Economic analysis of overwinter feeding regimens for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Abstract

Overwintering is a major source of uncertainty for US catfish farmers, particularly decisions on feeding. To address this issue, economic analysis was undertaken using results from pond experiments. Three overwintering strategies (full‐feed, partial‐feed, and no‐feed) for two year classes of catfish were compared. Year 1 fin‐gerlings were 22 g and year 2 fish were 420 g at stocking. Winter feeding was based on temperature and body weight percentages; (1) full‐feeding followed the regime during the November to April period; (2) partial‐fed treatments followed the temperature/body weight regimen only during the months of November, March and April, with no feeding during the coldest months of December to February; and (3) no‐feeding treatments received no feed during the overwinter period. Cost and returns were estimated for each alternative and each alternative was assessed using: (1) overwinter period experimental results, (2) overwinter period experimental results extended through the grow‐out period, (3) overwinter period experimental results extended to minimally acceptable fish sizes, and (4) adjusted estimates to reflect commercial‐scale practices. Sensitivity analyses on feed conversion ratios, stocking rates and fish selling prices were also conducted on commercial‐scale enterprises. Results consistently showed partial‐fed overwinter practices to be most profitable. Secondly, year 1 fish always had higher returns than year 2 fish due largely to the additional overwintering period and associated variable and fixed costs incurred by the year 2 fish production practices. The data upon which this analysis was based do not include the possibility of having a harvest‐sized fish going into the winter period.