ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS IN RHODE ISLAND RED AND WHITE CHICKENS

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ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS IN RHODE ISLAND RED AND WHITE CHICKENS

Abstract:

Three hundred and sixty-one birds from five hatches at one week apart, comprising one hundred and sixty-six cocks and one hundred and ninety-five hens were used in this study which was conducted from October 2003 to September 2004. The hens consisting of 85 birds from the male line (strain A) and 110 birds from the female line (strain B) were monitored in individual cage units for egg production up to 280 days of age. Similarly, the cocks which were made up of 73 birds from the male line (strain A) and 93 birds from the female line (strain B) were subjected to semen collection using the massage technique at 20, 25, 30 and 40 weeks of age. The ejaculates were then subjected to both physical and chemical evaluations for semen quality analysis. The parameters considered include body weight, shank length, semen volume, semen colour, semen motility, semen concentration and total sperm output. Results showed that body weight and shank length were consistent with each age period and this applies to both strains (A and B). The mean semen volume and colour did not differ significantly (P>0.05) for both strains throughout the experimental period. The mean (±SE) semen motility, sperm concentration and total sperm output at 20 and 40 weeks of age were 73.833±2.725% and 71.755±2.725%; 1.175±0.130×109/ml and 1.407±0.105 x109/ml; 46.433±7.301 x109/ml and 64.105±6.397 x109/ml respectively for strain A. Similarly, the values for strain B were 74.605±2.199% and 67.397±2.532%; 1.358±0.094 x109/ml and 1.271±0.092 x109/ml; 53.250±6.714 x109/ml and 52.678±4.812 x109/ml respectively. Heritability from sire component of variance for body weight (0.892± 0.731) and shank length (0.505±0.066) at 20 weeks of age were high indicating that these traits are highly heritable. Moderate to high heritability estimates were observed for semen volume, semen colour and sperm motility. Positive genetic correlations between Osborne Index and semen volume (1.059), Osborne Index and semen colour (0.727) as well as Osborne Index and sperm motility (0.256) were also obtained. The genetic correlation between Osborne Index and semen volume changed not only in magnitude but also in direction in later periods. This work revealed that selection based on Osborne Index had no adverse effect on semen quality traits of Rhode Island breeder cocks.

ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS FOR SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS IN RHODE ISLAND RED AND WHITE CHICKENS

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