On-farm and on-station comparison of wild and domesticated Cameroonian populations of Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

Wild (Sanaga River) and domesticated populations of Oreochromis niloticus were compared onfarm and on-station in the Central Province of Cameroon to determine the degree to which genetic deterioration of stocks may have occurred during the process of domestication and subsequent breeding. On-station, average weight at harvest was 284.3 ± 16.2 and 178.1 ± 9.9 g for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. On-station specific growth rate was 0.0660 ± 0.0022 and 0.0555 ± 0.0016 g/day for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. On-station standing stock at harvest was 5747.3 ± 24.4 and 4170.3 ± 233.4 kg/ha for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. Differences in average weight at harvest and specific growth rate onstation are significant at P < 0.003. Differences in standing stock at harvest on-station are significant at P < 0.015. On-farm, average weight at harvest was 121.1 ± 26.5 and 87.5 ± 17.2 g for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. On-farm specific growth rate was 0.0442 ± 0.0057 and 0.0358 ± 0.0047 g/day for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. On-farm standing stock at harvest was 2454.2 ± 445.6 and 1667.8 ± 352.2 kg/ha for Sanaga and domesticated populations, respectively. Differences in average weight at harvest on-farm are significant at P < 0.05. Differences in specific growth rate on-farm are significant at P < 0.04. Differences instanding stock at harvest on-farm are significant at P < 0.015. The Sanaga River population consistently out-performed the domesticated population. Final individual weight of domesticated fish averaged 39% less than wild fish on-station and 42% less than wild fish on-farm.