Production and Associated Economics of Fingerling-to-Stocker and Stocker-to-Grow-Out Modular Phases for Farming Channel Catfish in Commercial-Size Ponds

Abstract

A 2-year study was conducted to evaluate two phases (phase 2: fingerling to stocker; phase 3: stocker to grow out) of a three-phase modular production system for Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in commercial-scale ponds. Fingerlings (mean = 14.3 kg/1,000 fish; 11.9 cm TL) were stocked into each of six 1.62-ha earthen ponds at a density of 123,500 fish/ha and were fed a 35% crude protein floating feed daily to satiation. After 142 d, the mean weight of harvested stockers ranged from 108.9 to 158.8 g and survival ranged from 38.8% to 62.0%. These fish were subsequently stocked (at either 12,350 or 16,055 fish/ha) into 1.62-ha ponds for grow out to food-size fish (≥567.5 kg) and were fed a 35% crude protein floating feed to satiation. A partial (selective) harvest was conducted at 105–130 d poststocking by using an in-pond grader, and a final harvest was conducted at 207–245 d poststocking. Combined production means were 7,124 kg/ha for the 12,350-fish/ha treatment and 7,210 kg/ha for the 16,055-fish/ha treatment. Survival (range = 84.3–105.5%) and feed conversion ratios (range = 2.25–2.65) were not significantly different. Mean weight (659.5 g) and length (41.8 cm) of fish harvested from the 12,350-fish/ha treatment ponds were significantly greater than those of fish harvested from the 16,055-fish/ha treatment (474.8 g; 38.4 cm). Cost of producing a 142-g stocker was $0.409. For the economic analysis, phase-2 production area was based on producing sufficient stockers for all phase-3 ponds within a representative 445-ha operation. Enterprise budgets were developed for the 12,350- and 16,055-fish/ha treatments; the incomes above variable cost were $1,450 and $108 per hectare, respectively, and net returns to land were $399 and −$943 per hectare, respectively. Low survival in phase-2 stocker production reduced the returns. The three-phase modular system should provide additional management benefits that were not valued in this analysis.

Received October 13, 2011; accepted August 13, 2012

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was partially funded by Specific Cooperative Agreement 58-6402-7-184 between Mississippi State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. We thank those National Warmwater Aquaculture Center workers who managed the ponds during the two growing seasons; David Heikes for lending the in-pond grader used during harvest and for assisting in its operation; and Jimmy Avery for his assistance during the collection of data at harvest. This is Journal Article Number J-12136 of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.