Source: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY submitted to
AQUACULTURE PRODUCT AND MARKETING DEVELOPMENT, WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Semmens, K. J. Blemings, K. Brown, C. D'Souza, G. Gray, D. Jaczynski, J. Matak, K. Turton, R. Viadero, R.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
ANIMAL & VETERINARY SCIENCE
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
MORGANTOWN,WV 26506
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Economic development in West Virginia is critical, particularly in rural communities where traditional economic activities (principally coal and timber) have declined. Rural economic development has been a focus of the Aquaculture Product and Marketing Development Project. Benefits derived from the work proposed in this document have potential for farmers growing fish for both food and recreation. As such the work will encourage development of a dual market for growers in the region strengthening both components of the industry. Work presented in this proposal is designed to complement the work which has been completed and the work which is presently underway.
 
OBJECTIVES: 1)Assessing Market, Sensory Attributes and Production of Brook Trout Fed a Diet Enhanced with Flax Oil. The objective is to develop a unique product that can be produced in small flowing water systems and marketed at a premium price through WV processors. Animal Scientists will produce a new product; Food Scientists will analyze the resulting product; and Resource Economists will analyze the response of potential customers to this product. 2)Extension, Verification, and Application of Raceway Design and Simulation Software (RDSS). The objective is to extend, verify, and validate the Raceway Design and Simulation Software (RDSS), and to demonstrate its applicability in practical settings including optimization-related decisions of aquaculture producers under various production and market conditions. Engineers and Resource Economists will consult with Animal Scientists and Extension professionals to develop a tool which models a flowing water raceway system for trout. 3)Efficiency of Nutrient Retention in Different Families of Rainbow Trout. The objective is to determine if there are quantifiable differences in feed efficiency, nitrogen and lysine retention and lysine metabolism in different genetic families of fish when fed soybean meal-based diets. Animal Scientists will work with Geneticists to select rainbow trout that will more efficiently utilize feeds. 4)Solids Removal and Sludge Handling in Small Flow through Aquaculture Systems. The objective is to improve solid waste removal from flow through aquaculture systems and enhance aquaculture sludge dewatering in ways that are both practical and efficient. Environmental Engineers will work with Animal Scientists to improve the water quality of effluent leaving trout raceways. 5)Watercress as a Value-added Commodity for Small Aquaculture Producers in WV. To develop a value-added crop commodity protocol for small aquaculture producers utilizing nutrients from fish effluent in a flow-through system to produce marketable edible plant species (watercress and basil), and to determine if a crop production scheduling system will remove soluble nutrients from a flowing water system. Horticulturists will work with Animal Scientists and Environmental Engineers to use plants to improve water quality and produce something of value. 6) Evaluation of Genetic Diversity of Wild Source Populations and Hatchery-Developed Strains of Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). The objective is to utilize previously developed polymorphic microsatellite markers to characterize variation among populations of green sunfish and ultimately develop improved broodstock for production of hybrid bluegill sunfish. Animal Scientists will work with molecular biologists and fish producers to identify the best fish to use for breeding. 7) Technology Transfer. Information developed from this research and previous research will be integrated into an effort to educate people regarding how aquaculture is conducted and its role in economic development. Extension professionals and other Faculty will deliver information developed in this project at local, state, national, and perhaps international venues.
 
APPROACH: This project has seven parts intended to focus on specific problems and opportunities faced by growers in West Virginia and the region. The first objective is a multidisciplinary approach to development of a unique product that can be produced in small flowing water systems and marketed at a premium price through WV processors. The Raceway Design and Simulation Software (RDSS) is intended to provide a tool to producers who wish to manage small flowing water systems optimally. Objective 3 takes advantage of a nearby national laboratory to increase feed efficiency of rainbow trout through family selection. Objectives 4 and 5 seek to provide tools for increasing efficient removal of both solid and dissolved nutrients in flowing water systems in a practical way. Improved broodstock for sunfish and their hybrids would be possible in a systematic way once the genetics have been characterized (objective 6). The final objective, technology transfer, assures that information generated in this and many other projects is made available directly to growers, other researchers, suppliers, and the general public.
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0207983 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: WVA00188 SPONSOR AGENCY: NIFA
PROJECT TYPE: SPECIAL GRANT PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: (N/A)
START DATE: Sep 15, 2006 TERMINATION DATE: Sep 14, 2009

GRANT PROGRAM: AQUACULTURE FOOD & MARKETING DEVEL, WV
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: Special Research Grant

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
133143010706.110%
302371110102.210%
303371910802.210%
307371110102.210%
403539920206.215%
603371120802.115%
603601030102.115%
903605030303.115%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals
KA603 - Market Economics
KA303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals
KA307 - Animal Management Systems
KA403 - Waste Disposal, Recycling, and Reuse
KA133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation
KA903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery
S3711 - Trout
S5399 - Structures, facilities, and equipment, general/other
S3719 - Other cultured finfish
S6010 - Individuals
S6050 - Communities, areas, and regions
S1430 - Greens and leafy vegetables
F3030 - Information and communication
F1080 - Genetics
F2020 - Engineering
F3010 - Economics
F2080 - Mathematics and computer sciences
F1010 - Nutrition and metabolism
F1070 - Ecology
G6.2 - Enhance Soil Quality for Productive Working Lands
G2.2 - Increase Efficiency of Production and Marketing Systems
G3.1 - Economic Opportunities for Growth
G6.1 - Ensure Clean Water and Air
G2.1 - Expand Domestic Market Opportunities


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC 5%
APPLIED 90%
DEVELOPMENTAL 5%

KEYWORDS: aquaculture; trout; flowing water systems; nutrient removal; flax oil; green sunfish; genetic diversity; aquaponics; watercress; simulation; marketing; nutrient retention efficiency

PROGRESS: Sep 15, 2007 TO Sep 14, 2008
OUTPUTS: Aquaculture Forum - Annual Meeting for WV Aquaculture Industry, Quarterly Fishtales Newsletter, Web Site(www.caf.wvu.edu/afmdp/), Site Visits, Consultation via telephone and email, 2008 Trout School. Trout School CD with video presentations. Operate demonstration facilities at Dogwood Lake and Reymann Memorial Farm. Field Day at Reymann Memorial Farm. Fishing Events: Fishing Rodeo at Springfest, Franklin, WV; Mountain State Craft Fair Fishing Event, Annual Aquaculture Product and Marketing Development Project Meeting, Presentations as guest lecturer in University classes. Raceway Design and Simulation System. PARTICIPANTS: Inviduals: Ken Semmens, Faculty, WVU Animal and Nutritional Sciences. Kristen Matak, Faculty, WVU Animal and Nutritional Sciences. Cheryl Brown, Faculty, WVU Resource Economics Jacek Jaczynski, Faculty, WVU Animal and Nutritional Sciences. Jerry Yates, Farm Manager, WVU Reymann Memorial Farm Chestina Merriner, Research Assistant, WVU Animal and Nutritional Sciences. Tom Vowls, Trades Specialist, WVU Animal and Nutritional Sciences. Sarah Beamer, Research Assistant, WVU Animal and Nutritional Sciences. Richard Turton, Faculty, WVU Engineering Gerard D'Souza, Faculty, WVU Resource Economics Tatiana Borisova, Faculty, WVU Resource Economics Ken Blemings Faculty WVU Animal and Nutritional Sciences. Donald Gray, Faculty, WVU Engineering Roger Viadero, Faculty, WVU Engineering Todd West, Faculty, WVU Plant and Soil Sciences Amanda Stewart, Faculty, Bethany College Dan Miller, Research Associate, WVU Resource Economics Rodney Kiser, Research Assistant, WVU Extension,..... Collaborators: West Virginia Aquaculture Association, Bob Pritts-Laurel Hill Trout Farm, George Cottle- Twin Fork Trout Farm, Bryan Plemmons - Casta Line Trout Farm, Dave Alt - WVDNR Reed's Creek, Debra Gard - WV Fairs and Festivals, Bob Grimm - Pendleton County Commission, Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce, Gabe Feist- Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce, Tim Long - Mayor, Town of Franklin, David Johnston - VA Trout Company, Joe Dean - Greer Industries, Art George - Trout for the Cheat, Clarksburg Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Fred Hays - Divergent Natural Interests, Ted Miller & Tom Ort - Mountaineer Trout Farm, Paul Conley - Hemlock Trout Farm, Courtney Simmons - WVU Student, Andrea Hvizdzak - WVU Student, Stephanie Juen - WVU Student, Yin Han Wang - WVU Student, Andrea Young - WVU Student, Stephanie Pomeroy - WVU Student, Eric Fizer- WVU Student TARGET AUDIENCES: This project targets the aquaculture industry and those who work in support of it. Multiple objectives will appeal to multiple audiences. Feeding brook trout with a diet enhanced with flax oil may yield a new product for a niche market. This may appeal to growers,those who sell fresh fish, and people who eat fresh fish. Software which models the operation of a raceway system will be useful for growers to better manage their systems, for educators seeking to illustrate production concepts, and for researchers to estimate the potential impact of an improvement in production methods. Information regarding efficiency of nutrient retention in different families of rainbow trout targets fish breeders, and researchers working to improve genetic stocks. Improving methods to remove and recover solid waste in small flowing water systems targets growers and regulators. Production of watercress as a value-added commodity targets small aquaculture producers with flowing water systems. Evaluating genetic diversity of green sunfish targets growers who produce green sunfish hybrids, and breeders working to improve sunfish genetics and research interested in natural genetic diversity of green sunfish. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

IMPACT: 2007-09-15 TO 2008-09-14 Obj.1 Niche market brook trout. Brook trout fed a diet where menhaden oil was replaced with flax oil grew and converted feed equally well as fish fed a control diet. Fatty acid profile was influenced by diet. Fillets of fish fed the diet treated with flax oil had more omega 3 fatty acids than fish fed the control diet. There were no initial differences between treatment and control fillets for proximate composition, color, Tbars, or texture. In triangle tests, panelists could not reliably select the odd sample. In preference tests, fillets of fish fed the treatment diet were preferred by panelists 64% of the time. Sensory analysis shows that fillets of fish fed the control diet had a greater fish odor, oxidized odor, fish flavor, vegetable oil flavor, and aftertaste. Fillets of fish fed the treatment diet had greater juiciness and stickiness. Panelists and restaurants preferred the treatment fish to control fish. Obj2. Verification, and Application of RDSS model. Validation was based on data generated from brook trout production a WVU production site. Observed and estimated average fish weights match closely for the first several months of growth, and then diverge as fish approach sexual maturity. RDSS underestimates fish length for approximately the first five months, then overestimates it. Obj3. Efficiency of nutrient retention in different families of rainbow trout. A lysine deficient diet was created. Different families grew differently when consuming the lysine deficient diet. It appears that families of fish who utilize feed most efficiently when they are small do not rank the same when feed efficiency is measured at a larger size. Obj4. Solids removal and sludge handling in a flowing water system. A geotextile bag receiving waste removed from the quiescent zone of a trout raceway effectively captured solid waste. Solids retention was excellent with greater than 98% of the solids removed. Mean particle size was reduced from 379 μm to 70 μm. BOD5 was substantially reduced. Obj5. Watercress as a value-added commodity. Initial harvest was made six weeks post-sowing and then every three weeks afterward, leaving the roots intact for subsequent harvests. Treatments included water velocity at high (0.0076m/sec) and low (0.00076m/sec) velocities. Results show high yields in the initial harvest of the high velocity channels, with low or no harvest in the low velocity channels (1311g vs 399g). Subsequent harvests showed similar characteristics, with a slightly lower overall harvest in the high velocity plants and a slightly higher overall harvest in lower velocity channels. Obj 6. Evaluation of Genetic Diversity of Green Sunfish. Ten markers previously developed for use in genetic evaluation of bluegill sunfish have successfully amplified microsatellite sequences in a variety of sunfish species, including red ear sunfish, green sunfish and two types of hybrid bluegill that are likely products of a green sunfish mating. Differences in allele size between individual sunfish within each species have been identified.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2007-09-15 TO 2008-09-14
Pomeroy, S.K., Silverstein, J.T., Barrows, F.T., Cleveland, B.M. & Blemings, K.P. (2007) Effect of Dietary Lysine and Genetics on Indices of Energy and Protein Metabolism in Rainbow Trout. Presented at AquaAmerica Meeting. Orlando, Fl. February, 2008.

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Semmens, K. J.
PHONE: 304-293-6131
FAX: 304-293-6954