Reproductive performance, growth, and survival of selected and wild X selected channel catfish

Abstract

Wild (W) and selected (S) strains of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were crossed to attempt to introduce genes from wild stocks into a domesticated stock without loss of growth or survival performance. W strain broodfish were from the Kaskaskia River in Illinois and had no history of artificial selection. The S strain broodfish had undergone two generations of selection for multiple-traits since 1974 and had become adjusted to tank, cage, and pond culture conditions. Females and males from both strains were paired in individual spawning pens in all possible combinations and the 19 subsequent egg masses were artificially incubated. The 15 S♀XS♂, 6 W♀XS♂ and 9S♀xW♂ crosses produced 10, 3 and 6 egg masses, respectively. None of the 7 W♀XW♂ pairs spawned. The fish density was standardized to two tanks of 500 in each full-sib family at 4 weeks of age and 200 in each at 12 weeks of age. Domesticated and crossbred fish did not differ in spawn characteristics or 4-week body weight but domesticated catfish grew progressively faster than crossbreds and were 55% heavier and 16% longer by 40 weeks of age. No survival differences were observed among the three genetic groups. A 9-week cage test which followed the tank culture also indicated that domesticated fish were superior to crossbreds in body weight, total length, condition factor, and carcass weight. These results indicated that a single WxS cross did not establish improved gene combinations without loss of growth performance.

Relationships among Gonad Weight, Liver Weight and Body Weight of Major, Common and Some Chinese Carps under Composite Culture System with Special Reference to Pond Fertilization

“…Dressing percentage was always maximum for C. carpio, followed by C. catla, C. idella, C. mrigala and H. molitrix which was due to higher weights of viscera of C. carpio as compared to other fish species and correlated with body weight (table 3). This is a physiological rather than a genetic function since Bondari (1980) and Smitherman et al (1983) found that progeny of catfish selected for body weight had dressing percentages similar to random controls. The results of the present study substantiate the findings of Viscera percentage seems to be the major variable explaining the dressing percentage.…”

Complete Sequence and Characterization of the Channel Catfish Mitochondrial Genome

“…Production doubled from 1988 to 1998 and the U.S. catfish industry now processes 600 million pounds annually (USDA, 2002). The lack of sustained genetic selection in channel catfish has effectively maintained a high level of phenotypic variation in commercial and research populations (Bondari, 1984;Tave, 1986;Dunham and Smitherman, 1987;Wolters and Johnson, 1995) and genetic improvement programs leading to improved catfish lines are only beginning to be applied. However, catfish in ponds are difficult to observe and methods must be improved for the efficient identification of families and strains due to the similar physical characteristics of channel catfish.…”