Cover Illustration

Idea: American fish and farmers

America’s Amazing Catfish

Farmers

America’s Amazing Catfish

Farmers

Did you know that you can grow fish on a farm? Growing plants and animals in water is called “Aquaculture”. Many people call it fish-farming. There are many fish farms in the United States and some of them grow catfish. In the southeastern states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas cat-fish farming is big business.

U.S. farmers work hard to take care of the fish so they grow quickly from baby fish into large fish that we can eat. Here is a look at some of the things that happen on a catfish farm.

Story by Dave Cline, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn UniversityIllustrations by Jason S. Adams

© 2011

THE CATFISH INSTITUTEP.O. Box 1669, Madison, MS 39130

601-977-9559www.UScatfish.com

In the spring when the water gets warm, the farmers put containers into the ponds where the fish can make nests and lay eggs.

The farmer collects the eggs and takes them to a special building called a hatchery.

After 5–7 days the eggs hatch. For the first few days the baby fish, called fry, feed off of the egg yolk. The fry must have good, clean water.

Yolk sac

Sac Fry

Eggs

Idea:Fry Riding in a truck

In a week or two the fry are moved to the pond. The fish ride in a special truck that has tanks of water on it and oxygen to help the fish breathe.

The farmers feed the fish with food that is made from a mix of plants and vitamins so they grow fast and stay healthy.

Corn Wheat

Fish Food

Soybeans

The farmer uses computer-controlled machinery to spread the feed across the pond so each fish gets a chance to eat.

After about 6 months the fry grow to be about the same size as a finger and are called fingerlings.

The farmers check the oxygen levels and water quality to make sure that the water stays clean and safe.

AeratorAdds Oxygen

Oxygen Sensor

Seine

The farmers use a long net called a seine (pronounced: say-n) to catch and sort the fish.

The fish that are not ready for the market go through the net and stay in the pond to grow.

Idea:Fish being loaded on the

truck

The big fish are loaded onto a truck with water and oxygen.

The truck takes the fish to a processing plant where they are cleaned and packaged.

Boxes of processed fish are packed on a refrigerated delivery truck.

Delivery trucks take the catfish all over the country to restaurants and grocery stores.

Catfish can be cooked in so many different ways!

Grilled

Oven Baked

Pan Fried

Remember, Eat more catfish and make sure it was grown in America. It’s good for you and our farmers!

Note to Parents & Teachers

While everyone knows that catfish have whiskers, and many know how good it is to eat, relatively few know that catfish is an American success story. Catfish is popular for its mild and slightly sweet flavor, nutritious content and environmental credentials. From humble beginnings as an experiment to generate supplemental income, catfish farming has become America’s largest aquaculture industry and a worldwide model of economical and sustainable aquaculture. At its peak in 2005 more than 600 million pounds of catfish were produced and processed generating more than $450 million dollars for farmers and creating an economic effect on local economies of more than a billion dollars. What does 600 million pounds of catfish look like? If you laid them end to end they would form a chain that would circle the globe more than two and a half times. Channel catfish, known to the scientific community as Ictlurus punctatus, are well suited to farm life and are grown in an environmentally friendly way. They are raised in freshwater ponds throughout the southeastern United States and fed a prepared diet, rich in protein, vi-tamins and minerals. Catfish have a low feed conversion ratio (FCR) meaning they are very efficient at turning feed into meat. In fact, it is possible to raise one pound of catfish with 1.5 to 2 pounds of feed (chicken 2:1, pigs 3-4:1, and cows 7-10:1). The water quality and oxygen levels are monitored on a regular basis to ensure that the fish and the environment stay healthy. Waste from the fish acts as fertilizer that grows algae. The algae utilize the nutrients and in turn provide oxygen for the fish. According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch recommendations, U.S. farmed channel catfish is a “Best Choice” for consumers. According to the aquarium, channel catfish is thought to be among the most sustainable fish species being raised. Not only is it sustainable it is very nutritious, has a mild flavor and lends itself to a myriad of culinary possibilities. Many people know about fried catfish, but it also tastes great baked, grilled, smoked or even poached. Take a look at a few of the tasty prize winning recipes provided by The Catfish Institute.

Help support our nations farmers and give yourself a treat. Eat U.S. Farm Raised Catfish.For more information about U. S. Farm-Raised Catfish, please visit www.UScatfish.com.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 fillet (159 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 220 Calories from Fat 110

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 10g 20% Saturated Fat 3g 15% Cholesterol 75mg 25%

Sodium 85mg 4% Total Carbohydrates 0g 0% Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Protein 25g 50%

Vitamin A 2% Vitamin C 2% Calcium 0% Iron 4% Zinc 8% Thiamin 40% Riboflavin 8% Niacin 20% Vitamin B-6 15% Folate 4% Vitamin B-12 70% Phosphorus 30% Magnesium 10%

* Percent Daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs

 

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