Resistance to PD is confirmed in Landcatch stock

While PD commonly imposes a 15% carcass downgrade on fish at harvest, over and above normal downgrade factors, the Landcatch stock had a downgrade of just 2% more than normal. Survival rates were also impressive with only 4% of the Landcatch fish being lost due to PD, compared to 25% in locally sourced smolts grown alongside, according to a press release from Landcatch.

“Given the current debate on PD vaccine development in Norway, we believe producers should examine the vital role which could be played by breeding for resistance to this disease,” said Alan Stewart, Business Development Director of the Scottish international salmon breeding company, Landcatch.

““Based on current prices, the amount of revenue lost by farmers who experience 25% mortality and 15% carcass downgrading, as has commonly occurred in PD outbreaks in Norway this year, could be as much as 8.1m NOK on each 200,000 smolts stocked, when compared with the performance of the Landcatch fish at Lille Ludnoy,” said Mr Stewart. “It is clearly appropriate that resistant stocks should be used to help combat this extremely persistent disease. Research has demonstrated that vaccine efficacy is improved when used in stocks with innate resistance to viral disease”