Using hybrid catfish (Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus ♀ × Blue Catfish I. furcatus ♂) is one path toward intensification that can lower production costs and increase net returns. However, hybrid catfish have experienced growth variability resulting in undersized and oversized fish. Analyzing the economic effect of this issue is critical, as fish processors often require a specific size range of fish from the producers. Comparative economic analyses were performed using enterprise budgets and sensitivity analyses on hybrid catfish production data obtained from single-batch (SB), multiple-batch (MB), and split-pond (SP) systems. Results indicated that the SP system had the highest net returns (US$8,164/ha) resulting from greater availability of premium-sized fish (0.45–1.81 kg; sales price = $2.46/kg), followed by SB and MB systems, respectively. Lower prices received for undersized (<0.45 kg; sales price = $2.34/kg) and oversized (>1.81 kg; sales price = $2.08/kg) fish resulted in revenue losses of $287, $594, and $611 per hectare in SB, MB, and SP systems, respectively. An inverse relationship between the dockage rate and net returns was observed. Economic analyses also showed that the net returns were greater when large-sized fingerlings (~20 cm) were stocked relative to medium-sized fingerlings (≤18 cm) in the SP and SB systems, while the opposite was true for the MB system. Stocking of graded hybrids in SB, MB, and SP production could provide higher net returns from these systems.

中文翻译：

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杂交鲶鱼（鲶鱼 ♀ × 蓝鲶鱼 ♂）生长变异性对传统和集约化生产系统的经济影响

使用杂交鲶鱼 (Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus ♀ × Blue Catfish I. furcatus ♂) 是一种可以降低生产成本和增加净回报的集约化途径。然而，杂交鲶鱼经历了生长变异，导致鱼的体型过小和过大。分析这个问题的经济影响至关重要，因为鱼类加工商通常需要生产者提供特定尺寸范围的鱼。使用企业预算和敏感性分析对从单批次 (SB)、多批次 (MB) 和分池 (SP) 系统获得的杂交鲶鱼生产数据进行比较经济分析。结果表明，SP 系统的净回报最高（8,164 美元/公顷），这是因为优质鱼的供应量更大（0.45-1.81 公斤；销售价格 = 2.46 美元/公斤），其次是 SB 和 MB 系统。尺寸过小（<0.45 公斤；销售价格 = 2 美元。34/kg）和超大（>1.81 kg；销售价格 = 2.08 美元/kg）鱼在 SB、MB 和 SP 系统中分别导致每公顷 287 美元、594 美元和 611 美元的收入损失。观察到装卸率和净回报之间的反比关系。经济分析还表明，在 SP 和 SB 系统中，相对于中型鱼种（≤18 厘米）放养大型鱼种（~20 厘米）时，净收益更大，而在 MB 系统中则相反。在 SB、MB 和 SP 生产中储存分级杂交种可以从这些系统中提供更高的净回报。经济分析还表明，在 SP 和 SB 系统中放养大型鱼种（~20 厘米）相对于中型鱼种（≤18 厘米）时，净收益更大，而在 MB 系统中则相反。在 SB、MB 和 SP 生产中储存分级杂交种可以从这些系统中提供更高的净回报。经济分析还表明，在 SP 和 SB 系统中放养大型鱼种（~20 厘米）相对于中型鱼种（≤18 厘米）时，净收益更大，而在 MB 系统中则相反。在 SB、MB 和 SP 生产中储存分级杂交种可以从这些系统中提供更高的净回报。