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Production and Associated Economics of Fingerling‐to‐Stocker and Stocker‐to‐Grow‐Out Modular Phases for Farming Channel Catfish in Commercial‐Size Ponds
Author(s) -
D’Abramo Louis R.,
Hanson Terrill R.,
Kingsbury Susan K.,
Steeby James A.,
Tucker Craig S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
north american journal of aquaculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.432
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1548-8454
pISSN - 1522-2055
DOI - 10.1080/15222055.2012.722172
Subject(s) - catfish , ictalurus , biology , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , fish farming , fishery , feed conversion ratio , body weight , aquaculture , endocrinology
A 2‐year study was conducted to evaluate two phases (phase 2: fingerling to stocker; phase 3: stocker to grow out) of a three‐phase modular production system for Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in commercial‐scale ponds. Fingerlings (mean = 14.3 kg/1,000 fish; 11.9 cm TL) were stocked into each of six 1.62‐ha earthen ponds at a density of 123,500 fish/ha and were fed a 35% crude protein floating feed daily to satiation. After 142 d, the mean weight of harvested stockers ranged from 108.9 to 158.8 g and survival ranged from 38.8% to 62.0%. These fish were subsequently stocked (at either 12,350 or 16,055 fish/ha) into 1.62‐ha ponds for grow out to food‐size fish (≥567.5 kg) and were fed a 35% crude protein floating feed to satiation. A partial (selective) harvest was conducted at 105–130 d poststocking by using an in‐pond grader, and a final harvest was conducted at 207–245 d poststocking. Combined production means were 7,124 kg/ha for the 12,350‐fish/ha treatment and 7,210 kg/ha for the 16,055‐fish/ha treatment. Survival (range = 84.3–105.5%) and feed conversion ratios (range = 2.25–2.65) were not significantly different. Mean weight (659.5 g) and length (41.8 cm) of fish harvested from the 12,350‐fish/ha treatment ponds were significantly greater than those of fish harvested from the 16,055‐fish/ha treatment (474.8 g; 38.4 cm). Cost of producing a 142‐g stocker was $0.409. For the economic analysis, phase‐2 production area was based on producing sufficient stockers for all phase‐3 ponds within a representative 445‐ha operation. Enterprise budgets were developed for the 12,350‐ and 16,055‐fish/ha treatments; the incomes above variable cost were $1,450 and $108 per hectare, respectively, and net returns to land were $399 and −$943 per hectare, respectively. Low survival in phase‐2 stocker production reduced the returns. The three‐phase modular system should provide additional management benefits that were not valued in this analysis.