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Aquaculture
America 2005 - Meeting Abstract
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340
CATFISH RESEARCH VERIFICATION: a dynamic Extension
program IN ARKANSAS |
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Steeve Pomerleau*
and Jeremy Trimpey
Aquaculture/Fisheries Center
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
P.O. Box 4912
1200 N.
University Drive
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
USA
spomerleau@uaex.edu
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The Catfish
Research Verification Program (CRVP) is a dynamic Extension
program of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)
designed to bring research-based production recommendations to
producers. The essence of the program is to provide intensive
monitoring of commercial ponds in which recommended
research-based management protocols are being implemented.
This process has proven to facilitate the flow of technical
information to producers as well as practical production
implications back to University researchers.
Three cooperating producers distributed among two
Arkansas County were selected for the program resulting in a
total of five verification ponds. Two cooperators and three
verification ponds are located in Ashley County. The third
cooperator with two verification ponds is located in Woodruff
County. Cooperating producers agreed to manage the
verification ponds according to the recommended management
practices for a period of 2 years.
At
this time, the program focuses on the traditional
multiple-batch management strategy. Some of the
recommendations that the program demonstrates are stocking
fingerlings larger than 5 inches at a moderate density around
6,000 heads/acre and feeding daily to satiation. Research
conducted at UAPB clearly suggested that stocking smaller
fingerlings or feeding every other day negatively impact net
returns of the farm. Additionally, we are looking at the use
of an in-pond grader for food-size catfish developed at UAPB.
The UAPB-grader is more effective than the traditional
live-car method to minimize the number of sub-marketable size
catfish sent to the plant.
The initial
fish inventory of all ponds was assessed in April 2004. The
initial inventory ranged from 1,008 to 2,902 lb/acre. Ponds
were stocked within the months of April and May. Stocking
rates ranged from 4,994 to 5,986 heads/acre. The average
fingerling size stocked ranged from 5.7 to 7.0 inches. Visit
the Verification website at www.uaex.edu/aquaculture for more
details and updated information.
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