Annual production is variable depending on numerous features. Two main culture methods are used in ponds: wild adult spawning and fry stocking. Wild spawning is probably the method you will use.
Breeder adults are added at a rate of 500-2000 per acre. Ponds can be fertilized several ways (manure, organics or inorganics) and fish can be fed up to a maximum of 40 lbs/ac/day if flow through flushing is avaiable during poor water quality. Aeration is also highly recommended in goals of higher production. Production per year ranges widely between 300-1200 lbs/ac. Large variation is due primarily to techniques used.
For beginners plan on producing 250-300lbs/ac if pond is lighly fertilized and fish are fed lower amounts of food/ac. The main problem that I've seen in amateur or new growers is too many small crowded young not growing well. Healthy FHM are prolific. One female was documented as producing 4000 young during 12 spawns over a 11 wk spawning season. If we stocked 800FHM/ac, and 400 were females they have the potential to produce 800,000 to 1,600,000 small FHM/ac in optimum conditions. Even in just good conditions those 400 females could easily produce 400K -500K young FHM (400x1000) per acre.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 12/19/11 11:01 AM.
