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- It will be cool: muscular African catfish will replace imported fish for Russians
It will be cool: muscular African catfish will replace imported fish for Russians
Scientists have obtained the first offspring of a new hybrid of African catfish intended for breeding in central Russia. Experts have also deciphered the genome of domestic individuals. This will allow breeding not only based on appearance, but also based on genetic analysis. Now thermophilic fish can be grown in ordinary ponds at a temperature of +18... +20 degrees, which opens up prospects for its industrial breeding in the central part of the country. According to experts, inexpensive and nutritious meat without an unpleasant odor can take a place on the restaurant menu and become an alternative to imported sea bass and dorado, as well as expensive trout and salmon.
A new hybrid of catfish
Experts from MGUTU named after K.G. Razumovsky (First Cossack University) are working on the creation of a new hybrid of the African clary catfish. Scientists have already obtained offspring of the first and second generations by crossing representatives of two domestic breeds of this fish — Mikhailovskaya and Tamanskaya. In addition, the researchers have decoded the genome of the Russian catfish. This will allow breeding not only based on appearance, but also taking into account more accurate genetic data.
— We have sequenced the genome of catfish from the Russian population. Now our task is to obtain aquaculture with high cold resistance. Ordinary African catfish needs a high temperature of about + 28 degrees, so it is grown mainly in southern regions or in closed reservoirs. At the farm in Belgorod, we acclimatized the fish to a water temperature of +18... +21 degrees. In four months, individuals weighing 50 g have grown to 2 kg or more. Moreover, in an ordinary pond without energy costs," said Anastasia Klimuk, a junior researcher at the Center for Aquaculture at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Fisheries at the Razumovsky Moscow State Technical University.
Clariy catfish is a popular aquaculture facility in Russia. However, recently farms have faced a slowdown in its growth, a decrease in the concentration of nutrients and the yield of edible fish parts. One of the reasons is inbreeding, that is, closely related crossbreeding. Breeders select individuals based on their appearance, without taking into account their pedigree. Using genomic data will avoid this problem.
Scientists plan to consolidate useful features in the new hybrid. In addition to cold resistance, it has a high growth rate, good digestibility of feed, large muscle mass and resistance to diseases. Now researchers are looking for the genes responsible for these properties, as well as studying the genetic mechanisms associated with the development of diseases, Anastasia Klimuk explained.
— The European catfish has a taste of silt, but the African catfish lacks this drawback. It can even be used for baby food. It doesn't have the smell of fish, it's more like a chicken in structure," she added.
Further breeding of the new catfish line may take place in parallel with its industrial breeding. The researchers have already signed agreements with several industrial partners. They intend to complete the formation of the line within five years.
Will the new catfish become a popular dish in restaurants
According to aquaculture specialist Alexander Isaev, catfish is a popular fish that will be in demand among consumers in Central Russia.
— This area of aquaculture is actively developing along with trout farming. It has a future if farms find their consumers. However, when breeding catfish, it is important to take into account its possible impact on other organisms in case they enter the wild, so as not to harm them," he said.
According to restaurateur Ksenia Karaulova, the new hybrid has several important advantages, both technological and culinary. From the point of view of breeding, crossing the Mikhailovsky breed, which is characterized by a high yield of marketable products, with the Taman breed, which has high resilience, is a successful combination for production. Fish with more muscle mass will increase the yield of clean fillets. Now it is 55-60%, but it may grow to 65% or higher.
— From the point of view of cuisine, clary catfish is almost an ideal fish for a restaurant. It has no scales, small bones and a pronounced fishy smell. Meat is considered dietary, while it has a high content of amino acids and vitamins. It is juicy, dense, pink-white, slightly sweet, perfectly absorbs marinade and sauce," the specialist said.
Sodium catfish is growing rapidly and allows to obtain the maximum volume of production per unit of water. According to her, if scientists manage to adapt it to lower temperatures, farms will be able to significantly reduce the cost of heating indoor pools.
— Catfish is already in demand. Restaurants today do not need exotic things, but a stable, understandable domestic product that is available all year round at a predictable price. The clarium catfish meets these requirements. It can be used to make fish and chips, fish burgers, bowls, grilled skewers and smoked dishes. In restaurants of Russian and European cuisine, it can be baked, fried in a pan, added to soups and used for cutlets," added Ksenia Karaulova.
It doesn't taste like a substitute for other types of fish, but it can serve the same role in dishes. If the cost of fillets remains at 500-700 rubles per kilogram, catfish will be able to compete with imported sea bass and dorado, which currently cost 1.2–1.6 thousand rubles per kilogram due to logistical costs. In addition, it can become an alternative to white fish — cod, halibut and walleye, as well as salmon in hot dishes. In pastas, casseroles, cutlets and tom-yam, catfish, according to the restaurateur, will be no worse than salmon and trout, the expert concluded.
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