Breeding method of high-quality soft-shelled turtles
By integrating the superior genetic characteristics of Chinese soft-shelled turtle, mountain soft-shelled turtle, and Japanese soft-shelled turtle through multi-generational hybridization and backcrossing, high-quality soft-shelled turtles have been bred, solving the problems of slow growth rate and low meat quality, and realizing high-efficiency large-scale farming.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-07
AI Technical Summary
Chinese soft-shelled turtles grow slowly and have low meat quality, making it difficult to meet the high-efficiency requirements of large-scale farming. In addition, introduced species such as the Chinese soft-shelled turtle have poor adaptability and are difficult to farm, making it difficult to promote on a large scale.
Through multi-generational directional hybridization, backcrossing, and crosscrossing fixation, the superior genetic characteristics of Chinese soft-shelled turtle, mountain soft-shelled turtle, and Japanese soft-shelled turtle are integrated to cultivate a new high-quality soft-shelled turtle variety. This variety combines the meat flavor and disease resistance of mountain soft-shelled turtle with the environmental adaptability and low disease incidence of Chinese soft-shelled turtle.
The high-quality soft-shelled turtles cultivated have delicious meat flavor, strong disease resistance, shorter breeding cycle, reduced drug usage, adaptability to various breeding models, and improved market recognition and breeding efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN121795384A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of aquaculture breeding technology, specifically to a method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles. Background Technology
[0002] Soft-shelled turtles, scientifically known as Trionyx sinensis, are a traditional and prized aquatic product, possessing edible, nourishing, and medicinal value, and occupying an important position in my country's aquaculture industry. Currently, the mainstream turtle species in the aquaculture market mainly include the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, the mountain soft-shelled turtle, and the introduced Japanese soft-shelled turtle. Each species exhibits significant differences in growth performance, meat quality, and adaptability, and all have unavoidable shortcomings.
[0003] The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx sinensis) is the most common native turtle species in my country, widely distributed in the Yangtze and Pearl River systems. It has a flat, oval body, a smooth carapace, and is mostly bluish-brown or yellowish-green in color. Its belly is clean with spots, and its skirt is thick and wide. This species has strong adaptability to aquaculture: it is widely adaptable, has a low disease incidence rate, and is not demanding in terms of water quality. It reaches marketable size in about 18 months, making it relatively easy to cultivate for beginners. Furthermore, its meat is tender, rich in collagen and trace elements, and has both edible and nutritional value, giving it a dominant position in the market. However, the Chinese soft-shelled turtle has a significant growth limitation; compared to some introduced species, its growth rate is slower, and its cultivation cycle is longer, limiting the potential for increased profitability and making it difficult to meet the high-efficiency demands of large-scale aquaculture.
[0004] However, the Chinese soft-shelled turtle has significant shortcomings. Compared to some introduced turtle species, its growth rate is slower, limiting the improvement of farming efficiency. To improve the quality of soft-shelled turtle meat, the industry has tried to introduce the Chinese soft-shelled turtle for hybridization. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle has denser muscle tissue, a sweeter taste, and a significantly better meat flavor than the common Chinese soft-shelled turtle. However, the Chinese soft-shelled turtle has strict requirements for its growth environment, poor adaptability, and is difficult to farm, making large-scale promotion difficult.
[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a scientific and efficient breeding method to integrate the excellent genetic characteristics of Chinese soft-shelled turtles and mountain soft-shelled turtles, and to cultivate a new high-quality soft-shelled turtle variety with excellent comprehensive performance. Summary of the Invention
[0006] To address the technical problem of low meat quality in existing Chinese soft-shelled turtle breeds, this invention provides a breeding method for high-quality soft-shelled turtles. Using Chinese soft-shelled turtles and Japanese soft-shelled turtles as parents, and introducing Japanese soft-shelled turtles, this method maintains the strong adaptability and excellent meat quality of Chinese soft-shelled turtles while utilizing the advantages of Japanese soft-shelled turtles and Japanese soft-shelled turtles to improve meat quality and disease resistance.
[0007] The specific plan is as follows: A method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles includes the following steps: S1. Using Chinese soft-shelled turtle as the male parent and artificially cultivated mountain soft-shelled turtle as the female parent, hybridize to produce F1 generation hybrid turtles. Crossbreed the F1 generation hybrid turtles to produce F2 generation hybrid turtles. S2. Select F2 generation hybrid turtles as the male parent and imported Japanese soft-shelled turtles as the female parent to produce F3 generation hybrid turtles. Select F3 generation hybrid turtles and artificially bred Chinese soft-shelled turtles to produce F4 generation hybrid turtles. S3. Select F4 generation hybrid turtles and F2 generation Chinese soft-shelled turtles for backcrossing to produce F5 generation hybrid turtles. Select F5 generation hybrid turtles for crossbreeding and fixation to produce the selected breed.
[0008] Furthermore, step S1 includes the following steps: the selection criteria for the male parent in step S1 are: weight 1.5-2.0kg, age 3-4 years, and complete and smooth carapace without disease; the selection criteria for the female parent are: weight 2.0-2.5kg, age 3-4 years, and complete and smooth carapace without disease.
[0009] Furthermore, the screening criteria for F1 generation hybrid turtles in step S1 are: weight 1.6-1.8kg, and passing the disease resistance test.
[0010] Furthermore, in step S2, the selection criteria for the male parent are: weight 1.6-1.8kg; and the selection criteria for the female parent are: weight 2.2-2.6kg, breeding period 3-4 years, and meat yield ≥60%.
[0011] Furthermore, the selection criteria for high-quality F3 generation hybrid turtles in step S2 are: weight 1.8-2.1kg, muscle fiber density ≥35 fibers / mm², umami amino acid content ≥2.8g / 100g, and white spot disease resistance rate ≥85%.
[0012] Furthermore, the selection criteria for high-quality F4 generation hybrid turtles in step S3 are as follows: weight 1.8-2.2kg, weight gain ≥0.5kg within 6 months of breeding, muscle fiber density ≥38 fibers / mm², collagen content ≥25g / 100g, total umami amino acid content ≥3g / 100g, and disease resistance rate ≥90%.
[0013] Furthermore, the selection criteria for the bred varieties in step S3 are as follows: weight 2-2.3kg, weight gain ≥0.5kg within 6 months of breeding, muscle fiber density ≥40 fibers / mm², collagen content ≥28g / 100g, and total umami amino acid content ≥3.5g / 100g.
[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are: This invention precisely integrates the superior genetic characteristics of three turtle species through multi-generational directional hybridization, backcrossing, and crossbreeding fixation. The resulting high-quality turtle breed inherits the excellent traits of the Japanese soft-shelled turtle (Typhonium vulgaris) in terms of firm muscle tissue and sweet taste, while retaining the characteristics of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Typhonium spp.) in terms of tender meat, rich in collagen and trace elements. The content of umami amino acids is significantly improved, resulting in a combination of flavor and nutritional value, leading to higher market acceptance. Furthermore, by integrating the strong disease-resistant genes of the Japanese soft-shelled turtle (Typhonium vulgaris) and the low disease incidence of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Typhonium spp.), the new breed exhibits significantly enhanced resistance to common aquatic diseases. The amount of medication used during cultivation can be reduced by more than 60%, lowering the risk of drug residues and ensuring product safety. Moreover, inheriting the wide tolerance range of pH levels of the Japanese soft-shelled turtle and the strong environmental adaptability of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Typhonium spp.), it is suitable for various aquaculture models such as pond culture and rice-field polyculture. It has relaxed water quality requirements, making it suitable for widespread cultivation in many regions across the country, with a low entry barrier. Attached Figure Description
[0015] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles according to the present invention. Example
[0016] As attached Figure 1 As shown, this invention provides a method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles, comprising the following steps: S1. Using Chinese soft-shelled turtle as the male parent and artificially cultivated mountain soft-shelled turtle as the female parent, hybridize to produce F1 generation hybrid turtles. Crossbreed the F1 generation hybrid turtles to produce F2 generation hybrid turtles. The male paternal individuals of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle were selected from wild-caught, domesticated individuals from the Yangtze River system. They weighed 1.8 kg, had a standard flat oval body shape, a smooth, undamaged bluish-brown carapace, a clean white abdomen with evenly distributed spots, a thick and wide skirt, and strong mobility. Microbiological testing confirmed the absence of pathogens such as Salmonella and Aeromonas. Artificially bred female individuals were selected after passing quarantine. The artificially bred female soft-shelled turtles were selected, weighing 2.2 kg, 4 years old, with stable egg production over the past 3 months, and plump, uniform eggs. They passed quarantine and were disease-free. All parent turtles were raised individually in separate ponds one month in advance, with a water depth maintained at 0.8-1.0 m, a constant water temperature of 28℃, dissolved oxygen content controlled at 5.5-6.0 mg / L, and a pH value of 7.5-8.0. They were fed high-protein formulated feed twice daily, at 2%-3% of their body weight. Uneaten feed and feces were regularly removed, and the ponds were disinfected monthly with povidone-iodine solution to ensure the parent turtles met the required health standards.
[0017] Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pterocarya spp.) and mountain soft-shelled turtle (Pterocarya spp.) were crossbred in a 1:2 ratio in a rearing tank using a combination of natural mating and artificial insemination. The male turtles were placed in the rearing tank between 9-10 AM and 4-5 PM daily for three consecutive days. On the fourth day, semen was collected from the Chinese soft-shelled turtles using the abdominal compression method. After dilution with sterile saline, the semen was injected into the cloaca of each female soft-shelled turtle using an insemination tube. Each female received 0.5-0.8 mL of diluted semen. The rearing environment was kept stable after crossbreeding. Eggs were collected promptly after spawning and placed in an incubator for hatching, yielding the F1 generation of hybrid turtles. Once the F1 generation reached sexual maturity, superior individuals weighing 1.6-1.8 kg were selected for crossbreeding using the same method as the F1 generation, resulting in the F2 generation of hybrid turtles.
[0018] S2. Select F2 generation hybrid turtles as the male parent and imported Japanese soft-shelled turtles as the female parent to produce F3 generation hybrid turtles. Select F3 generation hybrid turtles and artificially bred Chinese soft-shelled turtles to produce F4 generation hybrid turtles. Male turtles weighing 1.6-1.8 kg with good disease resistance and outstanding reproductive potential were selected from the F2 generation hybrid turtles and used as paternal parents. They were then crossbred with prepared Japanese soft-shelled turtles at a ratio of 1:1.5. The paternal parents were Japanese soft-shelled turtles weighing 2.2-2.6 kg.
[0019] Hybridization and hatching conditions are the same as in step S1. After 3 months of rearing, F3 generation hybrid turtles are obtained. Once the F3 generation hybrid turtles reach sexual maturity, healthy individuals are selected and hybridized with artificially bred Chinese softshell turtles to produce F4 generation hybrid turtles. The selection criteria for healthy F3 generation hybrid turtles are: weight 1.8-2.1kg, muscle fiber density ≥35 fibers / mm², umami amino acid content ≥2.8g / 100g, and white spot disease resistance rate ≥85%.
[0020] S3. Select F4 generation hybrid turtles and F2 generation Chinese soft-shelled turtles for backcrossing to produce F5 generation hybrid turtles. Select F5 generation hybrid turtles for crossbreeding and fixation to produce the selected breed.
[0021] Individuals with excellent overall performance were selected from the F4 generation hybrid turtles and backcrossed with the F2 generation Chinese soft-shelled turtles. The selection criteria for the F4 generation hybrid turtles were a weight gain of ≥0.5 kg within 6 months of rearing, a muscle fiber density of ≥38 fibers / mm², and a disease resistance rate of ≥90%. The hatched F5 generation hybrid turtles were then raised to sexual maturity. Individuals with fast growth rate, strong disease resistance, and excellent meat quality were selected and crossbred for fixation. This crossbreeding was repeated for three generations. Each generation underwent strict screening and elimination of substandard individuals according to the phenotypic testing standards outlined in the invention. Ultimately, a high-quality soft-shelled turtle breed with stable genetic traits was obtained.
[0022] The selected breeds were cultured to a weight of 2-2.3 kg, with a weight gain of ≥0.5 kg within 6 months, and a culture cycle of 16.5 months to reach marketable size, which is 1.5 months shorter than the culture cycle of ordinary Chinese soft-shelled turtles. Simultaneously, the meat quality was tested, with an average muscle fiber density of 42 fibers / mm², 25% higher than that of Chinese soft-shelled turtles; collagen content reached 28g / 100g, significantly higher than that of Japanese soft-shelled turtles; and the total amount of umami amino acids reached 3.5g / 100g, 35% higher than that of Chinese soft-shelled turtles. In artificial infection experiments, the resistance rates against white spot disease, skin rot disease, and enteritis in soft-shelled turtles reached 95%, 93%, and 90% respectively, showing improved resistance rates compared to ordinary Chinese soft-shelled turtles. Frequent drug use is unnecessary during the culture process, and drug residue testing meets national aquatic food safety standards.
[0023] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and not restrictive in all respects. Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, it does not encompass only one technical solution. This descriptive method is merely for clarity, and those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in the embodiments can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Using Chinese soft-shelled turtle as the male parent and artificially cultivated mountain soft-shelled turtle as the female parent, hybridize to produce F1 generation hybrid turtles. Crossbreed the F1 generation hybrid turtles to produce F2 generation hybrid turtles. S2. Select F2 generation hybrid turtles as the male parent and imported Japanese soft-shelled turtles as the female parent to produce F3 generation hybrid turtles. Select F3 generation hybrid turtles and artificially bred Chinese soft-shelled turtles to produce F4 generation hybrid turtles. S3. Select F4 generation hybrid turtles and F2 generation Chinese soft-shelled turtles for backcrossing to produce F5 generation hybrid turtles. Select F5 generation hybrid turtles for crossbreeding and fixation to produce the selected breed.
2. The method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step S1 includes the following steps: The selection criteria for the male parent in step S1 are: weight 1.5-2.0kg, age 3-4 years, and complete and smooth carapace without disease; the selection criteria for the female parent are: weight 2.0-2.5kg, age 3-4 years, and complete and smooth carapace without disease.
3. The method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles according to claim 2, characterized in that, The screening criteria for F1 generation hybrid turtles in step S1 are: weight 1.6-1.8kg, and passing the disease resistance test.
4. The method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S2, the selection criteria for the male parent are: weight 1.6-1.8kg; the selection criteria for the female parent are: weight 2.2-2.6kg, breeding period 3-4 years, and meat yield ≥60%.
5. The method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles according to claim 4, characterized in that, The selection criteria for high-quality F3 generation hybrid turtles in step S2 are: weight 1.8-2.1kg, muscle fiber density ≥35 fibers / mm², umami amino acid content ≥2.8g / 100g, and white spot disease resistance rate ≥85%.
6. The method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The selection criteria for high-quality F4 generation hybrid turtles in step S3 are as follows: weight 1.8-2.2kg, weight gain ≥0.5kg within 6 months of breeding, muscle fiber density ≥38 fibers / mm², collagen content ≥25g / 100g, total umami amino acid content ≥3g / 100g, and white spot disease resistance rate ≥90%.
7. The method for breeding high-quality soft-shelled turtles according to claim 1, characterized in that, The selection criteria for the bred varieties in step S3 are as follows: weight 2-2.3kg, weight gain ≥0.5kg within 6 months of breeding, muscle fiber density ≥40 fibers / mm², collagen content ≥28g / 100g, total umami amino acid content ≥3.5g / 100g, and white spot disease resistance rate ≥90%.