Semen quality in white leghorn chicken selected for egg production traits

Authors: SHANMUGAM MURUGESAN, NIRANJAN MATAM, RAKESH KULKARNI, TARUN KUMAR BHATTACHARYA, RUDRANATH CHATTERJEE

Abstract: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of selection for egg production traits in White Leghorn chicken based upon the semen quality. Males of 3 pure lines of White Leghorn, namely IWH, IWI, and IWK, along with a pedigree random-bred control (IWC) population, were selected and housed in individual cages. The semen collected from individual birds was evaluated for different physical and biochemical parameters. There was significant (P =< 0.013) difference in semen quality parameters studied between the lines. High egg-producing lines IWH and IWI had poor semen quality in comparison with that of the control line (IWC). Thus, it can be concluded that selection for higher egg production affects the semen quality of males in the selected lines.

Keywords: White leghorn, semen, selection

Full Text: PDF