Maternal age influences on reproductive rates in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

• Main Authors: Fernanda Nogueira Valentin, Nivaldo Ferreira do Nascimento, Regiane Cristina da Silva, Eduardo Akira Tsuji, Maria do Carmo Faria Paes, Teresa Cristina Ribeiro Dias Koberstein, Laura Satiko Okada Nakaghi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia 2015-04-01
• Series: Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia
• Subjects: fertility; quality of gametes; reproduction traits
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-35982015000400161&lng=en&tlng=en

In this study we examined the effects of the maternal age on the fecundity (absolute and relative), egg production, and fertilization rates of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Females were divided into three groups: Group 1 (6 years old), Group 2 (3 years old), and Group 3 (8 months old). Males of eight months were used in all groups. Twice a week, the females' mouths were examined, and if they had eggs, these were removed and transferred to 2-L incubators. No difference was observed in the absolute fecundity between the different maternal age groups. Relative fecundity and egg production was greater in Group 3 (8 months) and fertilization rates were lower in Group 1 (6 years). Younger tilapias are more viable for egg production, because they have better reproductive indexes.