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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #308666
Title: A length-weight relationship for pond-raised hybrid catfish fingerlings

Author
item Brown, Travis
item MISCHKE, CHARLES - Mississippi State University
item ROY, LUKE - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
item LI, MENGHE - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2015
Publication Date: 1/28/2016
Citation: Brown, T.W., Mischke, C.C., Roy, L.A., Li, M.H. 2016. A length-weight relationship for pond-raised hybrid catfish fingerlings. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 47:93-96.

Interpretive Summary: The goal of this project was to develop a length-weight relationship for pond-raised hybrid catfish fingerlings. A total of 4,663 individual length and weight measurements were made on hybrid catfish fingerlings from 2008 to 2013. A model was developed to predict weight in grams from total length in mm. The predicted values were analogous to standard values developed for Channel Catfish two decades ago. However, slight deviations in measurement error and/or using an incorrect length-weight table for hybrid catfish fingerlings can reduce accuracy. The model that we developed can be used for as a starting point for length-weight tables for hybrid catfish culturists.

Technical Abstract: A length-weight relationship was developed for pond-raised hybrid catfish fingerlings, Ictalurus punctatus x I. furcatus. A total of 4663 fish were sampled ranging from 20-240 mm total length. Predicted weight (g) from length (mm) is based on the equation: Y = 0.000017311X2.868474309 (r2 = 0.996) where Y is the estimated individual fish weight and X is measured total length. The predicted values generated by this model differ from, but follow the same general trends seen with channel catfish, I. punctatus, fingerlings, and can be used as a baseline for the development of a length-weight table for hybrid catfish fingerling production.