Assessment of yield traits between family groups of the cultured abalone (Haliotis midae) in South Africa

Date
2012-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The abalone Haliotis midae is the most important aquaculture species in South Africa. The industry is dependent on export to Far Eastern markets in a variety of forms, including live, frozen, canned or dried. The species is considered undomesticated in the sense that the current commercial broodstock has been obtained from natural populations through a process of random collection. Global competition has necessitated the South African industry to introduce a genetic improvement program to increase biological productivity and financial profitability. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic variation and to estimate key parameters in terms of growth and yield related traits, between family groups that form part of the breeding program. The study reports on heritability estimates of growth rate (0.14 ± 0.05), canning yield (0.08 ± 0.03), and drip loss during live export (0.03 ± 0.02). The high genetic correlation (0.94 ± 0.34) between shell length and live weight enables industry to utilise either weight or shell length as a criteria during operational practices such as sorting, grading and harvesting. The correlation of 0.85 ± 0.01 between live weight and canning loss indicates that animals that weigh more have a lower dressing percentage. Based on these low heritability values obtained for yield related traits it is recommended not to include these traits in the selection program at this stage. The findings of the study were however, compromised by the availability of a limited number of family groups, the age differences between families and the effect of different locations on the variance in phenotypes. Further investigation is needed to confirm the credibility of the results.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die perlemoen Haliotis midae is die belangrikste akwakultuurspesie in Suid Afrika. Die industrie is afhanklik van uitvoere na markte in die Verre Ooste. ‘n Verskeidenheid van produkte word uitgevoer, insluitend lewendige, gevriesde, gedroogte en verblikte perlemoen. Die spesie word as ongedomestikeerd beskou aangesien die huidige teeldiere op ‘n lukrake wyse uit natuurlike populasies versamel is. Globale kompetisie het die Suid Afrikaanse industrie genoodsaak om ‘n genetiese verbeteringsprogram in werking te stel om sodoende die biologiese produktiwiteit en finansiële winsgewendheid te verbeter. Die studie poog om genetiese variasie in groei en opbrengsverwante kenmerke tussen familiegroepe wat deel uitmaak van die teelprogram te ondersoek. Oorerflikheid van groeitempo (0.14 ± 0.05), opbrengs na verblikking (0.08 ± 0.03), en vogverlies na lewendige uitvoer (0.03 ± 0.02) is beraam. Die hoë korrelasie (0.94 ± 0.34) tussen gewig en skulplengte stel die industrie in staat om beide massa en skulplengte as kriteria te geruik tydens operasionele praktyke van sortering, groepering en oes. Die korrelasie van 0.85 ± 0.01 tussen gewig en verlies na verblikking dui aan dat swaarder diere ‘n laer uitslagpersentasie het. As gevolg van die lae oorerflikheidswaardes vir opbrengsverwante kenmerke word daar aanbeveel dat hierdie kenmerke nie op hierdie stadium ingesluit word in die seleksieprogram nie. Resultate is egter beïnvloed deur ‘n beperkte aantal familie groepe, ouderdomsverskille tussen families en die effek van verskillende lokaliteite op die variansie in die fenotipes. Verdere ondersoeke is nodig om die geloofwaardigheid van die bevindinge te bevestig.
Description
Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Abalone -- South Africa -- Genetics, Breeding, Growth, Yields, Dissertations -- Genetics, Theses -- Genetics, Perlemoen
Citation