Some morphological characteristics (oocyte diameter, polarization index, and general appearance) and physiological characteristics (in vitro oocyte maturation and ovulation of ovarian follicles (follicle-enclosed oocytes) under the influence of 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, purified sturgeon gonadotropin, carp pituitary homogenate, and culture medium) were studied in relation to the ability of females to produce high quality eggs after hormonal stimulation in the farmed Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baeri Brandt. Seasonal changes of these characteristics were recorded during eight reproduction trials from december until april. Relationships between some of the studied characteristics and female reproductive success were found. A comparison of these characteristics according to their capacity to predict reproduction success was made by calculating a proposed index of efficiency. The time period to maturation in vitro provoked by 17alpha, 20beta-DHP in 50% of oocytes proved to be the most effective criterion of female selection for breeding. Relationships between this characteristic, female reproductive success, and seasonal water temperature emphasizes the importance of this factor for sturgeon farming.