TITLE:
Walleye Egg Survival Was Unaffected by Four Semen Inclusion Techniques during Artificial Fertilization
AUTHORS:
Matthew J. Ward, Brian G. Blackwell
KEYWORDS:
Walleye Egg Collection, Walleye Propagation, Walleye Spawning Operations
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.13 No.2,
April
18,
2023
ABSTRACT: Improving the percent hatch during artificial
spawning of walleye (Sander vitreus)
could save agencies substantial resources. Semen inclusion techniques used to
artificially fertilize walleye eggs may have a subsequent influence on the
percent hatch. We compared walleye egg survival to the early embryo stage
across four semen inclusion techniques used during fertilization to determine
if one or more of the techniques would result in a higher percent hatch. Six mL of freshly collected
(within 2 h) semen was presented to common pools of walleye eggs separated into
250 mL lots by either 1) pouring semen on top of the eggs before sperm
activation, 2) placing 3 mL of semen below and above the eggs before sperm
activation, 3) pouring 3 mL of semen on top of the eggs, activating sperm, and
adding the remaining 3 mL of semen after 30 s, or 4) activating the sperm by
adding semen to 1 L of water, mixing and pouring the solution on the eggs
within 3 s. All treatments received 1 L of filtered lake water for sperm
activation and fertilization. Mean egg survival was similar ranging from 49.5%
to 56.7% among the four techniques and was not significantly different across
methods. These results suggest that any of the semen inclusion techniques will
likely provide a similar percent hatch for walleye eggs when 250 mL of eggs, 6
mL of semen, and 1 L of water are used during fertilization.