A Study on Optimum Mating Ratio of Broiler Breeders to Maximize Fertility and Hatchability of Eggs

A total of 112 male and 1208 female Ross broiler breeders (30-wk-old) were used in this study to investigate whether a male to female (M/F) ratio of broiler breeder chickens may influence fertility and hatchability of hatching eggs. There were three treatments, each consisting of four pens with a size of 3.2 m ${\times}$ 6.4 m. Each pen housed approx. 100 females and 10 males to give the M/F ratio as follows: T1, 1/9; T2, 1/11; and T3, 1/13, respectively. The fertility of broiler breeder eggs ranged between 93 to 94％ at 30 wk of age. At 35 wk of age, breeder eggs from T3 tended to be less fertile (P>0.05) than those from T1 and T2. The low fertility observed in T3 at 35 wk of age further reduced to reach a statistical significance at 46 wk of age (P<0.05) when compared to those of T1 and T2. Hatchability of breeder eggs among treatments tended to follow a similar trend as shown in fertility, keeping hatchability of breeder eggs from T3 low when compared to the groups of T1 and T2. Our results indicated that the M/F ratio influenced fertility and consequently hatchability of breeder eggs. Furthermore, our study suggests that either 1/9 or 1/11 M/F ratio, but not 1/13 M/F ratio, seems suitable to sustain reproductive performance of broiler breeders throughout the laying periods.

수정ㆍ부화율 향상을 위한 적정 배웅비 결정 연구

본 연구는 육용종계 암컷과수컷의 배웅비를 달리할 경우 종란의 수정율과 부화율에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 실시 하였다. 육용종계 암컷과 수컷 비율이 각각 9:I(암컷:수컷＝11:99), 11:1(9:99), 및 13:1(8:104) 이 되도록 하여 3.2 ${\times}$ 6.4m 크기의 pen에 사육하였다. 각 처리당 3반복으로, 30주령된 Ross 종계 수컷 112수 암컷 1,208수를 시험에 공시하였다. 30주령시 종란의 수정율은 93 ∼ 94% 내외로 처리간 유의차가 발견되지 않았다.