Identification of important economic traits in Caspian Sea trout (Salmo trutta caspius) breeding plan using Analytical Hierarchy Process

In present study, Analytical Hierarchy Process method was used for  determining  most important traits in the breeding program of Caspian Sea trout and two questionnaires were prepared in two stages. The first questionnaire was sent to the 43 Caspian Sea trout farms that were previously identified. In this questionnaire, farmers based on their knowledge and experience were asked to select and rank the six most preferred out of 15 economic traits that they should be included in genetic improvement of this species in the breeding objectives with the aim of making more profit on their aquaculture. In this phase, 26 completed questionnaires were received. Six selective traits for compiling second questionnaire were determined as: Thermal growth coefficient (TGC), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Late maturation, Survival at harvest, Fillet percentage and Flesh color (redness).According   to analytical instruction, 15 pairwise comparison questions were constructed which genetic parameters based on previous studies. The second questionnaire was sent to 26 farmers who had completed the first questionnaire.Finally, 21 farmers (81%) completed  pairwise comparisons. The Analytical Hierarchy Process was used to estimate the vector of individual preference values and Inconsistency Ratio using Super Decisions software. A judgment is commonly reliable when Inconsistency Ratio is less than 0.10. After modification of   the matrix of 19 observation that have Inconsistency Ratio<0.1 , the final ranged from  0.107 to 0.027. The median of the preferences obtained from AHP showed in both cases, before and after correction of Inconsistency Ratio, the highest preferences of genetic improvement were for survival (0.252,0.191) and  FCR (0.201,0.275). Late maturation (0.152,0.142) was third in both cases. Also, after correction of the matrixes, TGC (0.112, 0.133) was fourth and the percentage of fillets (0.132 , 0.094) and Flesh redness (0.073, 0.057) were in the end of  ranking. The results of present research can be used in the national breeding program of the Caspian Sea trout as a unique endemic species for development of aquaculture industries.