Can Catfish Aquaculture be Profitable in Farm Ponds?

Extensive channel catfish farming is a means of utilizing farm ponds for aquaculture production for either supplementary income of home use. This involves stocking catfish at sufficiently low densities such that a pond is able to assimilate excess feed and fish wastes without needing supplemental aeration or chemicals to keep water quality from reaching toxic levels. This is "low-tech" aquaculture and requires little producer labor/management inputs. A mathematical model of extensive catfish culture in farm ponds was presented in this paper. This model used data from Kentucky where part-time producers, with a minimum of aquaculture experience and time for pond management, are involved in culturing catfish for retail/live markets. Results of this model showed that the optimal strategy would be to stock fish at densities up to 3,000/ha/yr (1,200/ac/yr). Other results showed that breakeven prices were less than $2.20/kg ($1.00/lb), a popular retail price for whole catfish. Hence, this paper concluded that small-scale aquaculture is both feasible and profitable in farm ponds, provided the producer had access to retail markets for the product.Mathematical programming, catfish, aquaculture, farm ponds, Livestock Production/Industries,

SUSTAINABLE CHANNEL CATFISH FARMING: LOW MANAGEMENT PRODUCTION THROUGH MODIFIED STOCKING AND FEEDING PRACTICES

Sustainability has become the recent buzz-word in aquaculture and agriculture. As Claude Boyd indicated in San Diego (Aquaculture \u2795), aquaculture is not truly sustainable because aquaculture relies on external feed, chemical, and energy inputs. The United States Farm Bill of 1990 more narrowly defined the key components of sustainability as: maintaining profitability, supplying food and fiber needs, using non-renewable resources efficiently, enhancing renewable resources, and improving the quality of life in rural areas

An evaluation of specific ionic and growth parameters affecting the feasibility of commercially producing red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Typescript (photocopy).Seven experiments were conducted to determine whether red drum might be commercially cultured in inland salt or fresh waters. Four of these were to define specific environmental requirements, absolute and survival ranges, for calcium and magnesium. Two initial and two secondary studies were conducted in salt and fresh waters differing in concentrations of calcium and/or magnesium. Red drum weighing 1-3 g were stocked in each experimental trial at 15/114 l tank; treatments had three replicates. Environmental calcium significantly affected red drum survival in salt and fresh waters; magnesium produced no discernible performance effects. In saltwater (35 g/l total dissolved solids (TDS)) experiments, fish in treatments containing less than 176 mg/l calcium exhibited 100% mortality within 96 hours. Best survivals, 78-84% at 96 hours, were observed in treatments containing 340-465 mg/l calcium. Red drum stocked in fresh water (0.56-1.9 g/l TDS) with calcium concentrations 1.7 mg/l or less performed poorly (0-33% survival within 96 hours). Growth and survival were not significantly affected when calcium was between 9-407 mg/l. Ammonia-nitrogen concentrations were significantly higher in saltwater treatments containing trace magnesium. Generally, fish from initial fresh water and saltwater experiments had significantly better long term (42 day) survivals than those from the second set of experiments. This appeared to be related to the use of acid washed biofiltration media (removal of essential trace components perhaps) in the second trials. Three growth feasibility studies were performed, two in ponds with hard (120 mg/l calcium) fresh water and one in a low salinity (5 g/l TDS) closed system. Pond results suggested that red drum fingerlings (35 g) performed better, mean weight 450 g with 90% survival after 215 days, than fry (4-6 g), mean weight 18 g with 9-15% survival after 106-115 days. Apparently, floating catfish feed was not consumed, while crawfish and tilapia fry were. Closed system research demonstrated that red drum fed commercial salmon feeds (44-48% protein) displayed exponential growth. It appears that red drum fingerlings offered crawfish forage or commercial salmon formulations can be pond cultured to market size in one season

An evaluation of specific ionic and growth parameters affecting the feasibility of commercially producing red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

Typescript (photocopy).Seven experiments were conducted to determine whether red drum might be commercially cultured in inland salt or fresh waters. Four of these were to define specific environmental requirements, absolute and survival ranges, for calcium and magnesium. Two initial and two secondary studies were conducted in salt and fresh waters differing in concentrations of calcium and/or magnesium. Red drum weighing 1-3 g were stocked in each experimental trial at 15/114 l tank; treatments had three replicates. Environmental calcium significantly affected red drum survival in salt and fresh waters; magnesium produced no discernible performance effects. In saltwater (35 g/l total dissolved solids (TDS)) experiments, fish in treatments containing less than 176 mg/l calcium exhibited 100% mortality within 96 hours. Best survivals, 78-84% at 96 hours, were observed in treatments containing 340-465 mg/l calcium. Red drum stocked in fresh water (0.56-1.9 g/l TDS) with calcium concentrations 1.7 mg/l or less performed poorly (0-33% survival within 96 hours). Growth and survival were not significantly affected when calcium was between 9-407 mg/l. Ammonia-nitrogen concentrations were significantly higher in saltwater treatments containing trace magnesium. Generally, fish from initial fresh water and saltwater experiments had significantly better long term (42 day) survivals than those from the second set of experiments. This appeared to be related to the use of acid washed biofiltration media (removal of essential trace components perhaps) in the second trials. Three growth feasibility studies were performed, two in ponds with hard (120 mg/l calcium) fresh water and one in a low salinity (5 g/l TDS) closed system. Pond results suggested that red drum fingerlings (35 g) performed better, mean weight 450 g with 90% survival after 215 days, than fry (4-6 g), mean weight 18 g with 9-15% survival after 106-115 days. Apparently, floating catfish feed was not consumed, while crawfish and tilapia fry were. Closed system research demonstrated that red drum fed commercial salmon feeds (44-48% protein) displayed exponential growth. It appears that red drum fingerlings offered crawfish forage or commercial salmon formulations can be pond cultured to market size in one season

Can Catfish Aquaculture be Profitable in Farm Ponds?

Extensive channel catfish farming is a means of utilizing farm ponds for aquaculture production for either supplementary income of home use. This involves stocking catfish at sufficiently low densities such that a pond is able to assimilate excess feed and fish wastes without needing supplemental aeration or chemicals to keep water quality from reaching toxic levels. This is "low-tech" aquaculture and requires little producer labor/management inputs. A mathematical model of extensive catfish culture in farm ponds was presented in this paper. This model used data from Kentucky where part-time producers, with a minimum of aquaculture experience and time for pond management, are involved in culturing catfish for retail/live markets. Results of this model showed that the optimal strategy would be to stock fish at densities up to 3,000/ha/yr (1,200/ac/yr). Other results showed that breakeven prices were less than $2.20/kg ($1.00/lb), a popular retail price for whole catfish. Hence, this paper concluded that small-scale aquaculture is both feasible and profitable in farm ponds, provided the producer had access to retail markets for the product

Trading & Investing System Development: A System of Systems

Developed an autonomous stock trading algorithm. Each group member created their own trading system, and parts of each system were combined into a single system. The final system consists of a separate algorithm for selecting stocks, buying stocks, allocation money, and selling stocks. The buy process uses a Random Forest machine learning algorithm trained on historical stock prices and modified bars based on volume to predict when to buy. The system and backtesting software were developed in Python using modules Numpy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, and Matplotlib. The system was tested across short, intermediate and long term periods. The average annualized return on investment for the three time periods was 26.67%

Autonomous Trading System with Machine Learning

Developed an autonomous stock trading algorithm. Each group member created their own trading system, and parts of each system were combined into a single system. The final system consists of a separate algorithm for selecting stocks, buying stocks, allocation money, and selling stocks. The buy process uses a Random Forest machine learning algorithm trained on historical stock prices and modified bars based on volume to predict when to buy. The system and backtesting software were developed in Python using modules Numpy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, and Matplotlib. The system was tested across short, intermediate and long term periods. The average annualized return on investment for the three time periods was 26.67%