Performance data for three rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) strains (Erwin, Shasta, and Duncan River Kamloops) were collected to guide fish culture operations at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery (NFH). The performance of the strains was evaluated in terms of survival, growth, disease resistance, reproductive performance (number of ripe and culled females, spawning time, number of egg takes, number of eggs per female, egg size, and percent eye up), feed conversion, and feed costs, and was compared with data from Ennis NFH, MT, and two Arizona Game and Fish Department hatcheries. Prespawning survival rates were higher for Erwin (90%) and Shasta (95%) strains than for the Kamloops strain (<75%). The Shasta strain exhibited the lowest feed conversion ratio (mean=1.89) and feed costs ($0.15 per stockable individual and $0.92 per spawning individual) than Erwin (1.96, $0.16, $1.56) and Kamloops (1.66, $0.18, N/A) strains. The Shasta strain exhibited larger egg size (mean=15,967/1) than the Erwin strain (mean=21,900/1). Reproductive performance for the Kamloops strain was not evaluated, as the strain was not sexually mature at the close of the study. Vulnerability of Erwin strain rainbow trout to cold water disease, Cytophaga psychrophila, bacterial kidney disease, Renibacterium salmoninarum, and four other bacteria was observed, while Shasta and Kamloops strains were less vulnerable to disease. Based on findings of this study and on programmatic considerations, the Shasta strain will be the only one to remain in full production at White Sulphur Springs NFH. / Master of Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/46257 |
| Date | 16 December 2009 |
| Creators | Duncan, Kari J. |
| Contributors | Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Hallerman, Eric M., Helfrich, Louis A., McMullin, Steve L., Shaver, Robert L. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Text |
| Format | ix, 79 leaves, BTD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | OCLC# 32305619, LD5655.V855_1994.D8635.pdf |
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