The Ogata Mud Ponds
Each year Koi breeders from all over Japan place in to mud ponds across Japan a selection of very high quality Tategoi (Koi of one year old) to grow on, in the warmer months of the year. After spending eight months of the year in the mud ponds the breeders then drain the ponds and harvest the Koi. The usual time to harvest the mud ponds is in October and November of each year.
The Koi can grow at a very fast rate having access to many millions of gallons of good water and plenty of natural and pellet food. Koi can grow from a size of 30cm to 60cm in one season.
The pictures below show the draining of one of the mud ponds that Mr Ogata uses to grow his Koi in throughout the warmer seasons.