Effects of Feeding Frequency on Multiple-batch Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Production and Costs When Understocked with Large Stockers

Increased prices of feed, the greatest component of production costs, have forced some catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, farmers to feed less often to reduce expenditures. This study evaluated the effects of three feeding frequencies (every day, ED; every other day, EOD; or every third day, E3D) when large stockers (69 ± 2 g) were understocked with carryover fish (>350 g) in multiple-batch catfish production. Twelve 0.04-ha earthen ponds were stocked with 11,115 stockers/ha (69 ± 2 g) and 2240 kg/ha of carryover fish (400 ± 10 g) on March 15, 2006, with four replicates per treatment. Ponds were harvested completely October 9–11, 2006. Gross and net yield increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increased feeding frequency, and total feed fed was greatest for the ED feeding treatment. Growth of stockers decreased significantly as feeding frequency decreased. In this study, growth of carryover fish decreased when fed EOD as compared to ED feeding. Dressout yields of market-sized fish were significantly lower when fish were fed E3D. The partial budget showed a loss of −$646/ha for switching from ED feeding to EOD feeding and a loss of −$1926/ha for switching from ED feeding to E3D feeding (at a feed price of $260/m.t.). ED feeding continued to be more profitable up to a feed price of $385/m.t.