ARS | Publication request: Relationships Among Feed Efficiency, Body Composition, and Growth in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Families

Submitted to: Aquaculture
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 25, 2006
Publication Date: February 26, 2007
Citation: Clay, L.A., Peterson, B.C., Bosworth, B.G. 2007. Relationships Among Feed Efficiency, Body Composition, and Growth in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Families. Abstract, Aquaculture 2007 Conference. San Antonio, TX Feb. 26-30, 2007, p. 182.

Technical Abstract: Feed is a major cost in catfish production and improving feed efficiency could improve production efficiency and profitability. Improving catfish feed efficiency through genetic selection is challenging because measuring feed intake on individuals is difficult and expensive. Examining relationships among feed efficiency, growth, and body composition may reveal traits correlated to feed efficiency that could be used as indirect selection criteria to improve feed efficiency in catfish. We evaluated relationships among feed efficiency, body composition, and growth in twenty-three full-sib families of juvenile channel catfish. Whole body fat was negatively correlated with feed efficiency ( r = -0.60) and whole body protein (r = -0.54). Similar negative relationships between fat and protein accretion and feed efficiency have been observed in other livestock species. Growth and whole body fat were significantly correlated (r = 0.58); however, growth did not show a significant correlation with the feed efficiency and whole body protein. Although the data are preliminary, the observed negative correlation between whole body fat and feed efficiency suggests that there may be potential to use fat as an indirect selection criterion to improve feed efficiency in catfish.