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Aquaculture
America 2005 - Meeting Abstract
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403
STOCKER CATFISH PRODUCTION: A
SUMMARY |
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Steeve Pomerleau*
and Carole R. Engle
Aquaculture/Fisheries Center
Mail Slot 4912
University of
Arkansas at Pine Bluff
1200 N.
University Drive
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
USA
spomerleau@uaex.edu
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| Multiple-batch growout of channel catfish is the most
common management strategy for commercial production. However,
multiple-batch systems have been shown to be less profitable
and result in lower yields than single-batch studies. Recent
market trends that require larger market-sized fish have
generated interest in a three-phased production system in
which fingerlings are stocked in a stocker phase before
transfer to final growout. Three pond studies and a
mathematical programming (LP) model have been run to evaluate
production and economic characteristics of stocker production.
Pond studies compared: 1) stocking densities of 50,000,
100,000 or 150,000 fingerlings/ha; 2) stocking 10-cm or 15-cm
fingerlings at 100,000/ha; and 3) stocking 9, 11, or 13-cm
fingerlings at 100,000/ha. The LP model identified
profit-maximizing strategies on a whole-farm basis. The
100,000/ha density result in higher yields than the lower
density and statistically similar yields to the highest
density. Breakeven prices were lowest for the 100,000/ha
strategy although individual fish were significantly smaller
than those produced from the lower density. No significant
differences were found in yield in ponds stocked at either 10
or 15 cm, but the larger fingerlings produced significantly
larger stockers and a coefficient of variation of 34% compared
to only 10% in the smaller size treatment. With more uniform
sizes of catfish fingerlings, total yield, net yield, net
daily yield, growth, final weight, final length, and feed
conversion ratio increased with increasing stocking size of
fingerling. Total operating costs ($/ha) and breakeven prices
per stocker ($/fish) increased with increasing size of
fingerling stocked while breakeven prices on a weight basis
($/kg) decreased with increasing size of fingerling stocked.
Economic analyses generally selected 37-g advanced fingerlings
stocked in multiple-batch production as the most profitable
strategy followed by single-batch growout of 255-g stockers.
The mathematical programming model allocated about 30% of the
farm water area to stocker production and the remaining 70% to
growout. It selected 10-cm fingerlings stocked at 100,000/ha
for stocker production and transferred stockers to growout at
a size of 255 g. Overall, high yields can be obtained in
stocker ponds. Use of stockers in single-batch growout
provides managers with greater control over the final growout
stage. However, the three-phase production system results in
individual fish requiring a third year to reach market size.
This results in a longer period of time for the capital
invested in the intermediate stages of production to be turned
into revenue for the business. Risk is highly concentrated in
the stocker production phase and greater attention to keeping
the stockers alive will be required. Stocker production may be
advantageous to some larger farms, but growers should evaluate
the trade-offs carefully before choosing to add a third phase
of production to the farm. | |
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2006 World Aquaculture Society All Rights
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