Amur- a new breed of Common Carp for your information
Avinash
Amur- a new breed of Common Carp
Dr. Y. Basavaraju
Professor and Head
and former Dean(Fisheries)
Fisheries Research and information Centre (Inland)
Papanna Layout, Hebbal Outer Ring Road
Bangalore – 560 094
Email: ybraju55@gmail.com
Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is one of the highlydomesticated and extensively cultured aquaculture fish species in the world. Common carp belongs to Cyprinidae, the largest family among freshwater teleosts. It has been farmed for about 4,000 years in China and for several hundred years in Europeand later spreads different parts of the world, as a result, several strains of common carp (eg. races, landraces, strains, breeds and stocks) have been developed through a combination of forces including geographical isolation, adaptation, accumulation of mutations and natural as well as human selection pressures. In India, common carp is an important aquaculture speciesespecially in southern and north eastern parts of the country, contributing significantly to enhanced inland fish production. In Karnataka, it represents around 43% of seed stocked and 35% of the state’s inland fish production and is grown alone or with Catla and Rohu
However, the existing common carp stock is having disadvantages of early sexual maturation (< 6 months) and spawning in grow-out ponds before attaining marketable size(at a weight of ~ 100 g). This has resulted in poor growth due to competition for food, space etc. with new recruits and inconsequence the poor yield. The Gonado Somatic Index (GSI)can also exceed 20% of the harvested weight.
To address this problem, a comprehensive study was undertaken to assess the present genetic status of existing common carp stocks and develop appropriate strategies for stock improvement of this species under Department of International Development (DFID) - Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Researchprogramme. It was a collaborative programme among University of Stirling, University of whales, UK and erstwhile University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, Karnataka.
In this programme, common carp stocks from different geographical origin viz. Hungary (Amur and P3), Vietnam (SV), Indonesia (RJ) and India (FRS and LBRP) were evaluated in different culture systems and environments to initiate a breeding programme for identifying an improved stock with faster growth rate and delayed maturity. The study over a period of 6 yearsrevealed that the Amur strain performed consistently superior toall other stocks and crosses including local stocks in all the trials across all the culture systems and environments (Fig.1). The increase in weight of Amur over local stocks ranged from 13.2% to 50.1 % with a mean increase of 27.3 %). After rigorous evaluation and protocols, Amur common carp has been released by KVAFSU for commercial production and supply of its seed to hatcheries for multiplication purpose and to farmers for grow out purpose
Amur common carp breed Existing common carp (Big belly )
Characteristics of Amur common carp breed
Breeding History
The Amur wild carp is an original wild form, which spread from Asian carp centre to the Western Asian Rivers. The present Amur common carp stock of FRIC (I), Hesaraghatta was received from Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Hungary for evaluation and breeding programme. This stock has been maintained here for the past ten years for its purity and quality.
Salient features
Performance of Amur strain across the state
Figure 1. Overall growth performance of different common carp stocks in Karnataka
The percentage increase in weight attained by Amur strain over local was 29.62. In terms of production, the mean fish production under polyculture with Amur carp was around 4255 kg/ha/yr. and with local common carp it was 2580kg/ha.showing an increase of around 39% over the existing common carp stock.
Dissemination of technology
A training programme was organized for farmers, hatchery managers of the state to train them on genetic management of broodstock and quality fish seed production. Field days were also organized. More than 200 farmers were benefitted from training programme, field days including the beneficiaries of demonstrations. Technology dissemination was made by supply of breeder’s seed to different states viz. Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Meghalaya, Pondicherry and Himachal Pradesh. Supply of breeder seed to the rest of the states is on progress. Besides, grow-out seed has been supplied to farmers of the state and project beneficiaries.
Development of Brood stock
Realizing its performance and the demand from farmers,The National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad, Govt. of India has sponsered a project “ Development of brood bank for Amur common carp” with a budjet of Rs 60.5 lakh . The objective is to produce nuclear breeder seed of Amur common carp and supply to different hatcheries in the country,mainly targeting the North Eastern States to build brood bank of this new breed. Under this project, the Amur breeder seed hasbeen supplied to Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Karnataka, Govt. of Sikkim and College of Fisheries, Pantnagar,Department of Fisheries, Govts. of Karnataka, Tamilnadu,Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Krishi Vignana Kendra, Pondicherry, ICAR Research Complex for NEH, Umaroi, Meghalaya, and National brood Bank center of NFDB at Bhubaneswar.
R AVINASH,M.F.Sc