Polyculture of Buffalo Hybrids with Channel Catfish

Bigmouth buffalo (BM) (Ictiobus cyrinellus) X black buffalo (BL) (L niger) and BL X BM were compared with BM parentals when reared in polyculture with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), grass carp (Ctenopharynogodon idella) , and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) over a 2-season period. All buffalo were 1 year old when stocked and 2~ years of age at harvest. All other fish were yearlings when stocked. Stocking rates per hectare were 2500 catfish, 30 grass carp, 100 bass and 250 buffalo. At harvest, catfish averaged slightly over 1 kg each, while bigmouth, BL X BM, and BM X BL hybrids were 2.86, 2.93, and 2.14 kg, respectively. Grass carp averaged 3.33 kg each for all combinations. Highest catfish yields and greatest total fish production were achieved in the polyculture combinations. The polyculture stocking combination with bigmouth buffalo was best with BL X BM next. The monoculture yield was lowest, even when just catfish production was compared.

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Starting page
562
Ending page
565
ID
33861