Effect of Group Size on Mating Behaviour of Layer Breeders and the Fertility of Eggs
This study was to investigate the effect of group size on mating behaviour and to identify the relationship between age variance and behaviour and fertility change.Beijing Jing Brown Ⅰlayer breeders were housed in group size of 100 and 200 hens (100F and 200F) in perchery systems with a male to female ratio of 1∶10.Observations were conducted respectively at 36weeks, 40 weeks and 44 weeks of age.Frequencies of mating and wing flapping were significantly affected by group size.A remarkable higher frequency of mating was found in100F groups in comparison to 200F (P =0.002 for 36 weeks and P =0.031 for 40 weeks).At 36weeks, frequency of wing flapping in 100F was significantly higher (P < 0.001).Ages negatively impacted mating behaviours, as mating frequency declined with age in 200F groups(F2, 9 =2.391, P =0.147).Mating and wing flapping were displayed the fewest in 40 weeks,significantly varied fiom 36 weeks (P < 0.01) in both group sizes.Fertility decreased with group size and was not affected by age variance.Average mating duration was alike between groups,and mating was better completed in 100F.For site selection, where the males stayed most were preferred, and for which we can tell that males in groups of current sizes were passive for mating.No exact relationship was identified between mating behaviour and fertility.More detailed observation on both males and females for a longer production period should be performed to confirm the conclusion about the effect of group size on mating behaviour and fertility.
Layer breeders mating behaviour group size fertility age
Hongya Zheng Baoming Li Weihao Cui Zhengxiang Shi
Key Laboratory of Structure and Environment in Agricultural Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture,China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
国际会议
The 2015 International Symposium on Animal Environment and Welfare(动物环境和福利国际研讨会)
重庆
英文
249-256
2015-10-23（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）