Production of Stocker-Size Channel Catfish: Effect of Stocking Density on Production Characteristics, Costs, and Economic Risk

A study of the production of stocker channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in earthen ponds was conducted to analyze the effect of stocking density on net yield, growth, final size, feed conversion ratio, and cost of production. Vat-graded catfish fingerlings averaging 2.5 g (6.7 cm) were stocked into twelve 0.1-ha earthen ponds at 50,000, 100,000, or 150,000 fingerlings/ha. Fish were fed to satiation and harvested 166–171 d after stocking. Net yields (±SD) for the low-, medium-, and high-density treatments were 4,343 ± 1,025, 6,220 ± 399, and 7,231 ± 1,490 kg/ha, respectively. Fingerlings stocked at the lowest density reached a size significantly larger (176 ± 29 g or 26.9 ± 1.4 cm) than fingerlings stocked at medium density (135 ± 10 g or 24.8 ± 0.6 cm) or high density (114 ± 23 g or 23.4 ± 1.4 cm). Mean condition factors ranged from 0.88 to 0.91. Mean survival rates ranged from 45% to 51%. The equation that best (R 2 = 0.97) predicted fish length from weight was loge(L) = 1.649 + 0.318 loge(W), where L = total length in centimeters and W = fish weight in grams. Bar spacings of 19.1, 22.2, 25.4, 28.6, 31.8, and 34.9 mm retained fish predominantly larger than 16, 18, 21, 23, 26, and 28 cm, respectively. The lowest break-even cost per kilogram of fish produced ($1.57) came with the medium-density treatment. Break-even costs for the low- and high-density treatments were $1.68/kg and $1.60/kg, respectively. The probability of break-even costs per kilogram being above the stocker market price of $2.20/kg ranged from 0% to 9%. The study suggested that the medium stocking density (100,000/ha) gave the lowest cost and lowest risk strategy in terms of cost per kilogram. However, additional research is necessary with whole-farm modeling to determine whether this strategy would be the most profitable farm-level strategy for a grow-out operation.