Private Hatcheries Research Articles

Sustainable production and dissemination of genetically improved farmed tilapia seed in smallholder farming systems: A case study from Timor-Leste

CONTEXTTimor-Leste's National Aquaculture Development Strategy (NADS) 2012–30 aims to achieve an annual aquaculture production of 12,000 tons by 2030 to raise per capita fish consumption from 6.1 kg in 2010 to 15 kg. Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) is identified as the most suitable species under Timor-Leste's existing farming systems and agro-ecological context. It is expected to account for two-thirds of total aquaculture production, requiring over 30 million fingerlings annually, necessitating a strong role of public and private sectors to develop a sustainable hatchery model for producing and supplying high quality GIFT fingerlings to fish farmers on a mass-scale. OBJECTIVEThe major objective was to conceptualize and apply a public-private partnership (PPP) model to produce and disseminate high-quality monosex GIFT seed by public and private hatcheries across Timor-Leste. METHODSModel GIFT hatcheries were established and monitored using a standard protocol developed by the R&D team. Data on total eggs, clutch size, incubation survival rate, swim-up fry, and monosex fry produced were recorded on a weekly basis. The performance of hatcheries was compared using descriptive statistics at a 5% level of significance. Economic analysis was conducted to compare production costs, gross profits, and net profits among hatcheries and nurseries. Enabling conditions and factors for effective PPP were identified. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe WorldFish, in collaboration with Timor-Leste's Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, upgraded an existing public hatchery in Gleno, Ermera, introduced GIFT in 2015, and developed it as a GIFT broodstock centre to supply quality brood fry to other hatcheries. To produce monosex seed on a mass-scale, four PPP model GIFT hatcheries were established between 2019 and 2023. Results from a public hatchery and two initially established PPP model hatcheries showed that the hatchery in Parlamento had significantly higher (P < 0.05) monthly production of eggs, swim-up fry, monosex fry, and clutch sizes. On average, over 177,000 monosex fry per month were produced by those three hatcheries. Local service providers (LSPs), self-employed youths who have been recruited and trained to facilitate input supply and output marketing, purchase GIFT fry from the hatcheries, nurse them to fingerling size, and supply them to farmers. To achieve high seed production and supply targets, scaling of PPP model hatcheries, nurseries, and LSPs along with effective training and technical back-up, favourable policies, institutional environments, and governance mechanisms, is necessary. SIGNIFICANCEThe PPP model GIFT hatcheries are scalable across inland farming systems in Timor-Leste and other countries with similar agro-ecological, socio-economic, and climatic contexts.

Use of Cryopreserved Sperm of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) for Seed Production at the Hatchery Level of Bangladesh-A Need for Development of Germplasm Repositories.

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), a freshwater nonnative fish species, is a potential aquaculture candidate in Bangladesh. The seed of the species is produced in the hatcheries by hypophysation, but the quality of seedstock of grass carp is deteriorated due to inbreeding, negative selection, and interspecific introgression among fishes. To increase the availability of quality seed and best genetic traits of grass carp, this study dealt with finding suitable conditions of sperm cryopreservation protocols and evaluated the effectiveness of cryopreserved sperm through breeding trials of C. idella. A broodstock population was developed from fingerlings imported from China by the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries. Sperm was collected from hormone-induced mature males, with an estimated concentration of 2.4 ± 0.3 × 1010 cells/mL and a pH of 8.3 ± 0.2. Sperm motility was evaluated in different concentrations of NaCl solution. The highest motility (96% ± 1%) and longest motility duration (22 ± 1 min) were achieved at 0.4% of NaCl (128 mOsmol/kg). The toxicity of DMSO and methanol at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% was evaluated for 5-40 min using Alsever's solution and egg yolk citrate. The highest motility was achieved during 5 and 10 min of incubation with cryoprotectants at 5% and 10%. Alsever's solution with 10% DMSO at 1:9 dilution with sperm produced the highest equilibration motility (93% ± 2%) and when cooled at 10°C/min yielded the highest postthaw motility (85% ± 3%). Fertilization of 24% ± 3% to 51% ± 2% and hatching of 18% ± 2% to 41% ± 2% were achieved by using cryopreserved sperm in six selected private hatcheries. The fertilization rate for fresh sperm sourced from hatchery-reared males was 64% ± 5% to 85% ± 3%, and the hatching rate ranged from 53% ± 6% to 74% ± 5%. Thus, the cryopreservation protocol of C. idella sperm was found to be feasible for fry production at commercial hatcheries, but further research is needed to improve the fertilization and hatching rates.

Effect of fermented soybean meal with probiotic and beta-glucan on some physiological and microbial traits of broiler chickens

The study aimed to investigate the effect of fermented soybean meal with probiotic and beta-glucan on some physiological and microbial traits of broiler chickens. The study was conducted from 12/2/2022 to 2/5/2022, at the animal field of the College of Agriculture, University of Basrah. This study included the manufacture of a device for fermenting soybean meal to raise its nutritional value by fermenting it, with probiotics or with beta-glucan. A total of 225 unsexed chicks, one day old, 40 gm broiler chickens Ross308 were used, they were prepared from one of the private hatcheries in Basra Governorate. The chicks were distributed randomly to five treatments, with three replicates (15 chicks per replicate), according to the Complete Random Design (CRD), the treatments were as follows; T0: Control treatment (basal diet), T1: added soybean meal with the addition of 0.5g/kg probiotics (without fermentation) to the basal diet. T2: added soybean meal with the addition of 0.5 g / kg+ 0.2% betaglucan (without fermentation) to the basal diet. T3: added fermented soybean meal with probiotic 0.5g/kg to the basal diet. T4: added fermented soybean meal 0.5g/kg+ 0.2% betaglucan to the basal diet. The results showed a significant increase in the percentage of total protein, albumin, globulin, and the number of lactobacillus bacteria, with a decrease in coliform bacteria of the fermented treatment and fortified with probiotic and beta-glucan compared to the control and non-fermented treatment.

FISH FARMING PRACTICES AND DISEASE OCCURRENCE IN THE FISH FARMS OF DHANUSHA DISTRICT, NEPAL

Dhanusha is one of the leading fish producing districts in Nepal and the fish farming is increasing in the district to establish the district as a ‘Fisheries center’. However, with the increasing fish farming and intensity, a number of diseases find their way to the farm which may hinder the progress of fish farming. Present study was carried out to assess the fish farming practices and the disease occurrence across the fish farms of Dhanusha district. Questionnaire-based personal interviews were conducted with 64-fish farmers selected from all over the district using simple random sampling. Majority of the respondents were males (89.1%), in the active age group of 30-50 years (71.9%), with average experience of more than 15 years (39%) in fish farming. The widely adopted farming system was Carp polyculture, however, some of the farmers also culture other species like Pangas, African catfish, Rupchand, Puntius etc. Only earthen ponds were common with water depths of 5-7 ft (54.7%). Majority of the respondents relied on private hatcheries (34.4%) for fish seeds and the most common stocking size was fingerlings (42.2%) and fry (29.7%). The major source of information and technical support for the farmers were successful farmers (82.8%) and government offices (73.4%). Approximately 65.6% of the farmers had received trainings on fish production and disease management. The most common feed materials were mustard oil cake (100%); rice bran (96.9%) and commercial pellet feed (54.7%). Cattle dung (87.5%); poultry manure (28.1%) and Urea/DAP (95.3%) were the major fertilizers used by the farmers. The most prevalent fish disease was Argulosis (96.9%), Lernaea (90.6%) and EUS (85.9%), but asphyxiation (82.8%) caused the reportedly highest mortality of 346.1±305.5 Kg/ha. Similarly, the most susceptible species to disease was Naini (65.6%) followed by silver carp (49.0%) and bighead carp (34.0%), while the least infected species was Grass carp (0.8%). Winter (70.3%) was reported to be the main season for the occurrence of fish diseases in Dhanusha district. The average B/C ratio in pond aquaculture in the study area was 1.36.

Effect of adding and in ovo injecting hatching eggs produced with omega-3 on some hatching traits and body weight of Japanese quail

This study was conducted at a private hatchery in Thi-Qar Governorate to determine the effect of adding omega-3 fatty acid to quail's diet with the outcome of ovo injecting the resulting hatching eggs with omega-3 on some hatching traits and body weight of Japanese quail. A total of 540 eggs were used. The experiment treatments were as follows: T1: Negative control (without adding oil); T2: Positive control (adding 0.01% sunflower oil); T3: Feed the parent with 0.01% omega-3 oil; T4: Feed the parent with 0.01% omega-3 oil, and the resulting eggs were in ovo injected with 0.01 ml omega-3; T5: Feed the parent by 0.01% omega-3 oil, and the resultant eggs were in ovo injected with 0.01 ml sunflower; T6: Feed the parent by 0.01% sunflower oil, and the resulting eggs were in ovo injected with 0.01 ml sunflower; T7: Feed the parent by 0.01% sunflower oil, and the resultant eggs were in ovo injected with 0.01 ml omega-3; T8: Feed the parent by free diet, and the resulting eggs were in ovo injected with 0.01 ml omega-3; T9: Feed the parent by free diet, and the resultant eggs were in ovo injected with 0.01 ml sunflower. The results showed a significant improvement in T4 (the treatment whose parents were fed omega-3 and in ovo injected with omega-3 oil) compared to the control treatment on hatching rate and fertility rate of whole eggs, with a significant decrease in the percentage of embryonic mortality and pipped eggs for the hatched chicks. Feeding Japanese quail mothers with omega-3 hatching egg injections led to a substantial increase in the average weekly body weight. Keywords: in ovo injecting, hatching eggs, with omega-3, hatching traits, body weight, Japanese quail.

AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MEAT POULTRY BREEDING PROJECTS AND THEIR PROFIT EFFICIENCY IN IRAQ FOR THE YEAR 2020( WASIT AS A CASE STUDY)

This research was aimed to study and analyze the costs, revenues, and profits of meat chicken breeding projects. The study also estimating the random frontier profit function, the profit inefficiency function and profit efficiency which based on cross-sectional data that included 59 projects for raising meat poultry in Waist governorate in 2020.The results of the analysis showed through the descriptive analysis of the cost structure that, the costs of chicks and fodder account for more than 70% of the costs, as well as achieving economic profits for projects. Through the random border profit function, the significance of both the total revenue and the costs of chicks, fodder, medicines, vaccines, and services (water, electricity and fuel) was shown. As for the inefficiency function parameters, they were significant for each proved the age of the breeder, his years of experience, the presence of the veterinarian and the agricultural engineer. As for the efficiency of profits, it was 76%. The researcher recommended the necessity of supporting breeding projects by providing incentives to feed factories and their processors or supporting feeds and private hatcheries to reduce costs and provide training for less experienced breeders and urge them to involve veterinarians and agricultural engineers in supervising broiler projects.

Maintenance of Genetic Diversity of Black Sea Bream despite Unmonitored and Large-Scale Hatchery Releases.

Simple SummaryStock enhancement aggressively replenishes depleted wild finfish populations. However, stock enhancement of black sea bream in Taiwan with complex genetic sources, especially when successful, maintains genetic diversity but dramatically changes the genetic structure within and among wild populations.Stock enhancement, used for replenishing depleted wild finfish populations, is an aggressive approach. Stock enhancement projects in Taiwan involve black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii), a major commercial species. During 2004–2015, even management agencies conducted stock enhancement projects, leading to numerous private releases that have not been recorded. Stock enhancement by a private hatchery without accurate genetic records may lead to a genetic structure change in wild populations. Using allele frequencies at nine microsatellite loci, we studied the genetic effects of stock enhancement in 19 samples collected from populations in the hatcheries and the wild. In 458 individuals from nine hatchery samples, most populations showed weak but significant genetic differences and complex clusters in structure analysis, indicating dramatic stock change within and among hatcheries. The 10 wild populations (n = 773) also had a complex genetic composition and were genetically different among sampling sites and times. However, a simple and clear cluster in structure analysis was found for only one sampling site, which had no release history. Thus, stock enhancement with complex genetic sources helps maintain genetic diversity but dramatically changes the genetic structure within and among wild populations, especially when stock enhancement is successful.

Some Biological Aspects of Pond Reared Mystus cavasius (Hamilton, 1822) Collected from a Local Fish Farm in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

An investigation was conducted to observe some biological aspects including growth, sex ratio, gonadal maturity, artificial insemination, fecundity, fertilization, hatching and larval development of Mystus cavasius in a private hatchery. With the specific growth rate (SGR) of 1.80±0.53 and average daily gain (ADG) of 0.18±1.0, the total weight of the sampled fish ranged from 1.59±0.44 to 28.30±14.77 g, and the length ranged from 3.39±0.77 to 13.62±3.16 cm. There has been a strong association between fish length and weight (r2=0.95). The ratio of males to females was 1:1.58. The female and male lengths at first maturity were 9.2 and 9.6 cm, respectively. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females found in the present study were ranged from 4.35 to 7.44 with the mean of 6.71±0.69 during the study period. The fish is highly fecund and fecundity ranged from 5600 to 25860 with the mean of 17083±6055 for the corresponding length 15.49±1.69 cm, body weight 37.53±7.24 g and gonad weight 2.55±0.63 g. During the experiment, the fertilization, hatching rates, and larval development were observed. The scatter plot developed for the association between length and body weight, fecundity-body length, fecundity-body weight and fecundity- gonad weight implies a significant correlation both arithmetically and logarithmically.

Floating cage aquaculture production in Indonesia: Assessment of opportunities and challenges in Lake Maninjau

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;Aquaculture in floating cages in Lake Maninjau has recorded significant growth, even as the largest contributor to total annual aquacultural production in West Sumatra Province. In this study, we assessed the output of floating net cages in Lake Maninjau, Indonesia. We analyzed the characteristics of fish farming, fish fry, feed supply, and production, and the challenges and opportunities for increasing aquacultural production in the future. We used purposive sampling in this study with an interview questionnaire to obtain information from 80 fish-cultivating households in Lake Maninjau. We then used descriptive statistical methods of data analysis. The results showed that in 2018, there were 17596 floating net cages. The majority (n = 33, 41.25%) of fish farmers have 20 to 40 floating net cages per household, and 67.5% (n = 54) are used for tilapia cultivation. We recorded that 77.5% (n = 62) of fingerlings were sourced from private hatcheries. Six companies supply commercial feed pellets in an amount of 2000 tons per month for aquaculture activities. Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Ltd. provides 35% of the feed. The fish species cultivated were Nile tilapia, common carp, giant gourami, Clarias catfish, and pangasius catfish, with gross yields (kg/m&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;/cycle) of 12, 11.5, 10.4, 7.88, and 8.89, respectively. Fish farmers face challenging conditions: poor water quality, mass mortality of tilapia, high fish feed prices and low fish sale prices, and noncash payments. We recommend ensuring the development of floating net cages in Lake Maninjau for a more sustainable future. Therefore, it is necessary to operate as many as 6000 nets to meet guidelines for carrying capacity and cultivation based on the Regional Regulation of Agam Regency Number 5 of 2014 concerning the management of Maninjau Lake, which is accessible proportionally by eight villages. Giant gourami is prioritized for cultivation because it is resistant to poor water quality and high market prices.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

Effect of Adding Different Levels of Antioxidant and Imported Ginseng (Panax) Roots to The Diet in The Microbial

The current study was carried out on a poultry farm that belongs to the Animal production department - College of Agriculture - University of Kufa, for the period from September 10, 2020, to October 14, 2020, for a period of 5 weeks, in which the effect of adding the ascorbic acid as antioxidant and ginseng root powder was studied. Red Ginseng (Panax) to reduce the effects of heat stress for broilers, the experiment included 420 unsexed Ross-308 chicks, one day old, with an average initial weight of 40 g, prepared from private hatcheries in the governorate of Babylon (Al-Anwar Al-Muradia hatchery). The chicks were divided into 7 treatments included for each Treatment of 60 chicks, with 3 replicates (each replicate is 20 chicks), and the treatments were divided as follows: T1: Standard (Control) without adding. T2, T3 and T4 were given 2, 4 and 6 g ginseng / kg of feed respectively, T5, T6, and T7 were given 2, 4 and 6g ascorbic acid /kg of feed respectively. The chicks were fed with starter diet for the duration of 1-21 days and finisher diet for the duration of 22-35 days. The results of the statistical analysis indicated that there was a highly significant (p&lt;0.01) decrease in the numbers of Escherichia coli bacteria to T7, T6, T4, and T3 the treatments birds compared with the control treatment. The results also indicated a highly significant (p&lt;0.01) increase in the numbers of Lactobacillus bacteria in T7 treated birds, T6, T5, T4 compared with the control treatment.

An Economic Study for Fish Aquaculture in Egypt (Patterns, Determinants, and challenges)دراسة اقتصادية للاستزراع السمکي في مصر (الأنماط والمحددات والتحديات)

The annual increase in Egyptian & Global fish production is mainly due to annual increase in fish production from aquaculture compared to natural fisheries during the study period (2000-2018), and also increasing the relative importance of fish production from aquaculture compared to natural fisheries since 2003 and 2013 in the world and Egypt, respectively. Fish Aquaculture patterns vary according to water types used in Aquaculture (freshwater, brackish water, salt water). in World, The freshwater aquaculture production is higher (60.1%) than the salt water aquaculture production (31.5%) and the brackish water (8.4%) respectively, but in Egypt, Fish that are cultured in fresh water (Tilapia, Catfishes, Carps, Bagrus spp, and Nile perch) contribute about 77.72% of the average fish production from aquaculture during the study period (2000-2018), which is estimated at about 648.8 thousand tons, while fish are farmed in brackish water, which are represented by the mullets family contributed about 18.77%, while the fish that are cultured in salt water (Seabream, Seabass, Meager, Shrimp, Eels, and Gropers) contribute very little due to the novelty of this type of aquaculture in Egypt, estimated about 3.51% Average fish production from aquaculture during the study period. Aquaculture in Egypt contributes about 80.7% of the total Egyptian fish production in 2018, which reflects its important role in filling the fish gap in Egypt. The most important determinants affecting aquaculture fish production in Egypt during the study period (2000-2018) are: (1) The average price per ton of cultured fish: increase in the average price per ton of farmed fish by 1% leads to an increase in the amount of annual aquaculture fish production about 1.3%, (2) the number of freshwater frys and fingerlings produced in private hatcheries: by increasing the number of freshwater frys and fingerlings produced in private hatcheries by 10%, leads to an increase in the amount of annual aquaculture fish production about 3.0%.

STATUS OF FISH HATCHERY AND NURSERY MANAGEMENT IN, DHANUSHA, NEPAL

The study was conducted to overview status of fish hatchery and nursery management. The main occupation of owners is hatchery business and 23% owners run as side business. 23% of respondents reared fifteen species including major seven species Rupchand, Puntius, Basai, Bhagi, Bata, Magur and Black carp. 30.8% respondents use brood stock from other hatchery of different place for cross breeding to reduce stress, inbreeding depression and to increase disease resistance, growth, performance and production. 61.53% respondents do not monitor the pond to check water quality pararameters like DO, pH and turbidity of water. The average hatchlings, fish fry and fingerling survivality was found 31.10%, 57% and 64% respectively. The problem encountered were flood, predator, unavailability of feed, hormone, fertilizer, skilled manpower and water shortage. The B/C ratio in private hatchery was 1.59 and 1.31 in government hatchery. Most of the respondents use motorcycle (53.8%) as means of transportation of fish seed. The main severe disease was learnaea followed by argulus. The inputs used in nursery management were less than that of recommended dose. High stocking density of fingerlings found (546.15kg/kattha). 69.23% of respondents sold fish, fry and fingerlings to distant market and 30.8% of fish farmers sold their fish seed products in local market. About 75%, 20% and 5% of hatchery fish seed production transferred through channel 1, channel 2 and channel 3 respectively. The problems faced in market were trader monopoly followed by open boarder, road inaccessibility, transportation loss and lack of market information

CULTURAL PRACTICE AND PROFITABILITY OF RICE-CUM-FISH CULTURE IN A SELECTED AREA OF BANGLADESH

The rice-cum-fish culture is an integrated farming system in which, rice is the main enterprise and fish production is taken as additional means to secure extra income. The present study was designed to identify the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, cultural practices, profitability and problems and constraints faced by the rice-cum-fish farmers. Sherpur district was selected for the study on the basis of extensive cultivation of rice-cum-fish culture. The simple random sampling technique was used for primary data collection from 40 rice-cum-fish farmers through semi-structured interview schedule. Both tabular and functional analyses were used to analyze the collected data. Socioeconomic analysis showed that 37.5% of the respondents were aged between 41-50 years, 12.5% of the respondents were illiterate, 55.7% respondent’s primary occupation was agriculture and 50% of the household annual income was between Tk. 150000-250000. The study also showed that about 42.5% of farmers have their own plot, 62.5% of farmers cultured fish in the paddy field commercially, 55% farmers were engaged with monoculture, 47.5% of the respondents collected their fingerling from private hatcheries, monosex tilapia was mainly cultured in the paddy field and 70% respondents used ready feed for feeding. The profitability analysis showed that per hectare gross return, net return, and gross margin was found to be Tk. 355180, Tk. 230879, Tk. 246179, respectively. Undiscounted benefit- cost ratio was found to be 2.86. The study also identified some of the problems and constraints associated with rice-cum-fish culture. About 97.5% and 95% of the respondents replied that lack of good quality seed and fingerling and lack of extension services were their main problems, respectively. Rice-cum-fish farming is the new option for rural people to improve their livelihood. Government and other concern organizations should take necessary steps to improve the rice-cum-fish cul

Some Biological Aspects of Cultured Ompok Pabda (Hamilton, 1822) Collected from A Local Fish Farm in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted to observe some biological aspects including growth, sex ratio, gonadal maturity, artificial insemination, fecundity, fertilization, hatching and larval development of O. pabda in a private hatchery. Total weight of the sampled fish varied from 1.60±0.43 to 111.12±6.83 g and length varied from 3.57±0.65 to 21.22±1.84 cm with the SGR 2.85±0.18 and ADG 0.73±0.05. The length and weight of the fish had a strong correlation (r²=0.966). Female dominance over male has been observed in the species. The male to female ratio was 1:1.48. Females were 16.8 cm in length at first maturity, while males were 16.6 cm in length. The GSI of female were ranged from 2.93 to 4.77 with the mean of 3.77±0.60 during the study period. The fecundity of O. pabda was ranged from 5675 to 19626 with the mean of 12503±4192 for the corresponding length 21.23±1.71, body weight 111.12±7.6 and gonad weight 4.19±0.87. Fertilization rate, hatching rate and larval development observed during the experiment. Scattered diagram for length-weight, fecundity-length, fecunditybody weight and fecundity-gonad weight relationship shows a perfect correlation both arithmetically and logarithmically.

دراسة إقتصادية لکفاءة أداء وتقييم المفرخات السمکية فى مصر (دراسة حالة: محافظة کفر الشيخ)

The research aims to study the performance efficiency and evaluation of the different types of fish hatcheries operating in the production of fish seed in the private sector, using descriptive and quantitative economic analysis methods to describe and analyze the economic variables in question. The research was based on the use of financial evaluation criteria and economic efficiency measures in studying the efficiency and performance of the current fish hatcheries, It also relied on secondary data issued by the General Authority for Fish Resources Development and primary data obtained from a stratified random sample of 30 hatcheries of various types of fish hatcheries. The results of the financial evaluation of the various types of hatcheries indicated the superiority of the second type (habat), which achieved the highest estimate of the internal rate of return of about 107٪, followed by the first type (concrete ponds) by about 48.2٪, and finally the third (mixture) by about 37.2٪, which confirms Feasibility of investment for private hatcheries within the fish hatchery activity. The estimates obtained for measures of economic efficiency confirmed the feasibility of operating these hatcheries, as the invested pound return reached about 31.6٪, 43.2٪, 30.7٪ for the three aforementioned types. The economic efficiency factor also confirmed that the pound invested on the fixed and variable production factors achieves a maximum added value of 0.86 pounds for the habat system, compared to about 0.74 and 0.71 pounds for the concrete basins and the mixture system, respectively.

Monitoring of genetic variation in mono-sex tilapia stocks using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers in some private hatcheries of Bangladesh

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the most promising aquaculture species in Bangladesh, the culture of which is mostly dependent on the supply of hatchery-produced seed. Published information on genetic monitoring and genetic variability of the hatchery-reared tilapia population is rare in Bangladesh. Therefore, intra- and inter-population genetic variations were estimated among the five mono-sex tilapia populations collected from the matchday-kanon, khan, nancy, city, and brac hatcheries located at different districts in Bangladesh. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were amplified from tilapia’s muscle DNA of each of the five populations using ten decamer random primers. The primers produced a total of 181 scorable bands of which 64.1% were found to be polymorphic ranged in molecular size from approximately 100bp to 2000bp. The brac population obtained the highest genetic variability (51%) of overall polymorphic loci and the lower index was estimated (55-62%) in that population with the four others in pair-wise similarity comparison. Moreover, a common pattern of distinctive genetic variation was observed in the brac hatchery population when the genetic differentiation (FST), gene flow (Nm) and genetic distance (D) had been analyzed. The distinctiveness was also supported from the unweighted pair group method of arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram analysis where the five populations aligned into two clusters- the brac alone belonged to one and the rest of the four grouped into another. Our overall findings reveal that a low level of genetic variation exists in the current tilapia populations of Bangladesh except in the brac hatchery population where broodstock is known to be well managed. This low level of genetic variation of the tilapia hatchery population will have a seriously detrimental effect on this species and its overall production if the genetic quality is not maintained.

In Memoriam

3 April 1934–29 August 2020 Ronald W. Goede passed away, age 86, of complications related to cancer. His last days were at home under hospice care with his wife Lisa and family at his side. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska, and graduated from high school in Lincoln. Ron served 8 years in the Air Force and earned a BS from the University of Nebraska, majoring in zoology and botany. He completed a MS in fisheries biology at Utah State University in 1961. His career began with the Missouri Conservation Commission as a research biologist and expanded to training in fish disease at the Fish Farming Experiment Station at Stuttgart, Arkansas. In 1963, Ron was hired as Missouri’s first hatchery biologist, where he was sent to the Eastern Fish Disease Laboratory in Leetown, West Virginia to study fish diseases under his mentor, Stan Sniesko. In 1966, Ron was recruited by the Utah Department of Fish and Game. He served for 34 years as director of the Fisheries Experiment Station in Logan, retiring in 2000. As the sole state fish pathologist, Ron directed efforts on standard aquaculture methods, fish quality, health management, and disease control, while building a full-service diagnostic lab. He wrote policies, rules, and regulations for Utah’s public and private hatcheries and fought for their implementation during a time when IPN (viral disease) and whirling disease plagued the resource. Ron developed and presented a drainage concept of disease control, which was approved and adopted by all seven states of the Colorado River Wildlife Council in 1972. This initiative became a template for the states of the Great Lakes Commission and Canada, the Atlantic Seaboard, and the Columbia River drainages, effectively changing disease management nationwide. Ron was instrumental in changing the constitution of the American Fisheries Society to establish discipline sections. He helped develop the Fish Health Section as the first section, which established peer-reviewed standard methods and professional certification. Ron was president of the Bonneville Chapter, the Western Division, and the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society. In 1988, Ron chaired an international 3-day meeting in Denver on Whirling Disease, and hosted the first Rocky Plains Fish Health Workshop, which continues annually. In subsequent years, Ron developed the Health/Condition Profile (HCP), a necropsy-based fish-health assessment protocol, illustrated by his own photographs. Ron taught the protocol to over a thousand biologists representing state and federal agencies, universities, and countries. The HCP became a standard tool used by fisheries professionals. Ron also taught a 2-week aquaculture course periodically to all Utah fish culturists, changing Fish and Game fish culture from an art to a shared science. From 1976 to 1986, Ron was part of the lecture staff at the National Fisheries Academy at Leetown, West Virginia, teaching diagnostic approach, health assessment, and bio-legal perspective. As an adjunct professor at Utah State University, he taught a course on fish diseases for 12 years and served on graduate committees. He was certified as a Fish Health Inspector and Fish Pathologist and was an expert witness in legal disputes. Ron worked to get legislation that created a Fish Health Policy Board with the mission to balance natural resource stewardship and commodity. In 1998, the Board was created within the Utah Department of Agriculture and continues to set policy for fish health management. Throughout his career, Ron received numerous awards and was well known for his quick wit and humor. Ron co-founded the Bridger Folk Music Society, which produced concerts featuring internationally-acclaimed artists, dances, and workshops. We’ll miss him.

Economic analysis of tilapia-carp polyculture in a selected area of Bangladesh

Aquaculture is moving on the way of intensification to fulfill the increasing demand of protein as capture fisheries are declining. The study was conducted to identify the socioeconomic characteristics, analyze the tilapia-carp polyculture system, profitability of tilapia-carp polyculture, and credit profile of the stratified randomly selected 50 sample farmers from Sherpur district in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected through field survey using an interview schedule. Some statistical measures like average percentage and ratios were calculated. The findings revealed that 36% of the respondents belonged to the age group of 25-29 years, 68% belong to medium family size (5 to 6 people), 44% respondents’ education level was higher secondary, 44% respondents’ primary occupation was fish farming and 46 % of were belonged to in annual income level of Tk. 150001-200000 ($1770 - $2360). Average fingerlings released in the tilapia-carp polyculture were 24240 per hectare per year. Most of the fingerlings collected from private hatcheries. The annual per hectare production of tilapia and carp were 8028 kg and 11085 kg., respectively. Per hectare per year gross cost, gross margin, gross return and net return were Tk. 1093008 ($12897), Tk. 759447 ($8961), Tk. 1735455 ($20477) and Tk. 642447 ($7580), respectively. The BCR of tilapia-carp polyculture for cash cost was 1.78 and full cost was 1.59. About 20% of the respondents took loan from different sources and they received 84.51% of their applied amount and 84.73 % of the loan money used in productive purposes. Mortality of fingerlings, the high price of the ingredient, low price of fish, high interest rate and non-availability of good quality fingerlings at proper time were identified to be the major problems in conducting pond fish production. Government and other agencies should come forward to provide subsidized feed, technical supports and credit facilities for the tilapia-carp fish farmers to make the enterprise effectively.

Verification of the Effectiveness of an SNP Marker in the Cholecystokinin Type A Receptor Gene for Improving Growth Traits in Okumino-kojidori Chickens.

A significant association was reported between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; AB604331, g.420 C>A) in the cholecystokinin type A receptor gene and growth traits in some Japanese slow-growing chickens. Demonstration tests of the genetic improvement effect by comparing the superior allele-A fixed chickens with conventional ones were carried out considering the effect of different seasons on growth traits in other slow-growing chickens. Meat-type Okumino-kojidori chickens from Gifu Prefecture are a three-way cross of Gifu-jidori improved, White Plymouth Rock, and Rhode Island Red breeds. We used a total of 468 meat-type Okumino-kojidori: 264 individuals from a private hatchery as conventional chickens and 204 A-allele fixed individuals from the Gifu Prefectural Livestock Research Institute as improved chickens. We performed fattening experiments over two seasons: summer and winter. In each season, experimental birds of both sexes were hatched on the same day, raised in the same chicken house, and fed the same diet ad libitum for 12 weeks. Body weight was recorded at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of age. SNP genotypes were determined using the mismatch amplification mutation assay. Association between the SNP and growth traits was analyzed using generalized linear models built on sex-based, seasonal, additive, and dominance genetic effects. The observed AA, AC, and CC genotype frequencies in the conventional chickens were 0.158, 0.479, and 0.363, respectively; body weight at 12 weeks and average daily gain from 3 to 12 weeks was superior for the A allele compared to the C allele. The improved chickens were heavier than the conventional ones at 12 weeks. Body weight at 12 weeks in allele-A fixed chickens increased by 3.2% compared to the conventional chickens. We concluded that g.420 C>A is a good selective marker that increases slaughter weight in the meat-type Okumino-kojidori chickens.

Survey on Carp Seed Production in Private Fish Hatcheries of Nepal

Aquaculture is rapidly expanding in Nepal as a result demand for fish seed is increasing. Access to adequate high quality seed is the basis for sustainable aquaculture development. Due to quick and high profitability, and encouraging government policy, a number of private hatcheries are increasing especially in southern parts of the country. A survey of 40 private fish hatcheries was conducted from different regions (Eastern-9; Central-19, Western-6, Midwestern-3 and Farwestern-3) representing 15 districts (Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Bara, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur) of Terai and inner Terai to assess the status of different stages of seed production within five year from March 2009 to April 2014. The survey revealed that total production of hatchlings, fry and advanced fry within five years were 15852.6, 879.5 and 259.5 million respectively. All these development regions showed increasing trend of their own contribution within a total of five years. The percentage of eggs fertility and hatchability was more (78.3 and 71.7) in mid western development region followed by eastern (68.9 and 61.7), central (68.3 and 61.7), far western (68.3 and 61.7) and western (68.3 and 60.0). Though private hatcheries played important role in seed production, improving their efficiency are imperative, further studies are recommended to overcome constraints on carp seed production.