Channel Catfish Pond Fertilization

et al. 2017

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This study examined four experimental diets with different protein concentrations and sources for pond-raised fingerling hybrid catfish, ♀ Ictalurus punctatus × ♂ Ictalurus furcatus. A 35% protein diet with fishmeal was used as the control diet. Test diets were 32 and 28% all-plant-protein diets and a 28% protein diet with porcine meat, bone, and blood meal. Small fingerlings with a mean initial weight of 2.9 g/fish were stocked into 20 earthen ponds (0.04 ha) at a density of 172,970 fish/ha. They were fed once daily to apparent satiation for 107 d. No significant differences were observed for total diet fed, gross yield, final weight, survival, or condition factor among dietary treatments. However, fish fed the 28 and 32% all-plant-protein diets had a significantly higher feed conversion ratio than fish fed the 35% protein diet with fishmeal. There were no significant differences in chlorophyll a and nitrite concentrations in the pond water, but ponds receiving the 35% protein diet had significantly higher ammonia than those receiving 28% protein diets. Economic analysis suggested potential cost savings by using low-protein and all-plant-protein diets for hybrid catfish fingerling production. KEYWORDS dietary protein, feed conversion, growth, hybrid catfish fingerlings, protein source

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of Pond‐raised Fingerling Hybrid Catfish, ♀ Ictalurus punctatus × ♂ Ictalurus furcatus, to Dietary Protein Concentrations and Sources

Wise

et al. 2017

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“…Twenty 0.04 ha earthen ponds were filled with groundwater in early July 2018 and immediately fertilized with 45 kg urea/ha, followed by 22.5 kg/ha twice per week for 2 weeks to increase phytoplankton and zooplankton production (Mischke, ). No additional fertilizer was added after fish stocking.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Commercial nursery ponds for channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , fry and fingerlings are typically fertilized with inorganic fertilizers such as urea before stocking with swim‐up fry to promote phytoplankton production and, subsequently, desirable, large zooplankton as natural prey (Mischke, ). Fingerling producers also feed the newly stocked fry with powdered feeds, referred to as “dust” (typically ground from a fingerling feed), as supplemental nutrients in addition to natural foods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing dietary protein concentrations and replacing fish meal with porcine meat and bone meal do not affect growth or feed conversion of pond‐raised fingerling channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

Wise

et al. 2019

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This study evaluated dietary protein concentrations and replacing fish meal with porcine meat and bone meal (PMB) for pond-raised fingerling channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Three diets were formulated to have 28, 32, or 35% protein using soybean meal, cottonseed meal, and fish meal as the main protein sources, respectively. A fourth diet contained 32% protein with fish meal being replaced with PMB. Analyzed protein concentrations were 29.7, 31.9, 34.4, and 31.1% on 90% dry matter basis, respectively.Small fingerlings (average initial weight: 2.0 g/fish) were stocked in 20 earthen ponds (0.04 ha) at 172,970 fish/ha and were fed once daily to apparent satiation for 98 days.There were no significant differences in total diet fed, gross yield, final weight, feed conversion ratio, survival, or condition factor among diets. There were also no significant differences in ammonia-N, nitrite-N, chlorophyll a, or desirable zooplankton concentrations in pond water of fish receiving different diets. Results show that a diet containing about 30% protein can support optimum growth of pond-raised

“…Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , fry are stocked at densities from 200,000 to 750,000/ha into earthen ponds (filled with well water 3–4 wk before stocking) in spring and grown through summer and autumn. Current catfish fry pond preparation practices include filling ponds at least 10 d before stocking and applying only inorganic fertilizer at an initial rate of 20 kg/ha N and 2 kg/ha P, followed by subsequent applications of 10 and 1 kg/ha P twice/wk until fry are stocked (Mischke ). After fry are first stocked into ponds, they are not observed coming to the surface to eat offered feeds for the first 4–6 wk.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most catfish ponds are located in northwest Mississippi and are constructed on soils of Alligator or Sharkey clays that are moderately acidic with low organic matter content (Tucker ). These soils historically have medium to high soil test levels of phosphorus, and nitrogen is considered the limiting nutrient in catfish fry ponds in this area (Mischke and Zimba ; Mischke ). We have had success fertilizing research ponds with applications of nitrogen fertilizer at the rates suggested by Mischke and Zimba () while eliminating phosphorus applications entirely (unpublished results).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Delayed Feeding of Channel Catfish Fry Stocked in Ponds

Greenway

Griffin

et al. 2013

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We compared production variables between channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, nursery ponds fed according to industry standards, that is feeding immediately at stocking, to an alternative practice of delaying feeding for 6 wk after stocking in an effort to utilize natural pond productivity and reduce feed use. Twelve 0.04 ha ponds were fertilized and stocked with swim-up fry (4-5 d posthatch) at a rate of 10,000/pond (250,000/ha). Ponds were then randomly assigned to either the standard feeding protocol (feeding daily starting immediately at stocking) or an alternative feeding protocol (no feeding until 6 wk post-stocking). After 18 wk of production, there were no differences in water quality or zooplankton abundance between the two treatments. Fish length was not affected by treatment throughout the study, and survival and total weight harvested were similar. Total kg of feed fed was significantly reduced in the delayed feed treatment, averaging 26 kg/pond less feed fed. If proper fertilization practices are implemented, large numbers of desirable zooplankton for catfish fry culture are attained, and these zooplankton are able to sustain catfish fry stocked up to 250,000/ha. Therefore, no commercial diets are required during the first 6 wk of culture, saving over $95.55/ha in initial feed costs.