EFFECT OF GENETICS ON BODY WEIGHT VARIABILITY IN CHANNEL CATFISH Ictalurus punctatus FEMALE X BLUE CATFISH I. furcatus HYBRIDS  

Variable body weight of catfish can create problems in catfish processing, inefficient harvesting and grading and economic loss for farmers.  Genetic effects on body weight variability in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, female x blue catfish, I. furcatus, hybrids were examined. Coefficient of variation for body weight of hybrid and channel catfish fingerlings was similar and the environment had strong and equal effects on the variability of each genetic type. When evaluating hybrids produced from different strains of channel catfish and blue catfish, significant sire and dam effects on variability. Family effects and combining ability of body weight variability were examined. Potential exists for decreasing a portion of hybrid catfish variability for body weight through genetic selection, however, environmental parameters likely have larger effects on variability.