Reproductive performance of cultured Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L-1758 in Chile

Abstract

Reproductive variables from 1529 females and 168 males of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. 1758 were recorded individually during the 1995 spawning season at a salmon farm in the south of Chile. The spawning period occurred in autumn and lasted 43 days, with a peak occurring in the first week of May. Average mature female and male body weights were 6.4 +/- 0.9 kg and 7.0 +/- 1.0 kg respectively. Average total and relative fecundity of females were 5998 +/- 1404 eggs and 946 +/- 210 eggs kg(-1) respectively. Female body weight showed a similar pattern of correlation with total and relative fecundity observed in other salmonids. Average total and relative volume of ejaculate of males were 47.7 +/- 32.8 cm(3) kg(-1) and 7.26 +/- 5.44 cm(3) kg(-1), respectively, with the latter being lower than the values reported in the literature. Furthermore, male weight showed a negative correlation with these variables, in contrast to a positive value reported for these correlations in the northern hemisphere. Ejaculate volume showed a positive correlation with date of stripping. Average sperm density (5.83 +/- 3.75 sperm cm(-3) 10(-9)) was lower than the values found in the literature and could be explained by the higher ejaculate volumes.