Comparison of Mass Selection, Crossbreeding, and Hybridization for Improving Growth of Channel Catfish

Abstract

Abstract The fastest-growing catfish populations resulting from mass selection, intraspecific crossbreeding, and interspecific hybridization were compared for growth rate. Kansas select (KS) and female Marion x male Kansas (MK) channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were compared to three populations of female channel catfish x male blue catfish (I. furcatus) (CB) hybrids. Growth rate was evaluated during the first two seasons of growth in earthen ponds. The MK and KS fish grew faster to 100 g (P < 0.05) than CB fish during the first season, but CB fish grew faster than MK and KS fish during the second season. When the fish were harvested at the end of the second season, CB fish were slightly larger (1.3%) than KS fish, but did not differ in body weight from MK fish. Differences in body weight were also found among CB hybrids produced from different parental strains or families. The fastest-growing fish were MK x Auburn select blue catfish. Survival of the hybrids was higher than that of KS and MK fish.