ABSTRACT
Utmost care must be given in the selection of brooders for induced breeding. The age and the sexual maturity depends on the culture period and the feed. The male brooders can be procured from one farm and the females from the other. Best management practices and maintenance of brooders is highly essential for quality seed production. The brooders attain ripeness or maturity of reproductive organs continuously during the breeding season and must be controlled. The male and female brooders should be maintained in the same pond at least during the breeding cycle period, however they can be separated during spawning, since the continuous mating and chasing by the males can cause physical injury to the brooders. The sexual maturity is controlled by the external factors like photoperiod, temperature, water and atmospheric conditions which inturn influence the secretion of pituitary gonadotropin hormone.
