Spermatological parameters of wild and cultured beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus , 1758) and their effects on fertilization rate , hatching rate , larval growth and survival rates

To compare the reproductive performance of the wild and cultured stocks of beluga, Huso huso males, some spermatological parameters were measured including: sperm motility, sperm density, spermatocrit and also fertilization rate, hatching rate and larval growth and survival rates. The semen samples were sampled from 11 wild spawners and 12 cultured brooders. A half of each semen sample was allocated for spermatological analysis and remaining were used for artificial propagation. In wild beluga, sperm motility time was 339.09 ± 23.11 s; spermatozoa motility rate 83.64 ± 2.01%; sperm density 15.22 ± 3.46 ×109 and spermatocrit 5.88 ± 1.36% while in cultured beluga, sperm motility time was 199.35 ± 29.02 s; spermatozoa motility rate 74.22 ± 2.4 %; sperm density 8.37 ± 0.24 ×109 and spermatocrit 3.21 ± 0.29 %. The fertilization rate (%), hatching rate (%), larval growth (% g.day-1). and survival rate (%) in wild beluga were 61.72 ± 14.16, 43.33 ± 11.13, 12.28 ± 0.33 and 52.66 ± 7.77, while in cultured beluga were 49.98 ± 6.55, 31.47 ± 8.49, 12.28 ± 0.62 and 57.37 ± 7.89 respectively. The spermatozoa motility (the ratio and duration of motility) were significantly different between wild and cultured brooders (P<0.05). The values of sperm density, spermatocrit, fertilization rate, hatching rate, larval growth and survival rate were not significantly different between wild and cultured beluga