Evaluating the long-term performance and morphometry of common carp offspring arisen from cryopreserved sperm of a large-scale

Sperm cryopreservation represents a valuable tool in aquaculture for resource management, breeding, and preservation. This study explores the potential of cryopreservation in common carp breeding by comparing the performance and morphometry of progeny arisen from cryopreserved (CSG) or fresh (FSG) sperm until two years old reared under semi-intensive fishpond management. Offspring were produced using sperm from 50 males per group, fertilizing a pooled egg batch from 15 females. Fertilization and hatching success, and important growth-related traits such as body weight (BW), Fulton’s condition factor (K), fillet yield predictor (E8/E23), muscle fat, and morphometry were determined via phenotyping and digitization. The fertilization and hatching rates of inseminated eggs significantly differed between the treatments in favor of the FSG. However, the hatching rate of the fertilized eggs and larval malformation occurrence were comparable. The survival rates during the first and second winter were significantly ( p < 0.05) higher in the FSG. However, the cumulative survival from yolk sac fry to two-years-old-fish was comparable. Differences in the growth-related traits of the yearlings were not statistically significant, except K (CSG= 3.33 and FSG= 3.26) during the first growing season. Only 8 landmarks (around the trunk region) out of the 36 truss distances differed significantly, but the differences in the absolute values were very low. This study demonstrates that sperm cryopreservation had no negative effects on the performance and morphometry of the common carp stocks and can be incorporated into common carp selective breeding and conservation programs without altering important phenotypic traits and production yields. • Sperm cryopreservation had no negative impact on the development of carp eggs. • Sperm cryopreservation had no negative effect on the common carp performance. • Sperm cryopreservation had no significant effect on the common carp morphometry. • Sperm cryopreservation is applicable in common carp breeding programs and culture.