Variation analysis and sample size estimation for growth indicators during PIT-tag-assisted family construction of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags can be used to overcome environmental variations caused by individual fish tanks during family selection of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), which thus permits growth comparisons among different families under identical environmental conditions. Power analysis was used to analyse variations in various growth performance measures during PIT-tag-assisted family construction of channel catfish, and this allowed sample sizes to be estimated. The experimental data suggested that, for a particular fish species, when having a low variation coefficient of fish body weight at the time of PIT marking and maintaining consistent individual sizes, the sample size required during a family growth experiment could be effectively reduced. This present study lays a theoretical foundation for analyzing variations in growth performance indicators and estimating the sample sizes during PIT-tag-assisted family construction of fish experiments.