Male fertility key to broiler breeding success

摘要

A range of genetic and environmental factors govern the attainment and maintenance of the rooster's performance in the flock of breeding birdsBILLIONS OF CHICKEN eggs are eaten across Asia every day but the only eggs of value on the broiler breeder farms are those which are fertile. Broiler breeder farms raise the parent birds which produce fertilised eggs subsequently hatching into day old chicks destined for broiler farms. These fertile eggs are never sold at markets, stores and shops and are not destined or meant for human consumption.Male and female parents are separate genetic lines or breeds and the chicks they produce (the future broiler birds) are therefore hybrids. Because broilers are bred primarily for efficient meat production incorporation of additionally important egg laying traits, essential at the broiler breeding stage, can prove to be a challenge.The fertile egg is the 'golden egg' of success for broiler breeder farms with the condition (virility and fertility) of male birds being the 'silver bullet' to profitability. A range of genetic and environmental factors, including rearing and managementpractices, govern the attainment and maintenance of the rooster's (the male bird's) performance in the flock of breeding birds.