Aquaculture for all

Will hybrid catfish find a home in aquaculture?

MISSISSIPPI - Leigh Holland has an easy, honest manner. So if you ask him about the hybrid catfish hes been raising, expect a truthful answer. There are a few problems, but theyre at the forefront of new genetics, says the Indianola, Miss., catfish producer. Im all about genetics and breeding so Im excited about the hybrids. One things for sure: theyre an extremely hardy, vigorously-feeding fish.

Holland moved to Mississippi from Oklahoma in 1981. About a year later, he began Jubilee Farms as a catfish operation with three ponds.

“In the mid-1980s, we began hatching our own fish. Prior to that, I was in food fish and had been looking at some of the studies Auburn University was doing with genetics. It really caught my attention.”

After talking with the Auburn researchers, Holland secured some of their fish and began hatching his own. Shortly after, Holland began selling fingerlings.

“Primarily, we were still in food fish, but the fingerling side of things began to grow. After a while, we switched from food fish to fingerlings. That continued for a number of years with most customers in east Mississippi and Alabama.”

Currently, Jubilee Farms encompasses about 1,100 acres of water with about 400 acres in food fish with the balance in fingerlings and brooders.

Source: Delta Farm Press

Create an account now to keep reading

It'll only take a second and we'll take you right back to what you were reading. The best part? It's free.

Already have an account? Sign in here