Artificial insemination of individually caged broiler breeders. II. The relationships of juvenile male traits with subsequent reproductive traits.
The relationship of the reproductive performance and semen characteristics of commerical broiler parent males with their body weight at 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age, keel length, shank length, breast angle at 8 weeks of age, and packed erythrocyte volume at 6 and 8 weeks of age were examined. Phenotype correlations of juvenile traits with subsequent reproductive traits were generally of low magnitude, except for the significant positive correlations of 6- and 8-week body weight with fertility. Positive correlations existed between fertility and semen quality traits which were significant in some cases. Six-week body weight and spermatozoal motility appeared to be the most useful traits in predicting a male's fertility.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000662:veterinary*; D006400:Hematocrit; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012661:Semen; D013081:Sperm Motility