2016 Annual Catfish Update Meeting Summary
Demopolis Convention Center, Alabama
Auburn University – School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences
& Aquaculture and Fisheries Business Institute (AFBI)
December 13, 2016
8:30 Registration - A meeting program, AU abstract packet, drawing ticket and meeting
evaluation sheet given to all attendees. Aercon table with business information in the foyer. Coffee
and doughnuts were served.
9:00 – 9:30 - A Welcome to the Annual Catfish Update Meeting from:
Terry Hanson (AU), Rick Oates (ALFA) & Will Pearce (ACP)
Dr. Joe Tomasso, Dir., AU School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences
Mr. Patrick Moody, Alabama Dept of Agriculture and Industries
Dr. Paul Patterson, Director AAES & Dean AU College of Agriculture
9:30 – 9:40 State of the Catfish Industry - 2016 – Terry Hanson (AU)
Round weight US catfish processing quantity in 2016 was 319 million pounds, within the last six years
range of 307 to 348 million pounds processed. US price received by producers from processors
averaged $1.17 per pound (including charges for any services provided by the processing plant, such
as seining and hauling), up 4 cents from 2015; and ranged from $1.12 to $1.23 per pound. Average
28% and 32% protein catfish feed was $350 and $378 per ton respectively. The 2016 foodsize catfish
feed delivered was 436 thousand ton, 12% above the 2015 level. The 2016 fingerling/broodstock fish
feed delivered was 47 thousand tons, up 33% from the 2015 level. The stable fish price received and
lower catfish feed price points toward greater fish production in 2017. Increased fingerling and
broodstock feeding supports having more fish available in 2017.
9:40 – 9:50 Disease impact in West Alabama Aquaculture in 2016 – Bill Hemstreet (AU)
A survey to determine the 2016 catfish losses in West Alabama due to diseases indicated:
- 3.2 million pounds were lost to virulent Aeromonas hydrophila (equal to 2015 level);
- 2.3 million pounds lost to Flavobacterium Columnaris (vs 1.5 million lb in 2015, a 37% increase);
- 78 thousand pounds lost to proliferative gill disease (down from 1.0 million lb in 2015);
- 0.5 million pounds lost to Edwarsiella ictaluri (compared to 0.7 million lb in 2015);
- 0.8 million pounds lost to toxic releases (compared to 0.3 million pounds in 2015).
Total pounds lost to diseases in 2015 and 2016 were 6.8 and 7.0 million pounds respectively in the
17,743-acre west Alabama catfish industry. The additional cost of disease treatment and
associated costs was estimated at $12.3 million dollars in 2016.
Starting January 2017 all medicated feeds will require a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). Currently
only Aquaflor requires a VFD for catfish, but in January 2017 Romet and Terramycin will require a
VFD. In order for a veterinarian to write a VFD, there must be a VCPR (Veterinary-Client-Patient
relationship). This means the vet will need to visit your farm periodically. You must maintain your
VFD records for 2 years afterward.
On December 2, 2016 an important Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruling was issued. A
Compliance Policy Guide on Extra label Use of Medicated Feeds for Minor Species. This GFI (Guide
for Industry) #213 will allow Veterinarians to write VFD’s for treating bacteria that may not be on
the label for that particular medicated feed. This means Aquaflor can now be used for virulent
Aeromonas hydrophila.
9:50 – 10:00 Virulent Aeromonas hydrophila 2016 research field trials – J. Terhune / M. Liles (AU)
An emerging epidemic of disease in farmed catfish, Motile Aeromonas Septicemia (MAS) is due to a
highly virulent strain of Aeromonas hydrophila (vAh) that especially affects mature, market-size
catfish. Since 2009, over 15 million pounds of catfish have died from this one disease. Since 2009,
efforts to evaluate Vaccine and Probiotic solutions to control vAh have been initiated. Virulence
studies identified genes involved in the pathogenesis of vAh. Vaccine development used gene
knockout techniques that produced viable but not virulent strains for use in vaccines. Probiotic
evaluation in feed has colonized the fish gut with bacteria that can improve catfish survival in vAh
challenges.
Auburn University is using in-pond raceway systems (IPRS) to transfer research findings to the field
in West Alabama. In 2015, a yearlong study included three ponds, each with 4 IPRS units per pond
with 4 cells per IPRS. Fish were stocked at 1,360 fish per cell. Treatments included: 1) Control
channel catfish, 2) Probiotic fed channel, 3) Phytase fed channel, and 4) Injection with inactivated
vaccine. The inactivated vaccine treatment involved injecting fish intraperitoneally with the
inactivated vaccine. Results showed vaccinated channel catfish had significantly greater survival
than non-vaccinated control channel catfish. Hybrid catfish also had significantly greater survival
than control channel catfish. In 2016 an oral method, that is placing the inactivated vaccine onto
the feed for delivery to the catfish was tried but did not significantly increase survival over control
channel catfish. Probiotic coated feed also did not show a significantly higher survival. On-going
studies include laboratory vaccine trials with USDA/ARS and Merck Animal Health investigating
efficient vaccine delivery strategies and live/dead non-virulent vAh strains for vaccine
development; probiotic delivery systems and ways to promote enhanced growth of positive fish gut
bacteria.
Help in these studies have come from a variety of sources, including: AU Alabama Agricultural
Experiment Station; AU School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences; AU Department of
Biological Sciences; AU College of Veterinarian Sciences; AU College of Agriculture Facilities;
Alabama Catfish Producers; Osprey Biotechnics; Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries;
National Science Foundation’ USDA Agricultural Research System; and the Southern Regional
Aquaculture Consortium
10:00 - 10:10 SunBelt Ag Expo – Claude Reeves
The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition is a 3-day event held in October in Moultrie, Georgia. There are
80 – 90,000 visitors, over 1,200 exhibitors, over 4,000 product lines and a 600-acre research farm.
The Tri-State Aquaculture Committee (AL-Auburn; FL- Univ. of FL; GA-Univ. of GA) and of the
Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition has set up and staffed a booth/tent since 1996 with the objective of
aquaculture education and support. Activities in 2015 and 2016 included: 1) Cooking and giving
away samples of AL grown USA farm-raised catfish; 2) Distributing catfish cookbooks and recipe
brochures; 3) Distributing educational literature on aquaculture, fisheries management, aquaponics
and other relative subjects; 4) Sponsoring and participation in appropriate educational seminars; 5)
Displaying pond and greenhouse equipment; 6) Sponsoring youth casting/fishing activities; 7)
Interacting with attendees and answering questions on their issues; and 8) Catfish chef preparing a
variety of catfish recipes.
10:10- 10:40 Catfish Recipe Samples - Chris Wilton, Chef
SouthFresh Food Truck Samples – Elisabeth Cook, SouthFresh
Delicious samples of Catfish Recipes were given out to attendees to taste and enjoy.
10:40 – 11:00 The Catfish Institute – Roger Barlow & Jeremy Robbins
A presentation of the 20+ activities The Catfish Institute is engaged was presented by Roger and
Jeremy.
11:00 – 11:45 Sponsor Recognition – Terry Hanson and Bill Hemstreet (AU)
A List of SPONSORS for today’s meeting included:
ALFA-Alabama Catfish Producers
The Catfish Institute, Roger Barlow
Alabama Catfish Feed Mill, B. Nedley
Harvest Select, Randy Rhodes
AB Vista, Craig Wyatt
Alabama Protein, Bill Kyser
Dumbart Catfish Supply, Jerry Sexton
West AL Catfish Producer Assoc., T. Spree
Greensboro Farmer’s Coop
Aercon, Jalon Unruh
Pentair, Greg Trusso
SouthFresh, Mark Lamb and Jimmy Hughes
In-Situ, Chris Steven
Merck, Kasha Cox
11:45 – 12:30 – Lunch and AFBI Awards Ceremony
2016 AFBI Award Recipients
1. Chris Wilton, Catfish Chef, Promotion of Alabama and US Farm-Raised Catfish
2. SunBelt EXPO Catfish Cooking Team Leader - Claude Reeves
3. SunBelt EXPO Catfish Cooking Team Leader - Gary Burtle
*** Certificates to additional SunBelt Expo Catfish Cooking Team Members: Paul Mask,
David Cline, Greg Whitis, Jesse Chappell, Rudy Yates, Bence Carter, Chris Jaworowski,
Rick Oates.
4. Claude Reeves, Lifetime Achievement Award
5. Rick Oates, Promotion of Alabama Farm-Raised Catfish Industry thru the Alabama Catfish
Producers
6. David Cline – Captain Catfish, Promotion of the Alabama and US Farm-Raised Catfish
Industry
7. Bill Hemstreet, AFFC Leadership Award in support of the Aeromonas hydrophila Project
8. Sunni Dahl, AFFC Leadership Award in support of the Aeromonas hydrophila Project
9. Jaky Broussard, AFFC Leadership Award in support of the Aeromonas hydrophila Project
10. Randy Hollingsworth, Leadership Award in support of the Aeromonas hydrophila Project
11. Brennan Nedley, Leadership Award in support of the Aeromonas hydrophila Project
12. Esau Arana, Leadership Award in support of the Aeromonas hydrophila Project
12:30 – 1:00 Guest Speaker Luke Roy (UAPB; now at AU-Alabama Fish Farming Center) ”Building
Research and Extension Capacity Utilizing a University Satellite Laboratory: An Example from
Arkansas.”
Off-campus research and extension facilities are utilized by both 1862 and 1890 Cooperative
Extension to extend their impact and reach into rural areas often located long distances from Land
Grant Universities. In Arkansas, the bulk of the aquaculture industry (and water acres devoted to
fish farming) are found in central Arkansas where the majority of the baitfish and sportfish farms
are located. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is an 1890 Land Grant university
charged with providing assistance to the Arkansas aquaculture Industry. In order to fulfill this
charge more effectively, the UAPB Lonoke Fish Health Services Laboratory was established off
campus in Lonoke, Arkansas. Originally staffed with one Extension Specialist in fish diagnostics,
over time, the faculty, staff and subsequent impact of this laboratory has grown significantly to
accommodate the needs of an evolving Arkansas fish farming industry. Currently, the UAPB Lonoke
Fish Health Services is a premier diagnostic laboratory and is actively engaged with the Arkansas
aquaculture industry through a variety of research and extension programs that were highlighted in
this presentation.
1:00 - 1:10 Toxic Algae and West Alabama Aquaculture, Alan Wilson (AU)
Bloom-forming, blue-green algae (i.e., cyanobacteria) are the primary biological indicators of poor
water quality in nutrient-rich, lentic freshwater systems (e.g., aquaculture ponds) and pose serious
environmental threats to associated aquatic and terrestrial biological communities given that some
blue-green algae produce toxic secondary metabolites, such as the potent liver toxin microcystin or
the neurotoxin anatoxin-a. These blue-green algal secondary metabolites have been implicated in
the poisoning of fishes, pets, and livestock. Data generated from past lake surveys shows that
many of Alabama’s waterbodies, including reservoirs, ponds, and rivers, have high concentrations
of nutrients, algae, including cyanobacteria, and cyanobacterial toxins. Catfish aquaculture ponds
were regularly among the most productive and toxic. However, it is still unclear what the
consequences of cyanobacterial toxins are for catfish aquaculture. Recent field experiments in my
lab have shown that some zooplankton, including large-bodied Daphnia, can control toxic
cyanobacteria. However, whole pond experiments testing the ability of Daphnia to control toxic
cyanobacteria in catfish aquaculture are still needed.
1:10 - 1:20 SRAC Hybrid Catfish Genetics Project, Rex Dunham (AU)
1:20 - 1:30 AU In-Pond Raceway Study – Drs. Fernando Kubitza and Jesse Chappell (AU)
Hybrid catfish production trials were performed at Auburn University Fisheries Research Station
using the In-Pond Raceway System (IPRS). IPRS systems of one floating raceway unit (1,597 or
2,236 ft3 of rearing volume, 4 feet deep), with a 1.5 HP air blower for continuous aeration and
water circulation were installed into four 1.0 acre ponds. One 1.0 HP airlift water mover was also
placed in each pond to promote additional water circulation. Forty-gram fish (90 lb/1,000) were
stocked March 22 at 7,800 into the smaller raceways and 11,090 in each larger IPRS. Fish were fed
a 32% crude protein floating catfish feed once or twice a daily. Fish reached 1.48 to 1.80 lb in 260
to 270 days. Survival (75% to 96%), FCR (1.50 to 1.64) and gross yield (12,000 to 14,500 lb/acre)
was calculated after total harvest. Total production cost (variable and fixed costs) ranged from
$0.91 to 0.97/lb of fish produced. This production trial demonstrated that food size hybrid catfish
could be produced in an IPRS system in one growing season, with a yield nearly twice the average
catfish yield from conventional ponds (7,000 lb/acre) in Alabama. Commercial scale research at
Auburn University will continue toward improving the technological efficiency and economics of
the IPRS.
1:30 – 1:40 Dr. Arias’ Fish Health Lab Update, Khrystyna “Tina” Leasor D.V.M.
Dr. Arias’ laboratory website link is http://sfaas.auburn.edu/ariaslab/
1:40 – 1:50 Dr. Claude Boyd’s Water Quality Lab Update – Claude Boyd (AU)
There is considerable interest in the culture of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in inland
low-salinity water in Alabama and other states in the Sunbelt region of the US. Temperature is
thought to be a major factor influencing shrimp production in the US. A study conducted at Greene
Prairie Aquafarm located in west-central Alabama investigated the temperature effect on shrimp
growth. Water temperature at 1.2 m depth in 22 ponds and air temperature were monitored at 1hour intervals during the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Results showed that the
hourly water temperatures were different among ponds. The range of water temperature in each
pond explained 41% of the variance in average final weight of shrimp harvested from each pond.
These results suggest that variation in water temperature patterns has considerable influence on
shrimp growth and survival in ponds.
Split-ponds are a new production system design in aquaculture developed at Mississippi State
University. They are constructed with traditional culture ponds by splitting them into two, unequal
sections: 20% designated for fish growth and 80% designated for water treatment. Research was
conducted on a commercial catfish farm in west Alabama that currently has eight split-ponds. Two
10-hp floating, electric paddlewheel aerators were placed in the waste treatment section of each of
four ponds, while four ponds – the controls – had un-aerated waste treatment cells. Water samples
were collected biweekly at the inflow and outflow of the waste-treatment cells. Additional aeration
in waste-treatment cells of split-ponds improved water quality, especially for total ammonia
nitrogen, and reduced stress on fish.
1:50 – 2:00 Meeting Evaluation & Drawing for Door Prizes
2:00 Adjourn
***** Please let us know if you would like additional information on the presentations or if you
have any questions!! Please see the contact information below:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (334) 844 – 9207