Growing Bigger Fish: A Tough Roe To Hoe

Toughroe image — Geneticist Ken Overturf collects immature trout, or fingerlings, in the wet lab for weight and other measurements to determine how the fish use different feeds.

Most rainbow trout farmers do not manage their own breeding fish, but instead purchase eggs for production from outside sources. ARS researchers in Aberdeen, ID, and their collaborators at the University of Idaho’s Aquaculture Research Institute have developed an improved line of trout germplasm that the nation’s second largest commercial egg retailer is selling to trout farmers.

Fish bred from the new germplasm have shown an increase in weight gain from 175 grams to 400 grams after 5 months of feeding on a sustainable plant protein diet. In addition, research has shown that these fish are more metabolically efficient and can better process and utilize protein from different sources. The improvement in fish size and health not only improves the economic bottom line for fish farmers now, it will help provide more food for a growing global population.

Explore Other Discoveries

Fly Frass Forms Fabulous Fish Food

A new fish food made from fly frass is helping fish farmers raise larger, healthier catfish.

Sweet Alternative For Fly Control

Learn how scientists are finding alternatives to chemical insecticides to control flies.

Mosquito Repellency Of Pineapple Weed

ARS scientists conducted a study of essential oil from dried pineapple weed for repelling mosquitoes.

ARS microbiologists Douglas Gladue and Manuel Borca work on African swine fever vaccine in a lab

Advancements Against African SFV

ARS scientists have made two important advancements against African swine fever virus which causes a lethal disease in swine.

Cattle Fever Tick Control Goes High Tech

Researchers are bringing high-tech tools to the fight against cattle fever ticks along the U.S.-Mexico border and in Puerto Rico.

Keeping Sows Comfortable

Scientists recently looked at the temperature preferences of sows, with an eye toward keeping them more comfortable before and during pregnancy.

Topic

Animal Production & Protection