Poultry 1 and 2 Flashcards by Millie Dinan

How many broilers is 1 pedigree female responsible for

4 million

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How many genetic lines are combined to give broiler birds

4 lines

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At the great grandparent level i.e one below pedigree which sex is phenotypically selected upon

Only male

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Location of male reproductive anatomy in the bird

Testes are rostral and ventral to kidneys
Epididymis dorsally on testis
Vas deferens connects to cloaca

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How is the phallus orientated in the male chicken

Lies on ventral lip of vent; in detumescent state directed to interior of cloaca
But during mating lymph flow causes phallus to become tumescent and ventral lip of vent everted to extude phallus

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How does phallus become tumescent

Via lymph flow through interconnecting channels in phallus

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Weight of mature cockerel testis

15-20g (only 1-2g when immature)

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How often must cockerel mate with a female to fertilise all her eggs

once per week

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How is cockerel bodyweight related to fertility

Testis size related to bodyweight and direct correlation b/w testis size and sperm output

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Why do rear male and female gallus gallus chickens separately

Males need less food due to genes for feed efficiency (compared to females which have been bred for eggs)

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WHat do we need to remember when rearing male and female ducks separately

Males must be within sight and sound of females for fertility

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What sex ratio of males and females do we set up

Start with 10% cockerels; end up down to 8.5% by start of laying due to inactive/debilitated cockerels

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How can we tell if a male is sexually active i.e working well

Cloaca more red and moist

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In which poultry system is artifical insemination commonly used

Turkeys
- Since males too large to mate conventionally

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How do we dilute semen with extended

50:50 ratio

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What % dead is max with sperm assessment

10% dead/abnormal
Use nigrosine-eosin

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How does sperm number affect fertility and hatchability

Lower sperm numbers significantly decreases fertility; also then decreases hatchability and increases early dead embryos

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Female reproductive anatomy in chickens basic

Only left ovary reaches maturity; found at cephalic end of L kidney
May see vestigial right oviduct

Ovary –> infundibulum –> magnum –> isthmus –> uterus/shell gland –> vagina

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Where are the sperm nests located in female repro tract

In the infundibulum

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What happens in the magnum

Albumen layers laid down ~ 3hours

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What happens in the isthmus

Shell membranes laid down ~1.25 hours

What happens in the uterus

Shell and shell pigment laid down
21 hours

What does the infundibulum do female repro tract

Engulfs ova when it is released
Contains sperm nests for fertilisation

How does light affect fertility

Via stimulation of the hypothalamus

What timing of light is stimulating for hypothalamus

The light in period 11-13 hours after lights turned on i.e if lights turned on at 6am then photosensitive period = 5-7pm

Why do we want to avoid accumulation of eggs with commercial layers

To stop the chicken going broody and not producing more eggs

What intensity must light be to be photostimulatory compared with light in dark period

10X the intensity; so at times with strong moonlight need greater light intensity in day

What does clutch length refer to

Number of consecutive days where eggs laid; ended by a non-laying day

Difference between eggs laid earlier or later in day

Those laid earlier are larger; those later have more shell material

Mortality of embryo in relation to position in clutch

First one in clutch has higher mortality; likely due to long time in oviduct (during non-laying day)

Effect of longer clutch length on embryo viability

Increases it (since first one in a clutch has lower viability)

How much light to give to pullets before mature

Just 8 hours; do not want photostimulation

Effects on production if light stimulation started too early on pullets

Lower first egg weight Lower embryo viability Lower chick numbers

How many layers does albumen have

What is the function of the chalaziferous zone in albumen

Keeps the yolk suspended to protect the embryo if the egg is moved

Main protein components in albumen

54% = ovalbumen Ovotransferrin Ovoglobulin

Dry matter composition of shell

98% crystalline calcium carbonate (40% calcium, 60% carbonate) 2% organic material

What gives shells a brown pitgment

photoporphyrin IX (From haemoglobin)

What gives eggs a blue pigment

Oocyanin bile

Is calcium stored in the shell gland

No - must be taken from blood

WHat hormone causes a rise in serum calcium before pullets start laying

oestrogen

How does oestrogen increase serum calcium + overall calcium levels

Increases Ca2+ binding protein production Increase in skeletal weight of 20% via medullary bone build up under influence of oestrogens and androgens

How does egg shell production cause metabolic acidosis

Carbonic anhydrase makes carbonate (for calcium carbonate) from Co2 which release H+ ions; causes intracellular pH fall

Rearing vs laying diets calcium and phosphate levels

Rearing = 1% calcium , 0.4% phosphate Leaying = 3.7% calcium, 0.46% phosphate

WHat is the trigger point temperature for embryos to start to incubate

25 degrees

What is ideal amount of time between egg laying and setting

3-5 days

What should we do with temperature if waiting longer between laying and setting eggs

Reduce temp to decrease metabolic rate of embryo

What pH and osmotic pressure should sperm be kept at via semen extender use

pH 7 400mOsm/kg H2O

Which poultry species females show typical shake/flutter after successful mating

Chickens and turkeys (not ducks)

Is LH release influenced by light dark cycle

YES!!!