Comparison of Production, Meat Yield, and Meat Quality Traits of NWAC103 Line Channel Catfish, Norris Line Channel Catfish, and Female Channel Catfish × Male Blue Catfish F1 Hybrids

Abstract

NWAC103 line channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, Norris line channel catfish, and Norris line female channel catfish ϫ Dycus Farm line male blue catfish I. furcatus F 1 hybrids were compared for production, meat yield, and meat quality traits. Juvenile fish from each genetic group were stocked at 12,000 fish/ha into three, 0.04-ha ponds per genetic group. Fish were fed once daily to satiation from June through October, and fed on days when afternoon water temperatures were above 17ЊC from November through December. Fish were harvested, weighed, and counted in January, and 150 fish per genetic group (50 fish per pond) were processed and measured for meat and body component yield. Instrumental and sensory panel evaluations of quality were measured on fresh, frozen-thawed, and baked fillets. Stocking weight, harvest weight, and net production (kg/ha) were highest for the NWAC103 line channel catfish, intermediate for the hybrid, and lowest for the Norris line channel catfish. Growth at unit size (a), percent weight gain, survival, and feed conversion were not significantly different among genetic groups. Carcass yield (relative to whole weight) and fillet yield were higher for the hybrid than for the two channel catfish lines, and higher for females than for males in all genetic groups. Head yield and total viscera yield were higher for the channel catfish lines than the hybrid. Head yield was higher for males than for females, and total viscera yield was higher for females than for males. Visceral fat yield was higher for the hybrid than for the two channel catfish lines. Instrumental and sensory panel analysis indicated only minor differences among genetic groups for fillet quality. Thus, catfish producers and processors can improve important traits and increase profits by utilizing catfish lines with superior performance.

Effects of Winter Feeding on Growth, Body Composition, and Processing Traits of Co‐Cultured Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Channel Catfish×Blue Catfish Hybrids

“…Females had higher carcass yields than males, but a significant genetic group × gender interaction was present at both the start and end of the study because the effect of gender on carcass yield was greater for channel catfish than for blue catfish or hybrid catfish. Higher carcass yields for hybrids and blue catfish in comparison with channel catfish have been reported in other studies (Grant and Robinette 1992;Argue et al 2003;Bosworth et al 2004;Li et al 2004;Jiang et al 2008). The smaller head size in hybrids and blue catfish relative to channel catfish appears to be the main factor influencing the higher carcass yields for hybrids and blue catfish in comparison with channel catfish.…”

Effects of Stocking Density on Production Traits of Channel Catfish×Blue Catfish Hybrids

“…Carcass and fillet yield reported in the current study were lower than values reported for hybrid catfish by Bosworth et al (2004), Li et al (2007), Jing et al (2008, and Bosworth (2012), but similar to those reported by Li et al (2012). The majority of studies on the effects of stocking density on catfish production have not been conducted with hybrid catfish, but with Channel Catfish (Allen 1974;Tucker et al 1993;Engle and Valderrama 2001;Pomerleau and Engle 2003;Southworth et al 2006;Robinson and Li 2008;Green 2010;D'Abramo et al 2013).…”

Effects of Feeding Rate and Frequency on Production Characteristics of Pond‐Raised Hybrid Catfish

“…This is mainly because the hybrid generally performs better than either parent species for several important production traits including survival, growth, disease resistance, and carcass yield (Giudice 1966;Yant et al 1976;Dunham et al 1990;Wolters et al 1996;Bosworth et al 2003Bosworth et al , 2004. Much of the research conducted so far on hybrid catfish has been on how to improve spawning success and compare their production traits with channel catfish.…”