Reproductive performance of floored and cage housed broiler breeder roosters
Paper Details
Reproductive performance of floored and cage housed broiler breeder roosters
Abstract
Male fertility is one of the most factor that affect the profitability of broiler breeder flock. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of natural and artificial insemination on the reproductive parameter of male broielr breeders. Reproductive parameters of meat-type Hubbard roosters (n=1,800) were studied that were housed in cages (n=600) to inseminate cage housed hens or floored (n=1,200) to mate floored hens naturally (n=600) or artificially (n=600) under controlled environment where the average house temperature and relatively humadity were 21-24o C and 50-65% respectively. Body weight, semen quality, sperm penetration rate over days post insemination, egg lay, and hatchability were recorded for a complete production cycle and analyzed using SPSS software to assess the roosters’ reproductive performance with varying body weight, housing system and post insemination duration. Housing type did not affect (P>0.05) seminal volume, sperm concentration, viability and morphology. However, variation was significant in sperm penetration and hatch (P<0.01). Cage housed flock exhibited better sperm penetration and hatch (90.81±21.29; 84.25±14.89) than floored flocks (65.85±20.82; 77.49%). Fewer (P<0.01) sperms penetrated the perivitelline membrane overlying the germinal disc with lengthening post insemination duration over 3,4 and 5 days but remained sound enough (>42) to cause fertility decline till next insemination. Sperm penetration decreased with increasing body weight of rooster. Semen from roosters weighing 4-4.9 kg exhibited highest (91±11) sperm penetration followed by roosters having 4.5-5 kg (60±22) and above 5 kg (42±19). Sperm penetration was negatively associated with rooster body weight (r2=0.52) and age (r2=0.45); the regression equation predicts that current roosters will be unfit for floor mated reproduction once weighed >6.3 kg or age >92 weeks. We thus conclude that better housing, careful application of AI and regular monitoring of flock reproductive efficiency for in time corrective measures ensures smooth profitable business operation. Broiler Breeders may regularly monitor reproductive efficiency of their flocks through adoption of sperm penetration based monitoring plan that guides us for minor management changes in advance that can avoid a costly reduction in the number of quality chicks hatched.
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