Upgradation of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain by family selection in Bangladesh

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate growth performance of the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain after six generations of genetic selection for increasing body weight. The founder stock comprised of 30 families having 300 individuals of the GIFT strain from Malaysia in 2005. The brooders (40 females and 40 males) with the highest breeding values in the founder stock were selected to produce progeny of the first generation (G1) in 2007. From each family 25 each male and female fingerling was randomly Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagged and reared in a pond for continuation of the selection program. The same protocol was followed in subsequent generations in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. General linear model analysis indicated that the selected fish had 7.17, 13.60, 23.21, 30.30, 35.38 and 39.25% greater harvest weight than that of the founder population in G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6 generations, respectively. This achievement greatly contributed to sustainable increase of tilapia production in Bangladesh.