Egg Production and Some Hatchability Characteristics of Rock Partridges (Alectoris graeca) Mated at Different Rates

Authors: ORHAN ÇETİN

Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the hatchability characteristics of rock partridges mated at the ratio of one male to three females, one male to four females and one male to five females. Egg production/hen (%), fertile eggs/hen, fertility, hatchability and hatchability of fertile eggs of one male to three females, one male to four females and one male to five females groups were determined to be 40.53, 48.79 and 44.85%; 38.94, 42.16 and 38.30%; 88.37, 81.73 and 81.95%; 69.70, 65.47 and 66.50% and 78.97, 79.78 and 81.16%, respectively. There were significant differences between total egg production/hen and the fertility values of the groups (P < 0.05), but there were no significant effects for the other hatchability traits. It was determined that the number of females (from three to five) mated to a male had no effect on the hatchability characteristics of the rock partridge except for fertility; thus, this finding indicates that it is not necessary to keep extra breeding males.

Keywords: Partridge, male : female ratio, egg production, hatchability.

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