EFFECT OF OVERWINTER FEEDING REGIMEN ON BODY-WEIGHT, BODY-COMPOSITIONAND RESISTANCE TO EDWARDSIELLA-ICTALURI IN CHANNEL CATFISH, ICTARULUS-PUNCTATUS

Year-1 (average 22 g) and year-2 (average 420 g) channel catfish, Icta lurus punctatus, were managed in ponds under three winter feeding regi mens: continuous feeding from November 1 through April 23; partial fee ding (no feed December, January and February); and no feeding. Weight change, body fat, dressing yield (measured in year-2 fish only),condit ion factor and muscle fiber size were not significantly different betw een partially-fed and full-fed fish but were significantly lower in th e nonfed fish in both age groups, Nonfed year-1 fish were less resista nt to Edwardsiella ictaluri challenge while nonfed year-2 fish were si gnificantly more resistant to E. ictaluri challenge than the two fed t reatments. The study indicates that under appropriate management condi tions year-1 and year-2 channel catfish not fed during December, Janua ry and February may weigh the same in the spring as those fed continuo usly over winter. The data also indicate that winter or early spring f eeding may reduce the resistance of year-2 fish to E. ictaluri challen ge; however, more information is needed on this subject before reduced feeding is recommended to control E. ictaluri infection.