Relationships Between Morphological Characteristics of Roosters in Broiler Breeders at Different Age Periods

Authors : Saliha SABAH, Bilgehan YILMAZ DİKMEN

Pages : 25-31

Doi:10.34233/jpr.1314476

View : 18 | Download : 17

Publication Date : 2023-06-23

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The aim of study was to determine the relationships between morphological characteristics of roosters and fertility in broiler breeders at different age periods. A total of 48 roosters and 480 hens Ross 308 broiler breeder were used. The body weight, comb width and length, wattle width and length, and tarsus length of roosters were measured for morphological characteristics at 42, and 53 weeks of age. A total of 1500 eggs were incubated at 37.7 °C and 50-55% relative humidity for 18 d, then eggs were incubated at 36.6 °C and 60% relative humidity for 3 d. The effect of age on comb length, comb index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P=0.002);, wattle width insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P=0.008);, wattle area insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P=0.015); and tarsus length were found significant insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P=0.000);. There were correlations between body weight and fertility at 53 weeks of age insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.663; P<0.05);. There was no correlation between fertility and comb length, comb width, comb area, comb index, wattle width, wattle area, wattle index, and tarsus length at 42 and 53 weeks of age insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P>0.05);. In conclusion; some characteristics based on external appearance are used for male selection in broiler breeders, but no relationship was found between investigated morphological characteristics and fertility, except for body weight.
Keywords : Morphological characteristics, Fertility, Age, Broiler breeder