ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of supplemental dietary lipids to improve reproductive performance of female channel catfish in hybrid catfish production

Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 1, 2010
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Presently, hormone-induced spawning of channel catfish is a viable method for commercial hybrid catfish production. Nutritional status of the broodstock determines the quality of the egg. Lipids can be incorporated into egg yolk from dietary sources, or from reserves that are stored before vitellogenesis and subsequently mobilized, or possibly synthesized de novo. This study was conducted to determine whether supplemental dietary lipids fed to channel catfish during post-spawning improve fecundity and egg quality to enhance the efficiency of hybrid embryo production. Four levels of catfish oil (2, 5, 7.5 and 10%) and 10% menhaden oil as a dietary lipid supplement was top coated on 35 % protein commercial catfish feed were evaluated on oocyte fatty acid profile and the reproductive performance of channel catfish. Fifty 4-year old female channel catfish of Industry pool strain were randomly allocated to each of the 20 0.25 acre earthen ponds, fed 20 weeks, three times a week to satiation. The results of this study showed that fatty acid composition of the oocytes was affected by the supplementary lipid diets offered during the post spawning period. Channel catfish fed with 5% catfish oil as a supplemental diet resulted in higher (p<0.05) percent of mature females for induce spawning, improved ovulation, egg quality, and relative fecundity compared to other diets. Although, this effect did not improve fertilization and hatch of hybrid embryos significantly, it may have an economic improvement for the industry.