Upton Hatch

Wholesale- and farm-level impacts of generic advertising: The case of catfish

A four-equation econometric model of the US catfish industry is estimated to determine the impacts of industry funded advertising on the wholesale and farm levels of the market. Results suggest that, despite the market power held by middlemen, the compaign has increased quasi-rents to producers. The relatively large benefit-cost ratios (about 13:1), however, are attributed primarily to the price effects of the campaign. This highlights the importance of supply response in evaluating the economic effects of industry (generic) advertising programmes. Elasticity estimates based on 1980–89 monthly data are: farm-level supply, 0.15; wholesale-level demand, -1.01; farm-wholsale price transmission, 0.68; and advertising, 0.0075.

Bioeconomic analysis of fish growth: effects of dietary protein and ration size.

Abstract Computer experiments were performed with a bioenergetic model for channel catfish ( Ictalurus punctatus ) to determine the nature of interactions between ration size and dietary protein from biological and economic standpoints. Both ration size and dietary protein exhibited decreasing magrginal products, as expected from the law of diminishing returns. Dietary protein has a positive effect on feed efficiency (except at combinations of high protein and high rations), while ration size did not seem to affect protein efficiency. Isoquant analysis showed that dietary protein and ration size are substitute inputs within a certain range, implying that the same harvest weight can be obtained by feeding low protein diets at high rations or high protein diets at low rations. Cost was minimized with dietary protein ranging from 26.5 to 34.2% of the diet and rations ranging from 0.79 to 1.0 of satiation, depending on the protein non-protein price ratio of the diet.

A survey of aquaculture production economics and management

Abstract The literature on production economics and management of fish culture has grown as aquaculture has matured as a commercial industry. Salmon, catfish, shrimp and trout are the focus of this literature survey as a reflection of the volume of research that has been completed on these species and their importance in US production and world trade. In addition, a discussion of low resource production systems is included that is dominated by tilapia and carp culture systems. A brief overview of the principles of aquaculture production economics and management is presented followed by a review of economic studies.

A risk programming model for farm-raised catfish

Abstract A mixed integer target MOTAD model was developed to assess risk-income trade offs for alternative activities of producers of farm-raised catfish in the Southeastern United States. The target was meeting variable cost and alternatives were fish growth stages—egg, fry, fingerling and food fish. The results indicate that fingerling production is the most profitable on average but also has the greatest potential for losses (risk). Food fish production was intermediate in both average profitability and risk. Egg production had both lowest profitability and risk. Expected net returns and potential for losses (or risk) are both important factors shown to affect production planning.

Economic analysis of alternative protein levels in channel catfish feeds

Abstract Nutritional requirements for catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) feeds based solely on maximizing growth may not lead to the best economic performance. In addition, the choice of protein level may have important implications for dress‐out percentages in the processing sector. Processors may be able to send pricing signals to farmers to improve processing efficiencies. The objectives of this paper are to quantify the economic incentives to use different protein levels in catfish feeds and to investigate the possibility of processor incentives to affect these decisions. Data from research ponds, in conjunction with pricing and cost data, were used to quantify the changes in net returns associated with alternative protein levels. Both experimental results and estimates using commercial practices were developed. In addition these data were utilized in developing price premiums that might be implemented by the processing sector to provide incentives that would result in higher dress‐out percentages and thus...

Economic analysis of overwinter feeding regimens for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Abstract Overwintering is a major source of uncertainty for US catfish farmers, particularly decisions on feeding. To address this issue, economic analysis was undertaken using results from pond experiments. Three overwintering strategies (full‐feed, partial‐feed, and no‐feed) for two year classes of catfish were compared. Year 1 fin‐gerlings were 22 g and year 2 fish were 420 g at stocking. Winter feeding was based on temperature and body weight percentages; (1) full‐feeding followed the regime during the November to April period; (2) partial‐fed treatments followed the temperature/body weight regimen only during the months of November, March and April, with no feeding during the coldest months of December to February; and (3) no‐feeding treatments received no feed during the overwinter period. Cost and returns were estimated for each alternative and each alternative was assessed using: (1) overwinter period experimental results, (2) overwinter period experimental results extended through the grow‐out pe...