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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #198505

Title: Production and Processing Traits of Blue Catfish, Blue Catfish X Channel Catfish Hybrids, and Two Strains of Channel Catfish

Author
item Bosworth, Brian
item Torrans, Eugene

Submitted to: Catfish Farmers of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2005
Publication Date: 2/23/2006
Citation: Bosworth, B.G., Torrans, E.L. 2006. Production and Processing Traits of Blue Catfish, Blue Catfish X Channel Catfish Hybrids, and Two Strains of Channel Catfish [Abstract]. In: Research and Review; A Compilation of Abstracts of Research on Channel Catfish. Catfish Farmers of America Catfish Research Workshop, February 23-24, 2006, San Antonio, Texas. p. 13-14.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Channel catfish is the primary species used in commercial catfish farming. However, increased incidence of disease and associated economic losses have led to speculation that other catfish species or hybrids also have potential. In this study production and processing traits of blue catfish, blue x channel catfish hybrids, and Norris and USDA 103 channel catfish strains were compared. Net production and average weight at harvest were higher for hybrids than for blue catfish and channel catfish strains. USDA 103 channel catfish were larger than blue catfish or Norris strain channel catfish. Net production was similar for USDA 103s and blue catfish, but lower for Norris strain channel catfish. Survival was highest for hybrids, intermediate for blue catfish, and lowest for channel catfish strains. FCR was not different among groups. Carcass yield was highest for hybrids, intermediate for blue catfish, and lowest for channel catfish strains. Nugget yield was highest for blue catfish and not different between hybrids and channel catfish strains. Shank fillet yield was highest for hybrids, intermediate for channel catfish strains, and lowest for blue catfish. Similar trends were observed for processing traits whether the fish were filleted by hand or by machine. Hybrids can be processed on fillet machines set for channel catfish, but machine processing of blue catfish requires adjustments of the fillet machine. Hybrid catfish were superior to blue and channel catfish strains tested, but availability of hybrid fry remains a constraint. Response of blue catfish to tolerance of low oxygen and handling still need to be addressed.