by Martin Smith, Hatchery Manager, Bibury Trout Farm, UK
Successful production of rainbow trout relies heavily on high gamete quality and progeny performance.
Fecundity, egg size, high egg survival and hatch rates are all attributes considered important when quantifying brood stock performance.
To achieve success it is necessary then to provide the brood fish with optimal conditions throughout the maturation period as well as a high quality feed and good husbandry techniques.
Failure to provide these essentials will result in poor quality brood fish and subsequently poor quality ova and underperforming fry.
Brood stock selection is also an important part of commercial farming but not all farms are looking for the same traits.
Restocking farms may be looking for good body shape and patterning and table producers may be more inclined to select for growth rates, fillet yield etc.
As an egg producer I have to take into consideration what all my customers require but high fecundity is desirable, not to the extent where egg size is compromised however.
It is believed by many farmers that the larger the egg the better the fry, although this is not the case in my personal experience nor in studies conducted by others.
However, higher fecundity does reduce the number of brood required, which in turn will help reduce the food bill, provide better rearing conditions through lower densities and reduce labour due to less stripping time.
Ultimately a good quality egg with high survival and hatch rates takes priority and this is achieved by giving the brood fish the best diet, care and environment I can.
Read the full article HERE.
Successful production of rainbow trout relies heavily on high gamete quality and progeny performance.
Fecundity, egg size, high egg survival and hatch rates are all attributes considered important when quantifying brood stock performance.
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| www.biburytroutfarm.co.uk |
To achieve success it is necessary then to provide the brood fish with optimal conditions throughout the maturation period as well as a high quality feed and good husbandry techniques.
Failure to provide these essentials will result in poor quality brood fish and subsequently poor quality ova and underperforming fry.
Brood stock selection is also an important part of commercial farming but not all farms are looking for the same traits.
Restocking farms may be looking for good body shape and patterning and table producers may be more inclined to select for growth rates, fillet yield etc.
As an egg producer I have to take into consideration what all my customers require but high fecundity is desirable, not to the extent where egg size is compromised however.
It is believed by many farmers that the larger the egg the better the fry, although this is not the case in my personal experience nor in studies conducted by others.
However, higher fecundity does reduce the number of brood required, which in turn will help reduce the food bill, provide better rearing conditions through lower densities and reduce labour due to less stripping time.
Ultimately a good quality egg with high survival and hatch rates takes priority and this is achieved by giving the brood fish the best diet, care and environment I can.
Read the full article HERE.
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