Assessment of the impact of dissemination of genetically improved Abbassa Nile tilapia strain (GIANT‐G9) versus commercial strains in some Egyptian governorates

Abstract

WorldFish initiated a selective breeding program in Abbassa-Egypt to develop and produce the genetically improved Nile tilapia strain known as "Genetically Improved Abbassa Nile tilapia (GIANT)", adopting the same technology used for the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT), in Asia. WorldFish provided the Ninth Generation (G9) broodstock of the GIANT to 11 Broodstock Multiplication Centers (BMC's) in five governorates; these centres then disseminated improved mixed-sex fry to 160 tilapia hatcheries which supplied all-male fry to 1,500 fish farms in 2017. We present results of an impact assessment of the G9 of GIANT in 83 of these fish farms in four Egyptian governorates (Kafr El-Sheikh, Fayoum, Behera and Alexandria). Results indicate that the use of GIANT in all governorates achieved significantly higher (18.8%) fish yields (12.3%-26.4%) and 15.7% lower FCR (feed conversion ratio), reflecting a positive impact on their net profits compared with those who used commercial strains. Overall, fish farmers who stocked GIANT had significantly higher average fish sales (5,567 US$/ha) than those who stocked non-improved commercial strains (5,192 US$/ha) in all governorates. However, when comparing within governorates, the difference was significant only in Fayoum and Alexandria noting a mixed performance of the GIANT strain. The mixed performance indicates that some hatcheries may have crossed the different strains, which lowered the performance differences.To get an objective analysis of the performance of the GIANT, it is recommended that similar assessment be undertaken with new generations of the strain supported by on-farm performance trials.

Prevention and Control of Streptococcosis in Tilapia Culture: A Systematic Review

“…Furthermore, most of the available studies on the progress in research of prevention and control measures against streptococcosis in tilapia have largely focused on the Nile Tilapia, probably because it is the major species cultured in most countries of the world. However, several other important tilapia species, such as Longfin Tilapia O. macrochir, Threespot Tilapia O. andersonii, Redbreast Tilapia Tilapia rendalli, and Tanganyika Tilapia O. tanganicae, as well as newly developed strains, have been reported in some African countries, such as Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia (Satia 2017;Hasimuna et al 2019;Ibrahim et al 2019;Maulu et al 2019). Future studies may also investigate how these species respond to the currently available prevention and control measures against the disease, especially focusing on preventive measures.…”

Nourishing nations during pandemics: why prioritize fish diets and aquatic foods in Africa

“…Moreover, the establishment of the WorldFish Regional Center for Africa at Abbassa in 1998 has facilitated an innovation hub to promote research for development. Research support which produced the Genetically Improved Abbassa Nile Tilapia and best aquaculture training across the country saw an increasing production of affordable fish and local consumption in Egypt and across the continent (Ibrahim et al 2019 ).…”

Nitrogen retention, nutrient digestibility and growth efficiency of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) fed dietary lysine and reared in fertilized ponds

“…Fingerlings of 9th generation genetically improved Abbassa Nile tilapia (GIANT), hatched at the WorldFish Centre's hatchery were used in the two experiments (Ibrahim et al, 2019). Twenty fish with an average weight of 30.2 ± 1.9 g and 900 fish with an average weight of 17.2 ± 1.6 g were stocked in each tank and pond, respectively.…”