Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Montana Fishery
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The long-term goal of this study is to improve product quality and increase economic efficiency of caviar production. The specific objectives are: (1) determine the effect of dietary energy on ovarian adiposity and the roe yield in early (7 yr) and late (8 yr) maturing females; (2) determine dietary and farm effects on the physical, chemical, and sensory properties of sturgeon caviar; (3) characterize the effect of genotype on egg yield and ovarian adiposity in early and late maturing females and in early ontogeny of sturgeon (age 3 years); and (4) develop an integrated approach for management of farmed sturgeon with high caviar yield and product quality as outreach for the project.