The Golden Shiner Grading Assessment Model

Golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas are typically graded in concrete vats having a rectangular cross section. Aluminum frames fitted with panels of uniformly spaced, vertical rods (bar graders) are used to separate golden shiners having similar weight and length from a mixed-size aggregation. Investigation revealed that no quantitative method for estimating bar grader effectiveness existed, so a Microsoft Excel application was developed. The golden shiner assessment model presents product quality information for graded golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas. Quality assurance data includes an estimate of the number of fish per kilogram (kg), weight in kg per 1,000 fish, and an assessment of grading effectiveness. Standard weight calculations give benchmark weight to length criteria for graded golden shiners, whereas relative weight provides a general indicator of health, and a means to estimate the effectiveness of a feeding regimen. This model serves as an assessment tool for researchers, a management tool for producers, and a source of important product information for purchasers.