Broodstock Broodstock Acquisition/ConditioningAcquisition/Conditioning

Dr. Craig S. KasperDr. Craig S. Kasper

FAS 2263FAS 2263

SummarySummary

• Broodstock Facilities (review)Broodstock Facilities (review)• Broodfish Stocks SelectionBroodfish Stocks Selection• Broodfish Quality Broodfish Quality • Broodfish Conditioning (Nutrition)Broodfish Conditioning (Nutrition)• Broodfish Care Broodfish Care • Financial ConcernsFinancial Concerns

Broodstock: The GoalBroodstock: The Goal

• Production of good quality eggs is dependent Production of good quality eggs is dependent upon the quality of the broodstock.upon the quality of the broodstock.

• For that reason, maintaining a healthy, non-For that reason, maintaining a healthy, non-stress and disease free environment for stress and disease free environment for broodstock is critical to a successful operation.broodstock is critical to a successful operation.

This is what you This is what you want!!want!!

Broodstock Holding FacilitiesBroodstock Holding Facilities

• Always work closely with experts to design and Always work closely with experts to design and manufacture a broodstock system that meets manufacture a broodstock system that meets your unique needs while assuring a top quality your unique needs while assuring a top quality growing environment, up to date bio-security growing environment, up to date bio-security and 'best of' monitoring and controls.and 'best of' monitoring and controls.

• Hiring a consulting firm could be an expensive Hiring a consulting firm could be an expensive process, so choose wisely.process, so choose wisely.

• Consulting experts will often save you costly Consulting experts will often save you costly mistakes…mistakes…

OCEAN

1mm WELLSCREEN

OVERFLOW

EFFLUENTTREATMENT

MAIN SWPUMPS (2)

SEAWATER TREATMENT SCHEMATIC

PRESSURIZEDSAND FILTERS(PSF)

OVERFLOW TO RESERVOIR

OVERFLOW TO RESERVOIR

LARVALMODULECULTURETANKS

MATURATIONMODULECULTURETANKS

HEATEXCH.

HEATEXCH.

UV

UV

MA

IN D

RA

INL

INE

DE-GASSTORAGERESERVOIR

PUMPS

PSF

5 MICRONFILTERS

1 MICRONFILTERS

OZONECONTACTCOLUMNS

COMPRESSOR

COMPRESSOR

OZONEUNIT

OZONEUNIT

BLOWER

BLOWER

MATURATIONMODULERESERVOIRS

LARVALMODULERESERVOIRS

FRESHWATER

BRINETANKS

LIKEOVER-ENGINEERING

YOUR FACILITY!!

BroodfishBroodfishStock Stock AquisitionAquisition

• You’ve decided toYou’ve decided to

breed fish, good!breed fish, good!

• Where do I get Where do I get ‘em?‘em?

Broodfish StocksBroodfish Stocks

• Local state agenciesLocal state agencies might be a source. They might be a source. They “turn over” fish after several spawning cycles. “turn over” fish after several spawning cycles.

• While not the very best, they might be free! While not the very best, they might be free!

• This could be critical if you are This could be critical if you are

strapped for cash or don’t wantstrapped for cash or don’t want

to shell out the dough for fish to shell out the dough for fish

with which you have little with which you have little

experience.experience.

Atlantic Salmon stock enhancement - collection of wild broodstockAtlantic Salmon stock enhancement - collection of wild broodstockYeah, but who wants to sort all those fishYeah, but who wants to sort all those fish????

• You might be able to You might be able to get them yourself!get them yourself!

• Check with local department of natural resources Check with local department of natural resources concerning collection permits.concerning collection permits.

Sometimes it’s a little challenging!Sometimes it’s a little challenging!

• Established Established private producersprivate producers are a source! are a source!• The advertising is good, too!The advertising is good, too!

Broodstock Acquisition (cont.)Broodstock Acquisition (cont.)

• Established Established research programsresearch programs will sometimes will sometimes trade them, or even trade them, or even givegive them away when them away when research is finished.research is finished.

• Don’t count this being an easy sale though. Don’t count this being an easy sale though. Remember, these fish are time and money to Remember, these fish are time and money to people! REM: Tax dollars!people! REM: Tax dollars!

Hey, would you Hey, would you GIVEGIVE these away?!? these away?!?

Broodstock SelectionBroodstock Selection

• The selection of fish with desirable hereditary qualities The selection of fish with desirable hereditary qualities typical of typical of improved strainsimproved strains such as such as rapid growthrapid growth potential, tolerance to poor water quality, strong potential, tolerance to poor water quality, strong appetite, omnivorous feeding regime. appetite, omnivorous feeding regime.

• The selection of fish with The selection of fish with well-developed sexual organswell-developed sexual organs!!

• The The rearingrearing of these selected fish to produce of these selected fish to produce healthy healthy potential spawnerspotential spawners, with dormant eggs well developed , with dormant eggs well developed in the females.in the females.

Future Breeders “A”-ListFuture Breeders “A”-List

(1) good overall health(1) good overall health

(2) no lesions (body wounds)(2) no lesions (body wounds)

(3) no parasites(3) no parasites

(4) typical scale distribution (4) typical scale distribution

(5) no fin/body deformation (5) no fin/body deformation

(6) optimal shape/proportions(6) optimal shape/proportions

(7) not too fat(7) not too fat

(8) not too thin(8) not too thin

Broodstock NutritionBroodstock Nutrition• After stripping (when the breeders are stressed and before After stripping (when the breeders are stressed and before

new eggs are formed) they need as much protein as they new eggs are formed) they need as much protein as they can get, or as you can afford. (OTC on hand can’t hurt.)can get, or as you can afford. (OTC on hand can’t hurt.)

• This helps fish repare tissues and ward off diseases.This helps fish repare tissues and ward off diseases.

• During egg development and when the breeders await During egg development and when the breeders await spawning; tropicals, carnivors and marine fish diets >40% spawning; tropicals, carnivors and marine fish diets >40% protein content are used.protein content are used.

• Omni’s and herb’s can get by Omni’s and herb’s can get by

on less protein.on less protein.

Broodstock: PrecautionsBroodstock: Precautions

• Multiple spawnings possible! (Tropicals, BG’s)Multiple spawnings possible! (Tropicals, BG’s)

• Initially, females and males are preferably kept Initially, females and males are preferably kept in separate broodstock areas.in separate broodstock areas.

• Two sets of ponds: ripening males and females Two sets of ponds: ripening males and females vs. spent spawners. vs. spent spawners.

• Prevents wild spawning, enables feeding of Prevents wild spawning, enables feeding of conditioning diet to females, lowers stocking conditioning diet to females, lowers stocking density.density.

Polyculture within broodstock ponds?Polyculture within broodstock ponds?

• Yes! Sometimes using a few smaller (100-200 g) Yes! Sometimes using a few smaller (100-200 g) carnivorous fish is advisable.carnivorous fish is advisable.

• About 200-400 ind/ha (80/100 fish/acre) controls About 200-400 ind/ha (80/100 fish/acre) controls emigrants which compete for food with the broodstock.emigrants which compete for food with the broodstock.

• Similarly, these carnivorous fish will eliminate the Similarly, these carnivorous fish will eliminate the juveniles born from accidental wild spawning (yes, that juveniles born from accidental wild spawning (yes, that was a male fish you missed...)was a male fish you missed...)

• Of course, if you’ve stocked carivorous fish, this is a Of course, if you’ve stocked carivorous fish, this is a mute point.mute point.

What are the external signs of the What are the external signs of the breeder's maturity?breeder's maturity?

• ♀♀-- well-rounded and soft or semi-soft belly; well-rounded and soft or semi-soft belly; erect, reddish genital papilla (anal opening is erect, reddish genital papilla (anal opening is enlarged and protruding).enlarged and protruding).

• ♂ ♂ --slightslight abdominal pressure releases milt abdominal pressure releases milt

• Other signs include: presence ofOther signs include: presence of

an ovipositor, or a an ovipositor, or a

gonadopodium (gonopodium).gonadopodium (gonopodium).

Final SelectionFinal Selection

• Select breeders one by one! Select breeders one by one!

1.1. Mature breeders = hatchery Mature breeders = hatchery 2.2. Immature breeders = pondImmature breeders = pond3.3. Unhealthy or invalid fish = sold (eat?)Unhealthy or invalid fish = sold (eat?)

• This selection process is especially important This selection process is especially important for the females, whose maturity should be for the females, whose maturity should be thoroughlythoroughly checked, to ensure the success of checked, to ensure the success of the artificial propagation.the artificial propagation.