked at 370 500 fry/ha were studied. Mean survival for fishes in ponds was 93%, that in tanks was 73%. Yields among all fishes averaged 338 kg/ha. The growth rates of fishes in ponds were similar; in tanks, silver carp grew faster than the bighead carp.Growth, survival, and harvestability by seine during the secondary rearing phase (60-day duration) for the same groups of fish were studied. Fingerlings (0.9 g mean weight) were stocked in earthen ponds at 49 400 fish/ha and 98 800 fish/ha. Mean survival of fishes at low stocking rate was 77%, similar to that (71%) for the high stocking rate. Fish yields were similar at the low stocking rate. At the high rate, the BHC × SC yield (846 kg/ha) was greater than the SC × BHC yield (582 kg/ha). The BHC × SC and SC × BHC had greater mean weights at low stocking rate than at high stocking rate. The mean weights for bighead carp were similar at both rates. Bighead carp and the reciprocal hybrids were more easily harvested by seine than silver carp.     

Integrated Duck-cum-Fish Farming in Bangladesh

An experiment on integrated duck-cum-fish farming was conducted in 11 ponds of 0.1 ha each at the Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Khaki Campbell layer ducks Anas platyrhychos were housed directly over the pond water surface at 200, 400 and 500 dncks/ha. Each density had three replicate ponds and two ponds had no ducks. Fish fingerlings were stocked at a total density of 8,850/ha. The species composition was silver carp Hypophthalmicthys molitrix 33.9%; catla Catla catla 12.4%; rohu Labeo rohita 18.1%; mrigal Cirrhina mrigala 28.8%. grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella 1.4% and sor puti Puntius gonlonotus 5.4%. The fish were not given any supplemental feed, and the ponds were not fertilized except for the split duck feed and duck manure falling directly into the ponds. Ducks were fed with a feed formulated from locally available ingredients.
After one year the fish were harvested. The yield of fish increased with an increase in duck density. Highest net fish production of 4,250 kg/ha/yr was obtained from ponds with 500 ducks/ ha, compared to 490 kg/ha/yr from the control ponds. Manure of each duck contributed a net fish yield of 6.9–7.5/yr. Average egg production was 237 eggs per female duck per year. Economic analysis of the technology showed a net profit of about 100% of the total costs, indicating the economic viability of the technology.     

Effect of understocking density of channel catfish fingerlings in intensively aerated multiple‐batch production

Multiple‐batch production is the most widely practiced method of raising channel catfish. Producers are increasingly adopting intensified production practices in multiple‐batch systems by increasing stocking density and aeration rates as a means to improve cost efficiencies. Proven stocking recommendations are required for the efficient implementation of recent developments in multiple‐batch production. Twelve 0.4‐ha ponds were understocked with 17,484, 20,612, and 26,124 fingerlings/ha (mean weight = 40 g/fish) over equal weights of carryover fish (0.46 kg/fish @ 4,589 kg/ha). Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation with a 28% protein floating feed and aerated with a single 7.4‐kW electric paddlewheel aerator. Density‐dependent significant differences were absent for gross, net, daily net yields, marketable yields (≥0.54 kg), growth (g/day), and survival. Sub‐marketable yield (<0.54 kg) and feeding rate increased significantly with increased understocking density. Economic analysis revealed increased breakeven prices and diminished net returns with increased stocking density when sub‐marketable fish were not considered as revenue. These differences in production costs and profits among the three treatments became minimal when sub‐marketable fish were included as revenue. All three density treatments attained positive annual net cash flows. This study validates channel catfish understocking densities of 17,000–26,000 fish/ha to improve cost efficiency in intensively aerated, multiple‐batch production systems.     

Seasonal production of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in ponds using different feeding practices

Abstract. In temperate regions of North America, the culture of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in ponds is constrained to the period mid-November to early April by water temperature. Feeding practice may influence production time. The effects of three feeding practices on growth and body composition of rainbow trout raised in ponds during a 142-day winter growth period were investigated. Feeding practices were (1) hand-feeding to satiation, (2) feeding according to a fish size/water temperature chart, and (3) feeding by demand feeder.
Fish fed to satiation consumed 66% more diet than fish fed according to a feeding chart and 163% more than fish fed by demand feeders. Fish fed to satiation had significantly higher (P < 0·05) weight gain, harvest weight, specific growth rate, and protein gain with no significant increase (P > 0·05) in percentage body fat or feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the other two treatments. Survival percentage did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) between treatments. These data indicate that by using satiation feeding, marketable size rainbow trout can be produced in temperate region ponds without increases in percentage body fat or FCR.     

Effects of feeding frequency, moist and dry feeds on the growth of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus Lacépède and on pond water quality

To examine the effects of different feeding frequencies, moist and dry feeds on the growth of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus Lacépède and on water quality of freshwater ponds, two experiments were conducted. In one experiment, fish stocked at the same densities were subjected to three different feeding regimes using equal quantities of feed. Water quality was monitored and fish growth in the different treatments was compared. To determine the effects of moist and dry feeds, fish growth and water quality in one set of ponds fed with 5% body weight of dry feed were compared to those in another set of ponds stocked at the same rate but fed with 5% body weight of moist feed. Feeding once a day produced the greatest weight gain but fish fed once on alternate days had the best feed conversion, which was associated with pond water that had the highest dissolved oxygen. This suggests that feeding once on alternate days could be adopted as a strategy for feeding fish under unfavourable conditions. Water quality of ponds holding fish fed dry feed was better than that of ponds holding fish fed moist feed, as indicated by oxygen, carbon dioxide and ammonia contents. A highly significant difference in growth (P < 0.01) was found between fish fed moist and dry with feeds: fish performed better when fed with dry feeds.     

Carp feeding activity and habitat utilisation in relation to supplementary feeding in a semi-intensive aquaculture pond

A combination of radio telemetry and electrofishing was used to assess seasonal feeding activity and habitat utilisation of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a large (130 ha) semi-intensive aquaculture pond receiving supplementary feed. While telemetry indicated no difference in fish habitat utilisation by size, age or sample year, all fish showed a strong preference for the supplementary feed area (SFA) during the feeding period, electrofishing indicating a 15× higher fish concentration. Despite this, not all of the feed provided was eaten immediately. Carp activity was more evenly spread over the pond in summer/autumn and more concentrated at the SFA in spring. There was a significant shift to deeper waters in winter. Diet analysis indicated a high preponderance of cereal in SFA fish, with natural food (mainly zooplankton) dominant at natural feeding areas. The proportion of ‘emergency’ food (e.g. detritus) was similar in both areas, as was the index of gut fullness. Our results confirm that concentrated and repeated supplementary feeding in one area results in aggregation of carp, potentially leading to uneven population growth and flesh quality and reduced water quality from turbidity and increased nutrient input. As an alternative, we suggest spreading less supplemental feed over a greater area at wider time intervals. This would ensure (a) full utilisation of feed, reducing costs and increasing water quality, and (b) more homogenous fish distribution, ensuring more efficient use of natural food, reduced turbidity, more homogenous size/weight distribution and improved product quality.     

Effect of Multiple-batch Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Stocking Density and Feeding Rate on Water Quality, Production Characteristics, and Costs

To quantitatively define relationships among stocking densities, feeding rates, water quality, and production costs for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, grown in multiple‐batch systems, twelve 0.1‐ha earthen ponds were stocked at 8,600, 17,300, 26,000, or 34,600 fingerlings/ha along with 2,268 kg/ha of carryover fish. Fish in all ponds were fed daily to apparent satiation using 32% protein floating feed. Temperature and dissolved oxygen in each pond were monitored twice daily; pH weekly; nitrite‐N, total ammonia nitrogen, and Secchi disk visibility every 2 wk; nitrate‐N, chlorophyll a, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand monthly; and chloride every other month. The costs of producing channel catfish at different stocking densities were estimated. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) as a result of stocking density among treatment means of (1) gross or net yields, (2) mean weights at harvest, and (3) growth or survival of fingerlings (24–36%) and carryover fish (77–94%). Mean and maximum daily feeding rates ranged from 40 to 53 kg/ha/d and 123 to 188 kg/ha/d, respectively, and feed conversion ratios averaged 1.75. There were no differences in any feed‐related parameter as a result of density. Water quality variables showed few differences among densities at samplings and no differences when averaged across the production season. Yield of fingerlings increased as stocking density increased with significant differences between the two highest and the two lowest stocking densities. Breakeven prices were lower at the higher stocking densities as a result of the higher yield of understocked fish and similar mean individual fish weights produced at these higher stocking densities. Overall, varying stocking densities of fingerlings in multiple‐batch systems had little effect on production efficiency and water quality. Additional research on managing the population structure of carryover fish in commercial catfish ponds may be warranted.