No. No hormones are used during the entire breeding process to masculinize fish reared for fattening.
No. The SUPERMALE GENE is not hereditary. The offspring is 98% natural XY males. In order for them to produce only males, it would be necessary to treat these offspring with hormones.
It is well known that male fish grow faster than female fish. Since there are no genetic females within the OMT population (maximum 2%), the male growth will only vary based on normal competition between individuals but not between sexes.
When they are still fry or larva, they are sold as sets. A SET is 1 YY male and 6 mixed sex animals. If the client wants adult fish, one YY male and 3 well defined females of the desired line are delivered. We always pack 10% more animals than are paid for.
In an OMT population, because there are no female genotypes, reproductive behavior is going to be low. There will be no offspring, so the growth rate of the fish will be benefited.
Because OMT have never been treated with hormones, their immune system is in better condition than that of fish treated with hormones. Theoretically, survival rates should be higher in OMT than in those treated with hormones. However, MANAGEMENT makes all the difference.
Feed conversion should be benefited because the feed is only consumed by fish reared in the pond and not the offspring that would result from male and female breeding.