The relationship between channel catfish female body weight and relative fecundity and fry production when induced to ovulate with carp pituitary extract and fertilized with blue catfish sperm

Abstract

ABSTRACTLittle is known regarding the correlation between channel catfish female body weight and relative fecundity and fry production when the females are induced to ovulate with carp pituitary extract and fertilized with blue catfish sperm. A total of 145 female channel catfish were used in the early, middle, and late spawning season. Female body weight of channel catfish had negative correlations with relative fecundity (r = −0.33 and −0.25, P < .05; r = −0.23, P > .05) and before the late spawning season with fry/kg (r = −0.21, P > .05; r = −0.30, P < .05). Eggs/kg female body weight and fry/kg female body weight followed a parallel pattern throughout the season, illustrating the logical relationship between relative fecundity and fry output. The size of females used is a consideration to maximize hybrid catfish embryo production during the early and middle spawning season but not late in the spawning season. However, these correlations are relatively small even though significant; thus a dramatic change in fry production would not be predicted. Since reproductive relationships can change during the spawning season, conclusions and recommendations could be flawed if data are not collected periodically during an entire spawning season.