Genetic differences in growth among wild populations of the yabby, Cherax destructor (Clark)

Before commencing a breeding programme on a new aquaculture species, it is prudent to identify populations or strains with superior characteristics for commercial production. Information on the comparative performance of populations allows informed decisions to be made on the starting genetic base for the programme. As a precursor to a breeding programme in the decapod species, Cherax destructor (Clark), five geographically isolated populations were evaluated for the traits weight at age, abdomen length and abdomen width over a period of 9 months. Mean weight at age was found to vary among the populations by up to 42%, whereas mean abdomen length was similar among four out of the five populations. No differences were found in abdomen width. This study emphasizes that rapid genetic gains can be made simply by starting a breeding programme based on faster growing populations.