- Productive Efficiency of Catfish Farms in Chicot
County, Arkansas
Aloyce R. Kaliba and Carole R.Engle
Technical, allocative, and cost efficiency measures of a
sample of small and medium sized catfish farms in Chicot
County, Arkansas were estimated using a weight-restricted data
envelopment analysis technique. A measure of cost efficiency
is used to determine operator characteristics, farm practices,
and institutional support services that are likely to lead to
higher levels of efficiency. Experience of the operators and
extension contacts were important factors positively
influencing farm level efficiency. Extension services in
Chicot County generated about $5.2 million in cost savings
among catfish farms or about $2,737 per contact. Importantly,
higher cost efficiency of catfish farm efficiency in Chicot
County, Arkansas, can be achieved by adjusting inputs used in
production to optimal levels rather than by adjusting the
scale of operation.
- An Evaluation of the Potential Market for and Uses of
Catfish Processing Waste
Aloyce R. Kaliba and Carole R. Engle
Processing of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to
produce sellable products yields substantial quantities of
unutilized processing waste. Depending on the product forms
dictated by the marketing strategy of the processor, up to 47%
of the fish weight is usually discarded as waste. Utilization
of by-products from catfish processing is increasingly
becoming important because the quantity of processed fish (a
more than 13-fold increase in 24 years) has also increased the
quantity of waste to be disposed and there is increased
knowledge on the benefits of utilizing these wastes for
different uses. In this study, an attempt is made to compile
and discuss potential value-added products that can be
produced from catfish processing wastes. The focus is on
documenting current application and use, identifying available
technologies to manufacture the products, and identifying
existing and potential markets for these products.
- The Effect of Understocking Density of Channel Catfish
Stockers in Multiple-Batch Production
Brent Southworth and Carole Engle
A multiple-batch study was conducted using stocker catfish
(0.20 lb/fish) and carryover fish (0.86 lb/fish) to look at
the effects of different densities of stockers on overall fish
production. Twelve 0.25-acre ponds were stocked with 3,000;
4,500; or 6,000 stockers/acre, and 2,000 lb/ac carryover fish.
Partial harvest one removed 1,500 lb/ac and partial harvest
two removed 1,000 lb/ac. Survival of both size classes of fish
was relatively high and not significantly different (P > 0.05)
due to stocking density. Survivals were 78-88% for stockers
and 92-97% for carryover fish. Although there appeared to be a
trend of increasing yield with increasing density, no
significant differences were detected for gross, net, and net
daily yields. Marketable yields (> 1.25 lb) were not affected
by density. However, sub-marketable yield (< 1.25 lb)
increased as stocking density increased. The last seven weeks
of culture, there was a trend of declining carryover growth at
the high stocking densities, however no significant
differences were measured (p = 0.08). Carryover fish at low
density had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) mean weight at
harvest, while there were no significant differences in
average stocker weight at any sampling period. This study
found that it is possible that stockers have higher survival,
reach market size faster, and may compete with carryover fish
better than smaller fingerlings when stocked in
multiple-batch.
- The effect of pond water depth on channel catfish (Ictalurus
punctatus) production
Adam Nanninga
Older catfish ponds tend to become more shallow over time if
not re-worked periodically. Anecdotal information suggests
that shallow ponds may result in lower yields. A replicated
pond study was designed to compare the effect of two pond
water depths on growth, yield, feed conversion ratio, and cost
of producing channel catfish in multiple-batch production.
Eight 0.04-ha ponds were used. Four ponds had standpipes cut
to allow a maximum depth of 153 cm, and four had standpipes
cut to allow for a maximum depth of only 91 cm. Deep ponds had
1.74 times the water volume of the shallow ponds. Ponds were
stocked 16 March 2005 with 1,680 kg/ha of carryover fish (480
g) and 15,000 fingerlings/ha of fingerling catfish (25.4 g)
were stocked into each pond. Fish were fed to satiation daily
using a 32% protein pellet floating catfish feed. TAN and
nitrite was measured monthly and chlorophyll a was checked
every 2 weeks. Ponds were seined monthly during the growing
season. Group weights of at least 45.35 kg of carryover fish,
and 200 fingerlings were sampled per pond to estimate average
weights of fingerling and carryover fish on each sampling
date. On October 5, 2005 all ponds were harvested and group
weights of all remaining fish were performed. No significant
difference was found in FCR, gross yield, net yield, survival,
or growth between treatments. Water quality was similar
between treatments.
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