2.2. Experimental design
The experimental design used in this study was established for the
purpose of studying indirect genetic effects for harvest weight in the
GIFT strain (Khaw et al., 2015). The fry were nursed in full-sib groups
in hapas (sized of 1 m × 1 m × 1 m) until they reached the tagging
size of 2 to 5 g. Then the fingerlings were individually identified with
PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags before they were stocked in
net-cages of size 1 m length × 1.5 m width × 1 m depth, installed in
earthen ponds of size 0.1 ha. Two earthen ponds were used for growout.
The distribution of families over net-cages followed the optimum