Performance of Channel Catfish and Hybrid Catfish in Single‐Batch, Intensively Aerated Ponds

Abstract

A pond production trial was conducted to evaluate the economics of raising Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus in intensively aerated ponds operated under the single‐batch cropping system. Channel Catfish fingerlings averaging 0.09 lb were stocked at 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, and 12,000 fish/acre with six replicate ponds (1 acre) per treatment. A treatment of hybrid catfish (♀ Channel Catfish × ♂ Blue Catfish I. furcatus) fingerlings stocked into five replicate ponds at 12,000 fish/acre was concurrently evaluated to compare the economic performance of hybrids and that of Channel Catfish. All ponds were provided with a fixed‐paddlewheel aerator (10 hp/acre) and were fed once daily to apparent satiation for 206 d. For Channel Catfish, the gross yield ranged from 6,562 to 9,039 lb/acre, showing nominally linear trends of increasing yield with stocking density. However, the same trend was not seen in the relationship between costs and stocking density: the highest breakeven price (US$1.07/lb) was associated with the lowest density treatment (6,000 fish/acre), and the least cost ($0.96/lb) was associated with the intermediate density of 8,000 fish/acre. Average annual net cash flows from all Channel Catfish treatments were insufficient to make the investment in intensive aeration profitable in the long run (10 years). The hybrid catfish treatment (12,000 fish/acre) outperformed all Channel Catfish treatments in terms of yield (17,542 lb/acre), which offset some of the fixed costs associated with intensively aerated ponds and resulted in a lower cost of production ($0.85/lb) and better long‐term returns (17%). This study indicated that Channel Catfish do not perform well—either biologically or economically—at densities greater than 8,000 fish/acre in single‐batch, intensively aerated ponds. The study reflects current industry trends, where integrated farms (farms with their own processing plants) with yield‐maximizing business objectives prefer raising hybrid catfish in single‐batch systems, while nonintegrated farms prefer raising Channel Catfish in multiple‐batch systems.

Economic Losses of Catfish to Avian Predation: A Case Report

“…This single‐batch production strategy for hybrid catfish grow out is being increasingly adopted by U.S. catfish producers, as greater production from these ponds, typically 12,000–18,000 lb/acre (Bott et al 2015; Kumar and Engle 2017a; Torrans and Ott 2018), spreads the fixed costs over greater volumes of fish production, thus achieving cost efficiencies. Compared with multiple‐batch systems, the breakeven yields that are required to cover the total costs of production in intensively aerated systems are higher (Kumar et al 2018, 2019, 2020; Engle et al 2020), causing predation losses to be a greater source of economic risk.…”

“…The fish were immediately released back into the ponds, and the study continued through the remainder of the production season. The fish were fed once daily and managed according to standard industry protocols (Kumar and Engle 2017a; Kumar et al 2019).…”

“…For the intensively aerated pond scenarios, the enterprise budgets were developed for a 5‐acre pond (implied to be part of a 330‐acre farm) using the average production variables from Table 2. The additional investments that were required (Kumar et al 2017a, 2019) for the construction and renovation of small 5‐acre intensively aerated ponds were spread over the useful life of the investment (10 years). The annual depreciation costs were calculated by using a straight‐line depreciation method.…”

Effect of understocking density of channel catfish fingerlings in intensively aerated multiple‐batch production

“…Given the unique body shape (smaller head and wider trunk) and unique behavioral characteristics, hybrid catfish do not grade well in conventional sock graders (Torrans & Ott, 2018). As such, hybrid catfish are generally raised in single‐batch systems (Bott, Roy, Hanson, Chappell, & Whitis, 2015; Dunham et al, 2000; Hanson et al, 2020; Kumar et al, 2019; Kumar & Engle, 2010). Channel catfish remain the preferred fish in multiple‐batch systems.…”

“…This is also reflected in multiple‐batch production strategies in which channel catfish are raised at higher stocking densities in relatively smaller (1.6–3.2 ha) intensively aerated ponds equipped with >9 kW/ha fixed paddlewheel aeration rate (Engle, Kumar, & van Senten, 2020; Kumar et al, 2020). Such intensification incurs higher upfront investment and greater operating costs to purchase additional fingerlings, feed, and aerators; however, cost efficiencies can be achieved by spreading the fixed costs over greater volumes of fish production (Kumar et al, 2019; Kumar et al, 2020). Although technological advances such as the increased adoption of fixed‐paddlewheel aeration (Kumar & Engle, 2017a; Torrans, 2005, 2008) allow for the accommodation of increased catfish biomass in single‐batch systems, its effect in multiple‐batch systems raising channel catfish has not been ascertained.…”