Comparison of growth performance among channel-blue hybrid catfish, ccGH transgenic channel catfish, and channel catfish in a tank culture system

Fish is an essential source of high-quality protein for people worldwide. The present study was designed to compare the growth performance among the channel-blue hybrid catfish, channel catfish transgenic for the channel catfish growth hormone (ccGH) cDNA driven by the antifreeze protein promoter from an ocean pout Zoarces americanus (opAFP-ccGH), and non-transgenic channel catfish control. Mean body weight of channel-blue hybrid catfish was 15.80 and 24.06% larger than non-transgenic channel catfish control at 4 and 18 months of age, respectively. However, transgenic opAFP-ccGH channel catfish were 5.52 and 43.41% larger than channel-blue hybrid catfish and 22.19 and 77.91% larger than their controls at 4 and 18 months of age, respectively. Significant differences in mean body weight between the sexes within all genetic types were found. Males were larger than females ( P