Fish that are grown under a roof for the entirety of the life to fingerling stage quite simply cannot afford to be "feed trained". Even before they have absorbed their yolks, they will have to be consuming feed in the form of finely granulated fry meal just to keep up on a age basis a control that is growing in a fertilized pond. Any swim fry that don't just take to the feed very soon will very soon die. The slowest to take to feed and survive will probably be smaller than peers. Definitely not saying it cannot be done, but it isn't without risk. There are only so many brooders and the eggs, milt, and swim up fry are valuable. Survival to fingerling stages is key determiner of profitability.
I would love to learn from this experience. Esshup, please report the name of the grower hatching LMB in February and growing them to 4" by May under the roof. I am to be in Arkansas in a few weeks and may try to tour the facility. If not this trip, perhaps on a later one but at least for now I will accept your explanation of the age of the fish.
