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Interrelationships Between Fertility and Hatchability of Eggs from Broiler Breeder Hens

Department of Poultry Science, College of Agriculture, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, AL 36849; Phone: (205) 844-2603; FAX: (205) 844-2641

Correspondence: G. R. McDaniel

Ninety-six broiler breeder hens, 33 weeks of age, were caged individually and artificially inseminated (AI) with one of four different spermatozoal numbers of undiluted, pooled semen (25, 50, 100, and 200 million spermatozoa) every 5 days throughout a 4-week period. The effects of number of spermatozoa/AI on fertility, age of embryonic death, and hatchability of fertile eggs were examined. Low numbers of spermatozoa/AI resulted in decreased fertility, decreased total number of chicks hatched, and decreased hatch of fertile eggs. Low numbers of spermatozoa/AI also resulted in an increase in total mortality and early embryonic death. No significant effects were observed for mid- or late embryonic death or pips among the various number of spermatozoa used.

Key Words: Broiler breeder hens • number of spermatozoa/AI • fertility • hatchability