Professional Documents
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110 Kema
110 Kema
110 Kema
Accepted: 10/05/2011
Abstract:A total number of 100 pedigreed cocks from two strains of chickens, El-Salam
and Mandarah (50 cocks each strain) at 8 weeks of age according to their sire families
were used in this experiment to study the relationship between fertility with some body
measurements such as body weight, lengths of shank and keel and secondary sexual
characters (comb and wattle lengths and widths) in both strains. The cocks were classified
at 40 weeks of age into three groups according to comb size. The 1st group: males with a
large comb (LC), the 2nd group: males with a control comb (CC) and the 3rd group: males
with a small comb (SC).
The following results were obtained:
Semen ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, percentage of live sperm and sperm
motility were significantly (P0.05) higher at 50 wks than those at 40 and 30 wks of age for
both strains, in overall mean of Mandarah than El-Salam cocks at different ages and in
heavy body weight cocks than control or light in both strains at 40 wk of age. Body weight,
lengths of shank and keel and secondary sexual characters (length and width of both comb
and wattle) increased linearly with increasing age in both strains. Cocks with (LC) had
ejaculated volume, sperm concentration, percentage of live sperm, sperm motility and
percentage of fertility higher than either (CC) or (SC) cocks in both strains at 40 weeks of
age. Heritability estimates for ejaculate volume, semen pH and sperm motility were high
and moderate of both strains at all ages studied. Phenotypic correlation in both strains was
positive and moderate to high values between ejaculate volume and each sperm
concentration, percentage of live sperm and sperm motility, between sperm concentration
and percentage of live sperm and between body weight at 8 wk and each ejaculate volume,
sperm concentration and percentage of live sperm in both strains. In Mandarah strain
lengths of shank, keel and comb were highly positively correlated with ejaculate volume,
sperm concentration and percentage of live sperm compared with El-Salam strain. Genetic
correlation was positive and moderate to high between ejaculate volume and each
percentage of live sperm, sperm concentration, and percentage of abnormal sperm and
between percentage of live sperm and sperm motility in both strains. Genetic correlation
was positive and moderate to high between body weight and each ejaculate volume, sperm
concentration and percentages of live and abnormal sperm, and between wattle length and
percentage of abnormal sperm in both strains.
Results provide evidence that phenotypic traits can be used as useful indicators to
predict male's fertility in local strains, indicators for high semen physical quality traits,
used in selection programs to improve local strain in early age and get rid of subfertile
males for reducing production cost.
Key Word: Body Measurements, Fertility, Local Strains.
INTRODUCTION
weight, shank length (SL) and keel length
(KL) (Galal, 2007).
Table (1): Means of comb size (comb length x comb width) in both El-Salam and
Mandarah cocks at 40 weeks of age.
Strain
El-Salam
Mandarah
Measurements:
Statistical analysis:
rGsxy =
Data
were
subjected
to
computerized two-way analysis of variance
and Duncan's multiple range test
procedures using SAS (2001). The
percentage values were transferred to
percentage angle using arcsine equation
before subjected to statistical analysis.
rpxy =
cov p xy
v .v
py
Whereas;
rGsxy= Genetic correlation between two
considered traits (x and y),
Cov.sxy = Covariance of sire component
between two traits,
Heritability estimation:
Heritability was estimated by paternal
half sib method according to Harvey (1990)
with the following equation:-
4
e2
Where: 2 s = Sire variance component
2e = Residual variance component
=
vs x .vs y
px
Genetic analysis:
h s2
cov.sxy
2
s
2
s
trait y,
rpxy = Phenotypic correlation between two
considered traits (x and y),
two traits,
v
v
px
py
b- Age effect:
Data in Table (2) show that all semen
physical characteristics except percentage of
abnormal sperm and semen pH increased
with increasing age (significantly (P0.05)
higher at 50 wks than at 40 and 30 wks of
age) for both Mandarah and El-Salam cocks.
The reverse trend was observed for
percentage of abnormal sperm, which was
significantly (P0.05), decreased with
increasing age in both strains. There were
334
Sire heritability ( hs ):
2
b- Fertility percentage:
It can be observed from Table (5) that
(LC) males had percentage of fertility higher
than either (CC) or (SC) males in both strains
at 40 weeks of age. The differences in this
respect were significant (P0.05). The overall
mean of Mandarah cocks had percentage of
fertility higher than that El-Salam cocks.
From these findings comb size could
potentially be a reliable indicator of male
semen quality and fertility.
Semen quality and fertility in this
study added another indicator (comb size)
with previous reports by El-Sahn, (2007a)
and McGary et al. (2002). Previous
researches showed that fertility decline may
be related to altered male reproductive
endocrinology and behavior (Rosenstrauch et
al., 1998 and Weil et al., 1999), physical
impairment upon copulation (Wilson et al.,
1979), reduction in sperm concentration and
semen volume (Sexton, 1987) or a
combination of all the above El-Sahn
(2007a). Also,
McGary et al. (2002)
suggested that, if female broiler breeders
more frequently crouch for and subsequently
mate with males having large, symmetrical
combs and wattles, differential fertility may
337
339
Table (2): Means S.E. of semen physical characteristics of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks
at different ages.
Strains
El-Salam
Traits
Ejaculate volume
(ml)
Sperm concentration
x 109/ml
Live sperm (%)
Abnormal sperm
(%)
Semen pH
Sperm motility
(1-5) degree
Mandarah
30 wk
40 wk
50 wk
0.33 c
0.002
3.34c
0.029
79.68 c
0.244
17.88 a
0.300
7.30
0.023
3.22 c
0.024
0.39 b
0.004
3.78 b
0.082
80.94 b
0.312
16.44b
0.314
7.23
0.017
3.54 b
0.022
0.42 a
0.006
4.53 a
0.041
84.46 a
0.432
12.60 c
0.208
7.27
0.020
4.11 a
0.018
Overall
mean
0.38 B
0.004
3.88 B
0.051
81.69B
0.255
15.64 A
0.242
7.27
0.012
3.62B
0.020
30 wk
40 wk
50 wk
0.34 c
0.002
3.59c
0.035
80.58 c
0.313
17.36 a
0.335
7.20
0.023
3.49 c
0.026
0.41 b
0.005
4.09 b
0.100
81.94 b
0.399
15.32b
0.246
7.15
0.015
4.13 b
0.017
0.45 a
0.006
4.79a
0.045
86.78a
0.750
11.42c
0.140
7.16
0.011
4.32a
0.016
Overall
mean
0.40 A
0.003
4.16 A
0.055
83.10A
0.370
14.70B
0.248
7.17
0.010
3.98 A
0.020
a, b and c Means in the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
A and B Overall means within the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
340
Table (3): Means S.E. of semen physical characteristics of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks as affected by body weight at 40 weeks of age.
Strain
Traits
El-Salam
Heavy
(2076 g)
Control
(2021 g)
Light
(1979 g)
Overall mean
Heavy
(1995 g)
Ejaculate
0.420.064 a
0.390.061 b
0.340.058 c
0.380.059
0.450.059 a
volume (ml)
Sperm
concentratio
4.510.734 a
3.870.719 b
2.910.744 c
3.760.731 B
4.670.791 a
9
n x 10 /ml
Live sperm
84.944.807 a
79.804.873 b
76.945.118 c
80.564.993
85.455.005 a
(%)
Abnormal
14.613.686 c
16.793.697 b
19.213.712 a
16.873.722
12.263.151 c
sperm (%)
Semen pH
7.210.368
7.220.363
7.300.371
7.240.384
7.170.407
Sperm
motility (1-5)
3.800.271 a
3.470.240 b
3.400.263 b
3.560.259 B
4.300.267 a
degree
a, b and c Means in the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
A and B Overall means within the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
341
Mandarah
Control
Light
(1958 g)
(1919 g)
Overall mean
0.410.064 b
0.360.060 c
0.410.069
4.110.801 b
3.530.777 c
4.100.781 A
81.954.913 b
78.634.899 c
82.015.001
15.583.157 b
17.953.165 a
15.263.173
7.150.401
7.110.400
7.140.409
4.140.263 ab
3.970.266 b
4.130.273 A
Table (4): Means S.E. of some body measurements of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks at different ages.
Traits
Strain
El-Salam
Mandarah
8 wk
12 wk
Overall mean
8 wk
12 wk
BW (g)
781.0 10.58 a
1034.0 20.52 b
907.510.39 B
770.4 13.43 a
931.8 18.59 b
SL (cm)
6.31 0.083 a
8.67 0.072 b
7.490.043 B
6.40 0.080 a
8.16 0.056 b
a
b
B
a
KL (cm)
7.49 0.081
9.67 0.076
8.580.075
7.78 0.075
8.83 0.081 b
a
b
B
a
CL (cm)
0.336 0.036
0.512 0.046
0.4250.029
1.65 0.066
2.0 0.077 b
a
b
A
a
CW (cm)
1.74 0.048
2.23 0.058
1.980.041
2.94 0.10
4.0 0.132 b
a
b
A
WL (cm)
0.190 0.022
0.314 0.035
0.2520.029
1.34 0.067
1.67 0.077
WW (cm)
1.53 0.076
1.86 0.084
1.690.028 A
1.97 0.052 a
2.45 0.063 b
a, b and c Means in the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
A and B Overall means within the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
BW: body weight, SL: shank length, KL: keel length, CL: comb length, CW: comb width, WL: wattle length, WW: wattle width
Overall mean
851.011.13 A
7.280.041 A
8.310.069 A
1.8250.077 A
3.4700.062 B
1.5050.044 B
2.2100.037 B
Strain
El-Salam
Mandarah
30 wk
40 wk
50 wk
Overall mean
30 wk
40 wk
50 wk
BW (g)
1868.025.3a
2018.0 33.7b
2206.027.2c
2030.020.1
1878.012.4a
1954.0 18.0b
2080.019.1c
SL (cm)
9.680.052
9.760.072
9.900.063
9.780.037
9.290.085
9.540.038
9.730.046
KL (cm)
10.410.067
10.550.048
10.800.087
10.59 0.042
10.190.033
10.210.436
10.500.047
CL (cm)
0.9460.060a
1.130.079ab
1.630.113b
1.230.055A
4.270.138a
4.640.113ab
4.980.151b
a
ab
b
A
a
ab
CW (cm)
3.140.154
3.580.151
3.880.135
3.530.088
6.910.116
7.220.092
7.490.111b
a
b
c
A
a
b
WL (cm)
0.8620.058
1.020.067
1.720.124
1.200.059
3.770.135
4.420.132
5.150.132c
a
b
b
A
a
ab
WW (cm)
2.710.155
3.230.171
3.870.206
3.27 0.109
4.380.113
5.050.108
5.720.094b
a, b and c Means in the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
A and B Overall means within the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
BW: body weight SL: shank length KL: keel length CL: comb length CW: comb width WL: wattle length WW: wattle width
342
Overall mean
1970.012.3
9.520.037
10.300.035
4.630.081B
7.200.064B
4.450.089B
5.050.075B
Table (5): Means S.E. of semen physical characteristics of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks as affected by Comb size at 40 weeks of age.
Strain
Traits
El-Salam
LC
CC
Mandarah
SC
Overall mean
LC
Ejaculate
0.430.068 a
0.380.066 b
0.360.069 b
0.390.073
0.450.066 a
volume (ml)
Sperm
concentratio
4.070.929 a
3.730.932 ab
3.520.927 b
3.770.944 B
4.440.831 a
9
n x 10 /ml
Live sperm
82.134.182 a
82.094.178 a
77.424.180 b
80.554.192
83.924.438 a
(%)
Abnormal
16.153.672
16.533.670
16.913.679
16.533.666
13.723.048 b
sperm (%)
Semen pH
7.180.397
7.220.391
7.280.396
7.230.381
7.210.405
Sperm
motility (1-5)
3.690.246 a
3.640.249 a
3.340.253 b
3.560.249 B
4.270.255 a
degree
Fertility %
93.456.260 a
91.026.159 b
90.576.145 b
91.696.127
94.457.161 a
a, b and c Means in the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
A and B Overall means within the same row with different superscript are significantly different (P0.05).
LC: Comb large CC: Control comb SC: Small comb
CC
0.420.062
SC
a
0.350.064
Overall mean
b
0.410.060
3.960.837 b
3.890.833 b
4.100.821 A
82.134.436 ab
79.814.440 b
81.954.421
16.003.041 a
16.303.044 a
15.343.029
7.180.408
7.060.404
7.150.401
4.200.261 a
3.940.258 b
4.140.237 A
92.046.914 b
91.337.105 b
92.616.905
Table (6): Heritability estimates standard errors (h 2 SE) of semen physical characteristics of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks at different ages.
(h2 SE)
Traits
Ejaculate volume
Sperm concentration
Live sperm (%)
Abnormal sperm (%)
Semen pH
Sperm motility
30-wks
0.3010.126
0.1190.181
0.1390.092
0.0890.120
0.2460.186
0.3460.111
El-Salam
40-wks
0.4010.211
0.1780.171
0.2680.156
0.1290.071
0.4150.167
0.4160.368
50-wks
0.3370.157
0.1210.109
0.2360.421
0.1210.089
0.3280.361
0.3810.257
343
30-wks
0.2660.116
0.1090.141
0.1490.066
0.0980.110
0.2870.197
0.3510.152
Mandarah
40-wks
0.3990.321
0.1980.149
0.2770.131
0.1280.089
0.4350.155
0.4240.213
50-wks
0.3560.144
0.1420.101
0.1990.342
0.1070.065
0.3280.361
0.4020.128
Table (7): Phenotypic correlation estimates among semen physical characteristics of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks.
Traits
Sperm
concentration
Ejaculate
volume
Sperm
concentration
Live sperm (%)
Abnormal
sperm (%)
Semen pH
0.842
E-Salam
Abnormal
Live sperm
sperm
Semen
pH
Sperm
motility
Sperm
concentration
0.978
0.775
-0.657
-0.221
0.152
0.759
-0.739
0.066
0.198
-0.664
0.196
0.297
-0.116
-0.408
Mandarah
Abnormal
Live sperm
sperm
Semen
pH
Sperm
motility
0.851
-0.957
-0.377
0.352
0.868
-0.940
0.396
0.348
-0.852
0.474
0.313
0.383
-0.308
0.188
0.131
Table (8): Phenotypic correlation between semen physical characteristics with some body measurements of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks at
8 weeks of age.
Traits
Ejaculate volume
Sperm concentration
Live sperm
Abnormal sperm
Semen pH
Sperm motility
BW
0.873
0.841
0.779
-0.844
-0.154
-0.314
SL
0.123
0.187
0.156
-0.099
-0.015
0.001
KL
0.208
0.294
0.239
-0.256
-0.018
0.002
E-Salam
CL
0.289
0.182
0.203
-0.169
-0.082
0.203
CW
0.229
0.086
0.161
-0246
-0.105
0.040
WL
0263
0.274
0.264
-0.196
-0.123
0.150
WW
0.293
0.291
0.301
-0.286
-0.147
0.118
BW
0.930
0.963
0.862
-0.912
-0.393
-0.340
SL
0.888
0.910
0.848
-0.879
-0.406
0.296
KL
0.783
0.815
0.747
-0.786
-0.297
0.283
Mandarah
CL
0.867
0.862
0.747
-0.812
-0.297
0.254
CW
0.346
0.331
0.332
-0.358
-0.272
0.203
WL
0.300
0.302
0.256
-0.292
-0.232
0. 300
WW
0.384
0.313
0.346
-0.274
-0.241
0.180
BW= body weight, SL= shank length, KL= keel length, CL= comb length, CW = comb width, WL = wattle length, WW = wattle width
Table (9): Genetic correlation among semen physical characteristics of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks.
Traits
Ejaculate volume
Sperm concentration
Live sperm
Abnormal sperm
Semen pH
Sperm
concentration
0.712
Live
sperm
0.311
0.455
E-Salam
Abnormal
sperm
0.497
0.411
-0.112
Semen
pH
-0.668
-0.489
-0.401
0.159
Sperm
motility
0.279
0.169
0.798
-0.257
-0.283
344
Sperm
concentration
0.803
Live
sperm
0.321
0.478
Mandarah
Abnormal
sperm
0.679
0.399
-0.066
Semen
pH
-0.814
-0.528
-0.437
0.111
Sperm
motility
0.311
0.213
0.856
-0.325
-0.319
Table (10): Genetic correlation between semen physical characteristics with some body measurements of El-Salam and Mandarah cocks at
8 weeks of age.
Traits
BW
0.499
SL
0.237
KL
0.362
E-Salam
CL
0.238
CW
0.367
WL
0.198
WW
0.186
BW
0.511
SL
0.326
KL
0.349
Mandarah
CL
CW
0.269
0.413
WL
0.259
WW
0.223
0.286
0.199
0.238
0.267
-0.211
-0.379
0.549
0.217
0.695
0.359
0.386
0.187
-0.369
-0.397
0.297
Ejaculate volume
Sperm
0.385
0.189
0.165
0.236
0.221
0.173
0.215
0.415
0.219
0.188
0.313
concentration
Live sperm
0.479
0.176
0.137
0.212
0.243
0.188
0.123
0.498
0.222
0.158
0.277
Abnormal sperm
0.711
0.234
0.199
-0.197
-0.219
0.715
-0.319
0.816
0.313
0.239
-0.212
Semen pH
-0.094
-0.142
-0.116
-0.149
-0.337
0.367
-0.412
-0.113
-0.137
-0.099
-0.187
Sperm motility
0.412
0.089
0.111
0.127
0.511
0.331
0.375
0.469
0.197
0.193
0.173
BW= body weight, SL= shank length, KL= keel length, CL= comb length, CW = comb width, WL = wattle length, WW = wattle width
345
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semen quality and the reproduction
ability in cocks and their heritability.
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Soliman, M.M.; Alm El-Dein, A.K.; ElSlamony, A.E. and El-Abd, E.A.M.,
2007. Relationship between blood
plasma constituents and reproductive
performance in Inshas cocks at
different ages. Egypt. Poult. Sci., 27 (4)
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348
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