Growth and Feed Conversion Ratio of Pond‐Raised Hybrid Catfish Harvested at Different Sizes

Abstract

AbstractA study was conducted to examine growth and feed conversion ratios (FCRs) of pond‐raised hybrid catfish (Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus×Blue Catfish I. furcatus) harvested at different sizes. Fingerling hybrid catfish (initial weight per fish, mean±SD = 62±2.0 g) were stocked into 25 earthen ponds (0.04 ha each) at a density of 14,826 fish/ha. Fish were fed daily to apparent satiation with a commercial 28% protein feed. When fish reached a predetermined weight (0.454, 0.680, 0.907, 1.361, or 1.814 kg/fish), they were harvested. Fish grown to 0.46 kg and 0.70 kg during the first season had FCRs of 1.61 and 1.59, respectively. Fish carried over for a second season of growth were harvested at mean weights of 0.85, 1.43, and 2.01 kg/fish, respectively. The FCRs of these fish, 1.97, 2.10, and 1.93, respectively, were significantly higher than those of fish harvested in first season. These results suggest it is generally more cost effective to harvest food‐size hybrid catfish after one season because of their increased FCR the following year. However, if fish are raised to be marketed for large fillets, hybrid catfish appear to be a good choice because they continue to grow and utilize feed relatively well in a second season.