Stimulation of Carp Spawning Using OVASIS Hormone and Pituitary Extract under Iraqi Conditions

Abstract

The study investigates the efficacy of OVASIS hormone in stimulating reproduction in Cyprinus carpio under controlled conditions in Iraq. The study was conducted at the Al-Suwaira Central Government Fish Hatchery, and included 16 female and 16 male parent fish, divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) that received different hormone treatments. The results showed that the group given a single dose of 100% OVASIS hormone (group D) showed the shortest latency period (14 hours), the highest egg production (1050 grams per female), and fertilization (94%) and hatching (92%) rates, outperforming other groups using pituitary extracts alone or in combination with OVASIS. The study highlights OVASIS hormone as an effective and cost-effective alternative to conventional pituitary extracts, simplifying hormone administration while enhancing reproductive performance. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of environmental factors such as temperature and water quality in improving the success of induced spawning. By significantly improving reproductive efficiency, OVASIS offers a promising strategy to increase the productivity of fish farms and meet the growing global demand for aquaculture. These findings support the adoption of synthetic hormonal technologies to promote sustainable fish farming, especially in areas facing challenges in natural reproduction. The research concludes that OVASIS not only accelerates sexual maturation but also improves egg quality, making it a viable solution for large-scale aquaculture operations.