THE EFFECT OF CHANNEL CATFISH ICTALURUS PUNCTATUS STOCKING DENSITY AND FEEDING RATE ON WATER QUALITY, PRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS, AND COSTS

Brent E. Southworth*, Carole R. Engle, Nathan Stone and Andrew E. Goodwin
Aquaculture/Fisheries Center
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Bsouthworth@uaex.edu

Research has been conducted on the culture of channel catfish since the 1950’s, but interactions among stocking rates, feeding rates and water quality in relation to growth, yield and feed conversion ratios (FCR’s) are still not well understood.  Improvements in technology have led to the intensification of aquaculture over time, which have allowed farmers to stock and feed at higher rates. With this intensification, farmers need more researched-based recommendations with regard to stocking, feeding, production efficiencies and biological limits to fish production.  For this thesis study, twelve 0.1 ha (0.25 ac) ponds at UAPB will be used.  Fingerlings 13-15 cm (5-6 inches) will be stocked at 8,649; 17,297; 25,946; and 34,595 fish/ha (3,500; 7,000; 10,500, 14,000 fish/ac).  In addition, 2,242 kg/ha (2,000 lb/ac) of carryover fish will be stocked in each pond.  Treatments will be assigned to the ponds in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment.  Fish will be fed a 32% floating catfish feed once daily to apparent satiation with a blower type feeder.  Water samples will be collected and analyzed monthly for nitrate, chlorophyll (a), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD).  In addition, bloom related parameters (nitrite, total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), secchi disk, and pH) will be measured in two-week intervals.  Chlorides, alkalinity and hardness will also be monitored throughout the study.  Once monthly, vertical profiles of (PAR) will be taken with a submersible LICORE PAR sensor.  Temperature and dissolved oxygen will be monitored twice daily and pH weekly (morning and afternoon).  Environmental conditions will be monitored with the use of a weather station that will record air and water temperature, rainfall, wind speed/direction, barometric pressure and PAR.  Fish will be sampled at 10-week intervals and a partial harvest of carryover fish will take place at these 10-week intervals.  The effect of stocking density and feeding rate on water quality, fish growth, yield, survival and FCR of catfish in a multiple-batch system will be looked at.  All weather conditions will be compared to the feeding response of fish, and the overall cost of producing channel catfish at different stocking densities will be estimated.