Growth and Feed Efficiency of Channel × Blue Catfish Hybrids Stocked at Various Densities and Fed Once or Twice Daily in Ponds

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density and feeding frequency on the growth, net yield, and feed conversion of hybrid catfish (female channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus × male blue catfish I. furcatus). In experiment 1, hybrid catfish fingerlings with a mean initial weight of 65 g were stocked into ten 0.4-ha earthen ponds at a density of 12,355 fish/ha. In experiment 2, hybrid catfish fingerlings with the same mean initial weight as in experiment 1 were stocked into twenty 0.4-ha earthen ponds at densities of 18,532 and 24,710 fish/ha, respectively. Fish were fed once or twice daily to apparent satiation. In experiment 1, all fish were harvested in early September. In experiment 2, market-size fish (target size, ≥0.794 kg/fish) were selectively harvested in late September by means of an in-pond mechanical fish grader with the bar spacing set to 5.4 cm. All remaining fish were harvested in mid-June the next year. In both experiments, fish fed twice daily were g...