Progress 03/26/03 to 12/13/04
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? U.S. salmon production is constrained by lack of genetic improvement, disease, and low production efficiency. U.S. salmon producers are required to culture salmon of North American origin; however, no genetically improved native stocks are available. This requirement has necessitated the development of an applied Atlantic salmon research program to increase efficiency and sustainability of Atlantic salmon culture. Coldwater aquaculture production has great potential for expansion in the U.S., and American consumers readily accept salmon as a mainstream food item. Domestic production of Atlantic salmon is concentrated in Maine and Washington, and Maine is currently the leading producer of cultured salmon in the U.S. The research units current primary research objective is genetic improvement of
Atlantic salmon utilizing a family-based selective breeding program. Economically important traits and goals will be defined, offspring from selected families will be analyzed for commercially important production traits (e. g. growth, disease resistance, fillet yield and quality), genetic and phenotypic variation estimated, and genetic analyses will be utilized to develop improved North American Atlantic salmon lines for U.S. producers and consumers. This project has four specific objectives: 1) obtain and compare performance of selected North American Atlantic salmon stocks for utilization in an applied selective breeding program; 2) estimate genotypic and phenotypic parameters for commercially important traits and develop a selection index; and 3) evaluate specific breeding aids such as polyploidy (triploid) and sex-reversal (all-female stocks) for benefits to Atlantic salmon aquaculture. Research accomplished during this project will result in the development of genetically
improved North American Atlantic salmon stocks for release to U.S. producers and consumers, and provide information and solve problems limiting the profitability and sustainability of coldwater marine aquaculture in the U.S. This research is conducted under ARS National Program 106 - Aquaculture. The research program relates to Agency National Program Goal 1: To Promote an Agricultural Food and Fiber System That is Productive and Highly Competitive in the Global Economy (specifically, Performance Goal 1.2.1.1: Experimentally develop and demonstrate production of new, improved, and alternative farm animals, crops, and horticultural products) , and Goal IV: To Foster an Agricultural System That Protects Natural Resources and the Environment (specifically, Performance Goal 4.1.2.3: Demonstrate techniques that can improve efficiency). There has been limited genetic improvement of aquaculture stocks so there are major opportunities for improvement through traditional animal breeding,
broodstock development, germplasm preservation, molecular genetics, and allied technologies. Commercial salmon producers in the U. S. predominantly utilize fish stocks that are not many generations removed from wild, unselected stocks. Research in the Atlantic salmon breeding program will address improvement of growth rates, feed efficiency, survival, disease resistance, fecundity, fillet yield and product quality; environmental tolerances; genetic characterization and gene mapping; and conservation and utilization of important aquatic germplasm. Development of improved Atlantic salmon lines utilizing North American germplasm with superior performance for commercially important traits and utilization of these lines in commercial culture will help solve production problems, increase efficiency and profitability, and provide a quality product for consumers. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Year 1 (FY2004) Completion of two early growth
evaluation of 5 different genetic stocks. Obtain an additional year-class of fish from industry and agency collaborators. Completion of two early-growth evaluations of 5 different pedigreed stocks. Completion of two early growth evaluations of separate diploid mixed sex, diploid all female, and triploid all female stocks. Obtain eggs from ten full-sib families to genetic effects on triploid induction. Year 2 (FY2005) Complete transfer of smolts to collaborator sea cages for performance evaluations. Complete data analysis from freshwater rearing phase. Complete transfer smolts to sea cages Stock pit tagged smolts from different stocks into sea cages. Completion of freshwater growth evaluations. Year 3 (FY2006) Complete transfer smolts to sea cages. Continue evaluations as in year 2 for new year class of fish obtained in 2004-2005. Year 4 (FY2007) Complete growth monitoring and harvest of fish from sea cages Determination of best performing stocks and families Complete data analysis of
saltwater rearing phase Complete calculation of breeding values Develop selected broodstock line for spawning Evaluate growth and reproductive characteristics of stocks Data analysis to determine benefits from all-female culture and triploidy Year 5 (FY2008) Complete growth monitoring and harvest of fish from sea cages from additional year class obtained in 2004-2005 Transfer eggs from select lines to collaborators Develop selected broodstock line for spawning from 2nd year class 3a List the milestones that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2005. For each milestone, indicate the status: fully met, substantially met, or not met. If not met, why. 1. Completion of two early growth evaluations of 5 different genetic stocks Milestone Fully Met 2. Obtain an additional year-class of fish from industry and agency collaborators Milestone Fully Met 3. Completion of two early-growth evaluations of five (5) different pedigreed stocks Milestone Substantially Met 4. Completion of two
early-growth evaluations of separate diploid mixed sex, diploid all female, and triploid all female stocks Milestone Fully Met 5. Obtain eggs from ten full-sib families to genetic effects on triploid induction Milestone Substantially Met 3b List the milestones that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2006, 2007, and 2008). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? Years 2, 3, and 4 milestones (FY2005, 2006, and 2007) are listed below with a description of the anticipated outcomes. The entire project was developed and initiated during the first half of 2004 and is currently undergoing peer review. The project will be completed in 2008. Year 2 (FY2005) Early rearing evaluations of salmon growth during the freshwater phase will be completed, and then fish from the breeding program will be transferred to collaborator sea cages for performance evaluations. Additional year-classes of fish will be obtained from industry and
agency collaborators. Year 3 (FY2006) Evaluations of 2nd year-class of fish will be conducted. Year 4 (FY2007) Growth evaluations of fish for the saltwater phase in sea cages will be completed and data analysis conducted to determine the best performing stocks and families. A selected broodstock line will be developed based on breeding values from progeny evaluations. Data analysis will conducted to determine benefits in the breeding program from the use of all-female and/or triploid fish. Anticipated outcomes: A comprehensive breeding program will be developed for Atlantic salmon utilizing available quantitative genetic technologies. A selected Atlantic salmon line will be produced. A process will be developed for transfer of lines to commercial producers. 4a What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Atlantic salmon from 5 different sources were obtained from collaborators to initiate the breeding program at the USDA, ARS National Cold Water Marine
Aquaculture Center. Eggs were incubated, hatched, and fish reared as parr (juveniles) in indoor (greenhouse) tanks. Early growth evaluation of the different genetic stocks during the parr stage was completed. Parr were pit tagged and stocked into replicated communal tanks for evaluation of growth to smolts. Initial evaluations indicate differences in growth between stocks and individual families. 4c List any significant activities that support special target populations. Development of Atlantic salmon lines with superior performance for commercially important traits and utilization of these lines by commercial producers will help solve production problems, increase efficiency and profitability for both small and large producers, and provide a quality product for consumers. Commercial salmon producers have a critical, immediate need for improved stocks of North American origin, and almost certainly will utilize improved germplasm developed from the National Cold Water Marine
Aquaculture Center breeding program. Although the generation interval for Atlantic salmon is approximately 4 years, development and use of improved lines will quickly affect the profits both large producers and smaller contract growers. Because small contract producers do not enjoy the same economies of scale experienced by larger operations, breeding fish with improved production traits will be highly beneficial to small producers. 4d Progress report. Genetically improved Atlantic salmon lines selected for multiple economically important traits and derived from North American germplasm are important for the viability and continued growth of the commercial U. S. salmon industry. Program funding to initiate research was obtained in 2003 and a Research Leader was hired to develop temporary facilities to initiate the breeding program and plan construction of permanent facilities. The research program currently is utilizing temporary greenhouses for culture tanks while plans are
developed for construction of permanent facilities. Construction of required infrastructure (water wells, power lines, seawater pumping and storage) has been completed. The applied breeding program in the USDA, ARS NCWMAC will initially focus on growth, but also evaluate other commercially important traits if possible. At the present time, the research program is maintaining 2- year classes (2003 and 2004) in temporary facilities. The construction initiation of permanent facilities is planned for October 2005. The construction schedule estimates completion during the late summer/early fall of 2006. It is critical that fish currently being maintained in the breeding program move to permanent facilities at that time. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. This project was initiated in March 2003. Major accomplishments to date are: 1) the development of a new USDA, ARS national cold water marine finfish
research program and facilities in collaboration with producers and consumers, 2) a breeding program to develop improved Atlantic salmon lines from North American stocks has been initiated and is evaluating the germplasm in commercial production environments in collaboration with commercial producers, and 3) meetings have been held with research collaborators and producers concerning future multi-disciplinary research on salmon and other marine finfish with potential for commercial culture. 7. List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Wolters, W. R. 2004. Design and implementation of an applied Atlantic salmon breeding program. New England Farmed Fish Health Management Workshop, Washington County Community College, Marine Technology Center, Eastport, ME. April 1, 2004. p. 11. (Abstract).
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? U.S. salmon production is constrained by lack of genetic improvement, disease, and low production efficiency. U.S. salmon producers are required to culture salmon of North American origin; however, no genetically improved native stocks are available. This requirement has necessitated the development of an applied Atlantic salmon research program to increase efficiency and sustainability of Atlantic salmon culture. Coldwater aquaculture production has great potential for expansion in the U.S., and American consumers readily accept salmon as a mainstream food item. Domestic production of Atlantic salmon is concentrated in Maine and Washington, and Maine is currently the leading producer of cultured salmon in the U.S. The research unit's current primary research objective is genetic improvement of
Atlantic salmon utilizing a family-based selective breeding program. Economically important traits and goals will be defined, offspring from selected families will be analyzed for commercially important production traits (e. g. growth, disease resistance, fillet yield and quality), genetic and phenotypic variation estimated, and genetic analyses will be utilized to develop improved North American Atlantic salmon lines for U.S. producers and consumers. This project has four specific objectives: 1) obtain and compare performance of selected North American Atlantic salmon stocks for utilization in an applied selective breeding program; 2) estimate genotypic and phenotypic parameters for commercially important traits and develop a selection index; and 3) evaluate specific breeding aids such as polyploidy (triploid) and sex-reversal (all-female stocks) for benefits to Atlantic salmon aquaculture. Research accomplished during this project will result in the development of genetically
improved North American Atlantic salmon stocks for release to U.S. producers and consumers, and provide information and solve problems limiting the profitability and sustainability of coldwater marine aquaculture in the U.S. This research is conducted under ARS National Program 106 - Aquaculture. The research program relates to Agency National Program Goal 1: To Promote an Agricultural Food and Fiber System That is Productive and Highly Competitive in the Global Economy (specifically, Performance Goal 1.2.1.1: Experimentally develop and demonstrate production of new, improved, and alternative farm animals, crops, and horticultural products) , and Goal IV: To Foster an Agricultural System That Protects Natural Resources and the Environment (specifically, Performance Goal 4.1.2.3: Demonstrate techniques that can improve efficiency). There has been limited genetic improvement of aquaculture stocks so there are major opportunities for improvement through traditional animal breeding,
broodstock development, germplasm preservation, molecular genetics, and allied technologies. Commercial salmon producers in the U. S. predominantly utilize fish stocks that are not many generations removed from wild, unselected stocks. Research in the Atlantic salmon breeding program will address improvement of growth rates, feed efficiency, survival, disease resistance, fecundity, fillet yield and product quality; environmental tolerances; genetic characterization and gene mapping; and conservation and utilization of important aquatic germplasm. Development of improved Atlantic salmon lines utilizing North American germplasm with superior performance for commercially important traits and utilization of these lines in commercial culture will help solve production problems, increase efficiency and profitability, and provide a quality product for consumers. 2. List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Year 1 (FY2004) Completion of two early growth
evaluation of 5 different genetic stocks. Obtain an additional year-class of fish from industry and agency collaborators. Completion of two early-growth evaluations of 5 different pedigreed stocks. Completion of two early growth evaluations of separate diploid mixed sex, diploid all female, and triploid all female stocks. Obtain eggs from ten full-sib families to genetic effects on triploid induction. Year 2 (FY2005) Complete transfer of smolts to collaborator sea cages for performance evaluations. Complete data analysis from freshwater rearing phase. Complete transfer smolts to sea cages Stock pit tagged smolts from different stocks into sea cages. Completion of freshwater growth evaluations. Year 3 (FY2006) Complete transfer smolts to sea cages. Continue evaluations as in year 2 for new year class of fish obtained in 2004-2005. Year 4 (FY2007) Complete growth monitoring and harvest of fish from sea cages Determination of best performing stocks and families Complete data analysis of
saltwater rearing phase Complete calculation of breeding values Develop selected broodstock line for spawning Evaluate growth and reproductive characteristics of stocks Data analysis to determine benefits from all-female culture and triploidy Year 5 (FY2008) Complete growth monitoring and harvest of fish from sea cages from additional year class obtained in 2004-2005 Transfer eggs from select lines to collaborators Develop selected broodstock line for spawning from 2nd year class 3. Milestones: A. Temporary facilities were developed during the fall and spring (2003-2004) to incubate eggs and perform early rearing of Atlantic salmon. Eggs from 5 different North American salmon stocks (representing approximately 93 pedigreed families) were obtained in fall of 2003, incubated, hatched, and reared as parr (juveniles) in indoor (greenhouse) tanks. Early growth evaluation of the different genetic stocks is in progress and an initial 30-day evaluation will be completed by early August 2004.
The early growth evaluation of separate diploid mixed sex, diploid all female, and triploid all female stocks is also nearly complete. An additional year-class of fish from industry and agency collaborators will be obtained during the fall of 2004. B. Years 2, 3, and 4 milestones (FY2005, 2006, and 2007) are listed below with a description of the anticipated outcomes. The entire project was developed and initiated during the first half of 2004 and is currently undergoing peer review. The project will be completed in 2008. Year 2 (FY2005) Early rearing evaluations of salmon growth during the freshwater phase will be completed, and then fish from the breeding program will be transferred to collaborator sea cages for performance evaluations. Additional year-classes of fish will be obtained from industry and agency collaborators. Year 3 (FY2006) Evaluations of 2nd year-class of fish will be conducted. Year 4 (FY2007) Growth evaluations of fish for the saltwater phase in sea cages will
be completed and data analysis conducted to determine the best performing stocks and families. A selected broodstock line will be developed based on breeding values from progeny evaluations. Data analysis to determine benefits in the breeding program from the use of all-female and/or triploid fish. Anticipated outcomes: A comprehensive breeding program will be developed for Atlantic salmon utilizing available quantitative genetic technologies. A selected Atlantic salmon line will be produced. A process will be developed for transfer of lines to commercial producers. 4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single most significant accomplishment during FY 2004: Atlantic salmon from 5 different sources were obtained from collaborators to initiate the breeding program at the USDA, ARS National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center. Eggs were incubated, hatched, and fish reared as parr (juveniles) in indoor (greenhouse) tanks. Early growth evaluation of the
different genetic stocks is in progress and a 30-day evaluation will be completed by early August 2004. Initial evaluations indicate differences in growth between stocks and individual families. B. Other significant accomplishment(s), if any: None. C. Significant activities that support special target populations: Development of Atlantic salmon lines with superior performance for commercially important traits and utilization of these lines by commercial producers will help solve production problems, increase efficiency and profitability for both small and large producers, and provide a quality product for consumers. Commercial salmon producers have a critical, immediate need for improved stocks of North American origin, and almost certainly will utilize improved germplasm developed from the National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center breeding program. Although the generation interval for Atlantic salmon is approximately 4 years, development and use of improved lines will
quickly affect the profits both large producers and smaller contract growers. Because small contract producers do not enjoy the same economies of scale experienced by larger operations, breeding fish with improved production traits will be highly beneficial to small producers. D. Progress Report: Genetically improved Atlantic salmon lines selected for multiple economically important traits and derived from North American germplasm are important for the viability and continued growth of the commercial U. S. salmon industry. Program funding to initiate research was obtained in 2003 and a Research Leader was hired to develop temporary facilities to initiate the breeding program and plan construction of permanent facilities. The applied breeding program in the USDA, ARS NCWMAC will initially focus on growth, but also evaluate other commercially important traits if possible. This report serves to document research conducted under a non-funded cooperative agreement (58-1915-3-0331N)
between ARS National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center and the University of Maine. We are currently engaged in research and have independent interests in marine aquaculture. Both parties are striving to develop improved technologies to solve problems facing the sustainability of marine aquaculture and benefit U.S. producers and consumers. Mutual benefits to both research programs will be achieved through cooperative planning and execution of research activities that address state, regional and national priorities. Both groups have assigned staff members to assist in mutual research planning. Joint meetings have been conducted to discuss resource contributions of personnel, land, equipment, facilities, and other items necessary to support collaborative research. A long-term, multiple year, renewable lease was developed to address joint facility requirements. Shared research infrastructure consisting of a pump house and water storage facility is being constructed at the
Franklin, ME location with estimated completion by November 2004. Cooperative research involving ARS and University of Maine scientists will be discussed in collaboration with industry representative at annual meetings and review sessions. 5. Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. This project was initiated in March 2003. Major accomplishments expected over the life of the project are: 1) development of a new USDA, ARS national cold water marine finfish research program and facilities, 2) improved Atlantic salmon lines from a breeding program that will be evaluated in commercial production environments and to commercial producers and consumers, 3) development of a comprehensive breeding program for Atlantic salmon utilizing all available quantitative genetic and molecular technologies, and 4) future multi-disciplinary research on salmon and other marine finfish with potential for commercial culture. This research
is conducted under ARS National Program 106 - Aquaculture. The research program relates to Agency National Program Goal 1: To Promote an Agricultural Food and Fiber System That is Productive and Highly Competitive in the Global Economy (specifically, Performance Goal 1.2.1.1: Experimentally develop and demonstrate production of new, improved, and alternative farm animals, crops, and horticultural products) , and Goal IV: To Foster an Agricultural System That Protects Natural Resources and the Environment (specifically, Performance Goal 4.1.2.3: Demonstrate techniques that can improve efficiency).
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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