Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Develop and refine current best management practices for the production of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, at low stocking densities with specific focus on feeding practices; evaluate weight dependent, gender dependent, and processing dependent dress-out percentages of freshwater prawn and methods to transport effectively live freshwater prawns to market within 48h; and determine the most economical stocking density for the fingerling to stocker phase of the modular production system for farming of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Approach (from AD-416) Different organic fertilizers and combinations of organic fertilizers based upon carbon:nitrogen ratios will be evaluated in an attempt to increase the quality and quantity of natural productivity to serve as the principal food of freshwater prawn. Prawns will be separated by gender and processed for the calculation of gender-specific and weight-specific dressout percentages and for the determination of post freeze weight. Strategies will be developed to optimize conditions for transporting live chilled prawns. Stocker sized (12.6 cm) channel catfish will be grown at three stocking densities in earthen ponds and survival and harvest weight will be recorded. This is the final report for this project. Research was aimed to develop and refine current best management practices for the production of freshwater prawn and channel catfish, and determine optimal management of pond dissolved oxygen concentrations under constant aeration, manual control, or automated control. One objective was to determine whether an increased overall production of prawn at higher density could be achieved without sacrificing mean harvest weight. Stocking density was increased from 28,405/ha to 34, 580/ha, and in addition to the regular fertilization protocol, a water stable pelleted feed was fed for the final 6 weeks of growout. At the higher stocking density, use of water stable feed (trout pellet) for the final 1/3 of the growing season, in addition to fertilization, successfully increased mean harvest weight. With this feeding strategy, higher production (kg/ha) was be achieved without sacrificing mean harvest weight. The limited use of the water stable feed or possibly a supplement, rather than a nutritionally complete, water stable feed, may offer an economically attractive approach to achieving higher pond production. These results dramatically increased the prospects for economic success of freshwater prawn farming in the United States. Organic fertilization as part of the low input strategy eliminated the need for comparatively expensive formulated feeds, allowed flexibility in sources of organic material used to fertilize, produced a large proportion of a large, high-value product, and was an example of highly sustainable aquaculture. These studies led to a Best Management Practices manual for the low input production of the freshwater prawn for use by U. S. producers. A fingerling to stocker phase growth study was evaluated in channel catfish to determine whether the success achieved by feeding a 35% crude protein feed to catfish in the second phase (stocked initially at 123, 500/ha) of a three phase (modular) system in small experimental earthen ponds (0.05 ha) could be verified under commercial scale conditions (in 1. 62 water ha earthen ponds). A complementary economic analysis revealed that although stocker production cost in small research ponds was higher due to higher survival, overall foodfish cost of production was still $0. 029/kg less than that in the traditional, multiple-batch system. The development of predictive water quality relationships were evaluated by the collection of temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, dissolved oxygen saturation, turbidity, chlorophyll fluorescence, and phycocyanin (cyanobacterial/blue green algae pigments) fluorescence from research ponds. This research led to the development of a preliminary model to predict water quality. The ADODR collaborated with the cooperating principle investigators and monitored performance through personal meetings, telephone, and email correspondence.
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Progress 09/22/05 to 04/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Develop and refine current best management practices for the production of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, at low stocking densities with specific focus on feeding practices; evaluate weight dependent, gender dependent, and processing dependent dress-out percentages of freshwater prawn and methods to transport effectively live freshwater prawns to market within 48h; and determine the most economical stocking density for the fingerling to stocker phase of the modular production system for farming of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Approach (from AD-416) Different organic fertilizers and combinations of organic fertilizers based upon carbon:nitrogen ratios will be evaluated in an attempt to increase the quality and quantity of natural productivity to serve as the principal food of freshwater prawn. Prawns will be separated by gender and processed for the calculation of gender-specific and weight-specific dressout percentages and for the determination of post freeze weight. Strategies will be developed to optimize conditions for transporting live chilled prawns. Stocker sized (12.6 cm) channel catfish will be grown at three stocking densities in earthen ponds and survival and harvest weight will be recorded. Progress concluded with the 2010 Annual Report, but was not terminated because of financial management reasons. See 2010 Annual Report for last reported progress.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Develop and refine current best management practices for the production of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, at low stocking densities with specific focus on feeding practices; evaluate weight dependent, gender dependent, and processing dependent dress-out percentages of freshwater prawn and methods to transport effectively live freshwater prawns to market within 48h; and determine the most economical stocking density for the fingerling to stocker phase of the modular production system for farming of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Approach (from AD-416) Different organic fertilizers and combinations of organic fertilizers based upon carbon:nitrogen ratios will be evaluated in an attempt to increase the quality and quantity of natural productivity to serve as the principal food of freshwater prawn. Prawns will be separated by gender and processed for the calculation of gender-specific and weight-specific dressout percentages and for the determination of post freeze weight. Strategies will be developed to optimize conditions for transporting live chilled prawns. Stocker sized (12.6 cm) channel catfish will be grown at three stocking densities in earthen ponds and survival and harvest weight will be recorded. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations The ADODR collaborates with the cooperating principle investigators and has continuously monitored performance on this extramural agreement through personal meetings, telephone, and e-mail correspondence to ensure that the project is progressing in accordance with the objectives of the agreement. Rising costs of feedstuffs (corn, soybean meal) have created an urgent need to evaluate the efficacy of other pelleted nutrient sources (alfalfa pellets, soy hull pellets) in the low input management practices for the farming of the freshwater prawn. Additionally, the economic value of grading populations of juvenile prawns, a management practice currently followed by many producers, was evaluated. Ponds were fertilized prior to stocking with applications of cottonseed meal. There were five treatments, five replicates (ponds) per treatment. One group of three treatments was designed to compare the efficacy of the different pelleted forms of nutrient sources range cubes/corn gluten pellets, alfalfa pellets, and soy hull pellets containing 23.2%, 13.3 %, and 13.1 % crude protein, respectively. The effect of stocking ungraded juveniles versus juveniles from the same population graded into two groups was also evaluated using three treatments in which the total weight of range cubes/corn gluten pellets added to the ponds were the same. The mean harvest weight of prawns in ponds that received the alfalfa pellets and the soy hull pellets was significantly less than that of the prawns harvested from ponds receiving the combination of range cubes and corn gluten pellets. The larger prawn size (26.5/kg) harvested from ponds in the range cube treatment resulted in a $17.68/kg sales price compared to that achieved ($11.05/kg) with the size of prawns harvested from the alfalfa (39.8/kg) and soy hull treatments. Percentages of prawn harvested by size category allowed for a refined estimate of sales based on a weighted average price. Net returns based upon total receipts (revenue) minus variable and fixed costs are $ 8.49/kg for the upper grade and $5. 97/kg for the ungraded juveniles. The payback period was 1.5 years, 2.3 years, and 4.9 years for the upper, ungraded, and lower graded treatments, respectively; additionally, with the assumption that price and production conditions hold over the long term, calculated internal rates of return were 69.8%, 44.3% and 16.3%, respectively. Due to the vagaries of cost, the success of this management strategy allows flexibility in the selection of sources of pellets composed exclusively of plant based ingredients. The economic analysis that complemented the study of size grading establishes the benefits of this management practice. This information also introduces flexibility relative to the use of upper grade and lower grade populations relative to price and stocking density of the different populations.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Develop and refine current best management practices for the production of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, at low stocking densities with specific focus on feeding practices; evaluate weight dependent, gender dependent, and processing dependent dress-out percentages of freshwater prawn and methods to transport effectively live freshwater prawns to market within 48h; and determine the most economical stocking density for the fingerling to stocker phase of the modular production system for farming of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Approach (from AD-416) Different organic fertilizers and combinations of organic fertilizers based upon carbon:nitrogen ratios will be evaluated in an attempt to increase the quality and quantity of natural productivity to serve as the principal food of freshwater prawn. Prawns will be separated by gender and processed for the calculation of gender-specific and weight-specific dressout percentages and for the determination of post freeze weight. Strategies will be developed to optimize conditions for transporting live chilled prawns. Stocker sized (12.6 cm) channel catfish will be grown at three stocking densities in earthen ponds and survival and harvest weight will be recorded. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations The ADODR collaborates with the cooperating principle investigators and has continuously monitored performance on this extramural agreement through personal meetings, telephone, and email correspondence to ensure that the project is progressing in accordance with the objectives of the agreement. Research to determine optimal management of pond dissolved oxygen concentrations was evaluated under different operating schemes (constant aeration; manual control; or automated control). Continuous use of the aerators significantly increased electricity costs, but this cost was offset by the increased cost of labor and gasoline for manual monitoring protocols, leading to no significant differences in the partial net returns between these two aeration schemes. The automatically controlled aeration devices that worked best in following programmed protocol in ponds showed an approximate 30% increase in partial net returns over those of the average constant and manually monitored schemes partial net returns. The evaluation of whether production results n achieved in small experimental earthen ponds (0.05 ha) assigned to the fingerling to stocker (second) phase of the modular system for catfish could be verified under commercial scale conditions was completed. Verification of the modular system proved to be successful and preliminary economic analysis indicates a reduced cost of production as compared to the current multiple batch system for catfish farmers. This management scheme also offers greater efficiency, improved control of inventory, a reduced loss due to bird depredation, and a better opportunity to adjust to processor desire for particular sizes of harvested fish. Evaluation of organic fertilization/feeding strategies as part of the low-input management practices for the earthen pond culture of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii was completed. The results of the experiments using different fertilizers and different feeding strategies provide for a cost-dependent strategy of selection of a known organic fertilizer that has been demonstrated to be equally successful when compared to other, known to be successful fertilizers. Producers will be afforded more flexibility in managing variable costs of an operation because a variety of effective fertilizers is available for use, and stocking densities can be increased without sacrificing mean harvest weight due to density dependent growth factors. D�Abramo, L. R., T. R. Hanson, and J. A. Steeby. 2008. Production and associated economics of channel catfish Ictalurus puntatus fed different practical diets in a fingerling to stocker phase of culture. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 70(2):154-161.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Develop and refine current best management practices for the production of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, at low stocking densities with specific focus on feeding practices; evaluate weight dependent, gender dependent, and processing dependent dress-out percentages of freshwater prawn and methods to transport effectively live freshwater prawns to market within 48h; and determine the most economical stocking density for the fingerling to stocker phase of the modular production system for farming of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Approach (from AD-416) Different organic fertilizers and combinations of organic fertilizers based upon carbon:nitrogen ratios will be evaluated in an attempt to increase the quality and quantity of natural productivity to serve as the principal food of freshwater prawn. Prawns will be separated by gender and processed for the calculation of gender-specific and weight-specific dressout percentages and for the determination of post freeze weight. Strategies will be developed to optimize conditions for transporting live chilled prawns. Stocker sized (12.6 cm) channel catfish will be grown at three stocking densities in earthen ponds and survival and harvest weight will be recorded. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document research conducted under Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Station. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the in-house project 6402-31000-008-00D, �Catfish Genetics, Breeding, and Physiology.� The ADODR collaborates with the cooperating PI and has continuously monitored performance on this extramural agreement through personal meetings, telephone, and email correspondence to ensure that the project is progressing in accordance with the objectives of the agreement. Evaluation of a fingerling to stocker phase (2nd phase) of a 3-phase modular system for the culture of channel catfish continued. A verification study was conducted in 4-acre ponds to determine whether results achieved previously in small experimental ponds were applicable to commercial scale conditions. Fingerlings were stocked (123,550/ha) into ponds in early April. After 142 days, individual mean weight for all ponds ranged from 150 to 186 g. Fish were then fed until November and harvested in January. At final harvest, mean individual weight ranged from 109 to 159 g, a good size for stocking the final growout (phase-3) ponds. Survival averaged 47%, approximately 20% less than that obtained in small ponds. Mortality was primarily attributed to disease. Fish harvested from the phase-2 ponds were stocked into phase-3 ponds at a density of either 5,000 or 6,500 per acre. Partial harvest of these ponds is scheduled for late July to determine what percentage of the harvested population has achieved market size. An economic analysis of the second and third phases of culture is planned to determine whether the 3-phase system offers an effective alternative management strategy for commercial catfish production.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 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? Why does it matter? A primary challenge of established or burgeoning aquaculture enterprises is to be dynamic to address the every changing marketplace. Otherwise, being able to successfully compete on a global scale will not be possible. Therefore, there must be a recognition and corresponding commitment to develop and/or modify management strategies to promote good management practices and sustainability. In addition, recognition of maintaining a sufficiently low production cost is needed whereby the eventual cost of purchase of the product will be sufficiently attractive to the domestic consumer whereby an economically competitive advantage over imports is maintained. The production aspect of burgeoning aquaculture enterprises must be complemented by intensive marketing studies that will identify
consumer niches that pose the best opportunity to yield prices that will comfortably exceed the break even production costs. The goal of this research is to evaluate different management strategies designed to increase production efficiency of the freshwater prawn and the channel catfish. The results of investigations of different management practices will hopefully provide farmers with the information to make management decisions so they can achieve the lowest break-even production costs based upon their specific needs. The strategies are designed to be environmentally friendly, and still include a flexibility whereby the product can still be competitive within the global marketplace. 2. List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) FY 2006 (Year 2) 1.1 Determine the most efficient organic fertilization and associated pond management practices for low input aquaculture of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. 1.2 Determine the possible
role of water circulation and carbon nitrogen ratio of fertilizer on production of the freshwater prawn M. rosenbergii and the possible role in contributing to favorable water quality conditions. 1.3 Determine overall production costs (breakeven) of growout of M. rosenbergii based upon different feeding (fertilization) and associated pond management practices through economic analysis. 1.4 Determine the dressout percentages of harvested freshwater prawns that exceed 45 g total weight and whether sex-dependent differences exist. 1.5 Evaluate methods to achieve successful transport of live shrimp with little or no water for short periods of time (24-36 hours). 2.1 Determine the effect of stocking density, stocking size, and feed quality on production in the second phase, fingerling to stocker, of a three-phase system for the farming of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. 2.2 Conduct economic analyses to evaluate cost of production of stockers under different management
scenarios for culture. 2.3 Compare experimental results with those of verification studies of both the second and third phases of catfish growout and include an economic analysis. FY 2007 (Year 3) (1) Repeat fingerling to stocker experiment using a 35% crude protein diet with a stocking date of 6 weeks later; in conjunction with a repeat of the experiment conducted in Year 2, evaluate the effect of a medicated feed, Aquaflor, to treat ESC, a catfish disease, in an attempt to increase survival and total production at harvest for thisi phase of channel catfish culture. (2) Conduct an economic analysis of results of the fingerling to stocker research and compare with the results of the investigation conducted in FY 2006. (3) Begin verification of fingerling to stocker phase of catfish farming results in small ex perimental ponds by conducting a similar experiment in large scale, 4-A ponds. (4) Colelct and analyze data collected from ongoing study to evaluate the role of water
circulation and carbon:nitrogen ratios on freshwater prawn production and water quality; include economic analysis. (5) Determine the total input of fertilizer needed to achieve optimal production of freshwater prawns under low input culture practices conducted in earthen ponds; include economic analysis. (6) Evaluation methods to achieve successful transport of live shrimp with little or no water for short periods of tiem (24-36 hours). (7) Evaluate the effect of herbicides on survival of juvenile freshwater prawns. FY 2008 (Year 4) (1) Complete verification of the three phase culture of channel catfhis by stocking third phase ponds with stockers derived from the second phase, fingerling to stocker, of culture. (2) Continue to study the role of water circulation and carbon:nitrogen ratios on freshwater prawn by provision of different sources of carbohydrate, bagasse, tapioca powder, relative to the provision of desired carbon:nitrogen ratios and different methods to maintain
organic material in suspension. (3) Continue to evaluate the effect of herbicides on survival of juvenil freshwater prawns production. (4) Develop methods to evaluate quantity and quality of bacterial populations on freshwater prawn productions ponds based upon the most efficient fertilization strategy. (5) Continue to evaluate methods to achieve successful transport of live shrimp with little or no water for a short period of time (24-36 hours). FY 2009 (Year 5) (1) Continue to study the role of water circulation and carbon:nitrogen ratios on freshwater prawn production and water quality, using different methods to circulate water and maintain organic material in suspension and different sources of carbohydrate relative to the provision of desired carbon:nitrogen ratios. (2) Modify or expand approaches based upon results of experiments conducted in previous years. 4a List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. Successful fingerling to stocker phase
of catfish culture: The successful demonstration of the fingerling to stocker phase of culture of channel catfish introduces the catfish farmer to a variety of management options based upon management goals and include choices of size of fingerling, stocking density, and crude protein content of food fed. The three phase system is a broad management concept that provides for a dramatic improvement in inventory capabilities that are critical for a viable future for the catfish industry. With the proper management strategy, the size of the majority of stockers produced in this phase exceed the size upon which cormorants are able to predate, thereby eliminating significant financial loss that is incurred due to depredation in the traditional multiple batch system of farming. Economic analysis suggests that this phase combined with the final growout phase is an appealing and more efficient alternative to current management practices. Catfish farmers now have empirically derived production
and economic information to judge the benefits that can be accrued through assumption of the new approach to catfish farming. 4b List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any. Effective organic fertilization practices for low input culture of freshwater prawns The success of using comparatively inexpensive organic materials as a substitute for sinking catfish feed increases the prospects for an economically viable freshwater prawn industry in the United States. Organic fertilization is part of the sustainable, ecofriendly characteristics of low input aquaculture and will reduce the cost of production dramatically while producing a large product that commands a higher price. Farmers now have a flexibility in the choice of organic fertilizer to achieve the desired management goals. The success of this work lays the foundation for organic certification of the product based upon the guidelines that have been developed by the USDA. 4c List significant activities that support
special target populations. The USDA/NASS Census of Aquaculture conducted in 2000 classified 84% of catfish farms as small businesses, with annual sales of less than $500, 000. Catfish farmers are the primary recipients of the benefits derived from the research. The information gives farmers the means to adapt to changing demands placed upon the industry and to increase the efficiency of production by being able to have an accurate assessment of inventory, and by minimizing catastrophic losses due to bird depredation, disease, and adverse water quality conditions. The freshwater prawn farming industry in the United States continues to grow and offers diversification to farmers who are already engaged in aquatic farming enterprise. In addition, farmers who have traditionally grown tobacco and traditional row crops are looking for alternative crops and freshwater prawn farming has been identified as a viable alternative for realizing greater income per unit of area. The growth of a
domestic freshwater prawn industry based upon inland production offers opportunities for rural development in the form of small businesses. Domestically produced, high quality seafood at a competitive price should help to reduce a significant contributor to the US trade deficit, the importation of seafood. 5. Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. Individuals who are part of the aquaculture industry in the United States, both established and in the process of development, will benefit from the scientific knowledge that has been gained. Some catfish farmers are beginning to incorporate the management strategies, or variations thereof, that have been tested and proposed to them as a means to increase the efficiency of production. Prawn farmers have already begun to incorporate recommended organic fertilization practices on their farms. The management strategies that have been evaluated for both channel catfish and freshwater prawn offer the
ability to reduce production costs and therefore increase profit and meet the challenge of remaining profitable amid the inevitable global competition. 6. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end- user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? The benefits of the alternative management strategies that have already been transferred to the appropriate clientele. The information has been disseminated through industry meetings, research/industry newsletters, and presentations/workshops to state and national industry groups for both channel catfish and freshwater prawn farming. Catfish farmers now have important information that will assist them in deciding about the management strategies that they will use to grow catfish. The three phase system is an attractive replacement of the multi-batch
system and may eventually become the choice of practice in the catfish industry because, as an alternative, it offers greater efficiency and a higher margin for profit. Some commercial catfish farmers have already opted to adopt the three phase culture system. Freshwater prawn farmers now have available to them greater flexibility in the choice of organic fertilizers that they can use in the low input production strategies. The quality and quantity of feeding have been described for prawn farmers and many are adopting the low input style of farming based upon the results being realized on the commercial level. The use of fertilizers rather than formulated feed represents a major cost savings for what has commonly constituted a large proportion of total operational cost. This year, commercial freshwater prawn farmers have begun to incorporate the organic fertilization management schemes that were developed and tested through our research. Verification of production levels based
upon recommended management practices obtained through research results in small experimental research ponds has been realized in larger, commercial size ponds. 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). D'Abramo, L. R., J. A. Steeby, and T. R. Hanson. Evaluation of production in a fingerling-to-stocker phase of a modular system for farming of channel catfish, Catfish Farmers of America Research Symposium, San Antonio, TX, February, 2006. D'Abramo, L. R., J. A. Steeby, and T. R. Hanson. Evaluation of diets of different protein content on production in a fingerling to stocker phase of a modular system for farming of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus Aquaculture America, February, 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada. D'Abramo, L. R. Low input pond production of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii using an organic fertilization strategy.
Aquaculture America, February, 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada. D'Abramo, L. R. Freshwater Prawn Farming: Benefits, Requirements, Recommendations, and Risks. Freshwater Prawn Production Workshop, February, 2006, Stoneville, MS. D'Abramo, L. R. Alternative Feeding Opportunities to Maintain Production and Decrease Costs, North Carolina State University Extension Workshop (Marketing Opportunities for Freshwater Prawn: Sharing Cutting - Edge Research Based and Industry Proven Strategies), Goldsboro, NC, 2006.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Station. Note this project has not been awarded at the present time. It will have details of it's research reported under it's parent research project 6402-31000-008-00D, Catfish Genetics, Breeding and Physiology.
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